Carlos Zambrano's brouhaha and apology

[dew1679666265]

TWO turning pitchers into position players is going to make our team hit less, not more.

 

For him not to be a liability at first base, he'd have to raise his career OPS by about 200 or so points. At almost 30, I see now way that happens.

 

Rick Ankiel is the only player I can think of who has had significant playing time in the majors as a pitcher and position player (though there's an Oriole coming through their system who was a pitcher as well). He had to start back at A-ball and work his way back up through the system and has since posted OPS' of .863, .843, .672 and .695.

[illiniguy]

TWO turning pitchers into position players is going to make our team hit less, not more.

 

For him not to be a liability at first base, he'd have to raise his career OPS by about 200 or so points. At almost 30, I see now way that happens.

 

Rick Ankiel is the only player I can think of who has had significant playing time in the majors as a pitcher and position player (though there's an Oriole coming through their system who was a pitcher as well). He had to start back at A-ball and work his way back up through the system and has since posted OPS' of .863, .843, .672 and .695.

Adam Loewen.

[dew1679666265]

TWO turning pitchers into position players is going to make our team hit less, not more.

 

For him not to be a liability at first base, he'd have to raise his career OPS by about 200 or so points. At almost 30, I see now way that happens.

 

Rick Ankiel is the only player I can think of who has had significant playing time in the majors as a pitcher and position player (though there's an Oriole coming through their system who was a pitcher as well). He had to start back at A-ball and work his way back up through the system and has since posted OPS' of .863, .843, .672 and .695.

Adam Loewen.

 

Thanks. The last name was almost coming to me, but I couldn't remember him.

[illiniguy]

TWO turning pitchers into position players is going to make our team hit less, not more.

 

For him not to be a liability at first base, he'd have to raise his career OPS by about 200 or so points. At almost 30, I see now way that happens.

 

Rick Ankiel is the only player I can think of who has had significant playing time in the majors as a pitcher and position player (though there's an Oriole coming through their system who was a pitcher as well). He had to start back at A-ball and work his way back up through the system and has since posted OPS' of .863, .843, .672 and .695.

Adam Loewen.

 

Thanks. The last name was almost coming to me, but I couldn't remember him.

The Astros have a kid trying it as well Brian Bougsevic or something.

[Guest]

Don't forget Brooks Keshnick. I thought the Cubs had a Bo Jackson on their hands. As an aside, he didn't have many fond memories of his time with the Cubs organization.

[lumafia]

In case anyone needs to add to their Steve Stone is a [expletive] crazy and shouldn't allowed near a front office let alone microphone file:

 

Trib[/url]"]In the opinion of broadcaster Steve Stone, the Cubs should consider looking at Zambrano as a position player, given his proficiency with the bat and his continuing decline as a pitcher.

 

"He'll probably hit the ball as far as anybody on the team," Stone told "The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670, noting that Zambrano is a switch-hitter with a lifetime .237 average and 20 homers.

With Lee possibly on his way out of town after this season, "It might be time for (Zambrano) to take some ground balls at first base," Stone said. "If you're going to get anything out of Zambrano and if you can't trade him ....

 

"There are teams that would take Zambrano as the fiery guy, but there are not teams that are going to take the 3-6, 5.65 ERA or whatever ... The fact is, Carlos' stuff is short. It's been short for a bit.

 

"The Big Z stuff where he won 18 games, those days are over for him," Stone said.

 

After his move to the bullpen, I don't think I'd be surprised with anything the Cubs tried to do with him.

 

So, Steve Stone is saying that Zambrano sucks as a pitcher and has no more value (which is close to being accurate), so you might as well get the most out of him by letting him try to hit on a team that can't drive in a run to save their collective lives? I'm not sure I have a problem with that. I think Steve is trying to take a little jab at the organization, which it deserves.

 

come on, there are tons of problems with that.

 

ONE there's no reason to write zambrano off as finished as a pitcher. his era in games that aren't the first game of the season this year is 4.49. he'd be right in line to have a fairly typical (if slightly down) carlos zambrano-type year if we'd just be smart enough to let him pitch every fifth day the rest of the way.

 

TWO turning pitchers into position players is going to make our team hit less, not more.

 

THREE you don't "get the most out of him" by forcing him to make bizarre and drastic position changes after he's been in the league ten years. that's how you guarantee you never get anything worthwhile out of him again.

 

FOUR shut up

 

Ha. I love #4 by the way. For the record, I don't think he's a good hitter, as far as hitters go. I don't have a problem with what Steve Stone said, not with putting Z at first. Niether myself, or Steve Stone, thinks Big Z could really contribute anything at 1st base. I think he is just making fun of the organization. Steve Stone is a deeply sarcastic man who loves to poke fun at the Cubs. We all know this.

 

That being said, the only real value Zambrano has to the future of this organization (through future production or possibly trade value) is as a starter. Putting him in the bullpen at this point is more of a waste of time than just releasing him. If you think he is a pain in the @ss, which he is when we are losing, why not allow him to play himself into a potential trade with a contender, or live up to SOME of his contract? He started to show some improvement recently on the mound prior to his little "come-apart". You can't have any silver lining in this situation without having Big Z in the rotation.

 

Tell me something Jim Hendry, what is the going rate for an overpaid, semi-productive, emotionally unstable starting pitcher who throws for one inning every 2 or 3 days? That's right, a little less than an overpaid, semi-productive, emotionally unstable starting pitcher who gives you 6 or 7 innings every 5 days.

[dew1679666265]

TWO turning pitchers into position players is going to make our team hit less, not more.

 

For him not to be a liability at first base, he'd have to raise his career OPS by about 200 or so points. At almost 30, I see now way that happens.

 

Rick Ankiel is the only player I can think of who has had significant playing time in the majors as a pitcher and position player (though there's an Oriole coming through their system who was a pitcher as well). He had to start back at A-ball and work his way back up through the system and has since posted OPS' of .863, .843, .672 and .695.

Adam Loewen.

 

Thanks. The last name was almost coming to me, but I couldn't remember him.

The Astros have a kid trying it as well Brian Bougsevic or something.

 

Bogusevic hasn't made the majors. Kieschnick qualifies, though.

[flyseye]

TWO turning pitchers into position players is going to make our team hit less, not more.

 

For him not to be a liability at first base, he'd have to raise his career OPS by about 200 or so points. At almost 30, I see now way that happens.

 

Rick Ankiel is the only player I can think of who has had significant playing time in the majors as a pitcher and position player (though there's an Oriole coming through their system who was a pitcher as well). He had to start back at A-ball and work his way back up through the system and has since posted OPS' of .863, .843, .672 and .695.

 

I am pretty sure some guy named Babe Ruth did it.

[98navigator]

Per Live CSN News conference: Jim Hendry says:

 

Carlos is going on the restricted list and will need to go for treatment by doctors approved through MLB & Player's Assoc. He won't be reinstated before the Allstar Break. The Cubs will go back to 25 players tomorrow; Jeff Stevens will return.

 

He is not paid while suspended but he will be as a restricted player.

[dew1679666265]

TWO turning pitchers into position players is going to make our team hit less, not more.

 

For him not to be a liability at first base, he'd have to raise his career OPS by about 200 or so points. At almost 30, I see now way that happens.

 

Rick Ankiel is the only player I can think of who has had significant playing time in the majors as a pitcher and position player (though there's an Oriole coming through their system who was a pitcher as well). He had to start back at A-ball and work his way back up through the system and has since posted OPS' of .863, .843, .672 and .695.

 

I am pretty sure some guy named Babe Ruth did it.

 

Nope. Never heard of him.

 

Good point, I forgot about the Babe.

[dew1679666265]

Per Live CSN News conference: Jim Hendry says:

 

Carlos is going on the restricted list and will need to go for treatment by doctors approved through MLB & Player's Assoc. He won't be reinstated before the Allstar Break. The Cubs will go back to 25 players tomorrow; Jeff Stevens will return.

 

He is not paid while suspended but he will be as a restricted player.

 

Interesting. If he pitches well when he returns from this, the Cubs could theoretically say he's fixed when they look to shop him (which I expect they'll try).

[J.R.]

Psychological treatment? Jimbo, you're outdoing yourself this time.

 

We might get a rosin bag and a few bats for him.

[C.C.]

I swear only the Cubs. What a disaster.

[17 Seconds]

Steve Stone just gave us this gem on Mully and Hanley:

 

"Let Z start taking grounders at first base"

 

:banghead:

 

 

In what context was he saying this?

 

he's saying it in the context that he is steve stone, and that's about all i need to know about it

[CUBZ99]

Psychological treatment? Jimbo, you're outdoing yourself this time.

 

We might get a rosin bag and a few bats for him.

 

Apparently you haven't read the articles about Z's punishment. MLB and the player's association agreed that Z be placed on the restricted list pending completion of treatment. This isn't Jim Hendry's call.

 

And I think this puts to rest any questions over how Hendry handled this including the other MLB exec. stating that Z would be back with the Cubs by Wednesday. Clearly there is more to Z's suspension than just what was caught on TV.

[17 Seconds]

I swear only the Cubs. What a disaster.

 

it's awesome. if we are going to suck this year, this is what i want. i want a [expletive] circus. i want this [expletive] to get completely disastrous.

[E.J.]

I swear only the Cubs. What a disaster.

 

it's awesome. if we are going to suck this year, this is what i want. i want a [expletive] circus. i want this [expletive] to get completely disastrous.

 

At least there's something entertaining this year. The team's play on the field sure as hell isn't.

[Rob]

A circus has some plusses. Lou will be let go at the end of the year. Hendry can kiss his job goodbye. Higher draft pick next year.

[Outshined_One]

Psychological treatment? Jimbo, you're outdoing yourself this time.

 

We might get a rosin bag and a few bats for him.

 

Apparently you haven't read the articles about Z's punishment. MLB and the player's association agreed that Z be placed on the restricted list pending completion of treatment. This isn't Jim Hendry's call.

 

And I think this puts to rest any questions over how Hendry handled this including the other MLB exec. stating that Z would be back with the Cubs by Wednesday. Clearly there is more to Z's suspension than just what was caught on TV.

 

How is it not Jim Hendry's call? Either him or someone from the Front Office who answers to him went to MLB and the Player's Association, told them they wanted to place Z on the restricted list while having him seek mental help, and the MLB & Player's association signed off on it.

[mookie]

This is almost too surreal. I wonder if there is something else going on here. I was a bit sloshed last night and thought to myself, "Maybe the Cubs brass simply jumped all over a "perfect" situation to get rid of Zambrano."

 

This is a very confusing situation. Given what happened the other day, this seems like a huge overreaction.

[CUBZ99]

Psychological treatment? Jimbo, you're outdoing yourself this time.

 

We might get a rosin bag and a few bats for him.

 

Apparently you haven't read the articles about Z's punishment. MLB and the player's association agreed that Z be placed on the restricted list pending completion of treatment. This isn't Jim Hendry's call.

 

And I think this puts to rest any questions over how Hendry handled this including the other MLB exec. stating that Z would be back with the Cubs by Wednesday. Clearly there is more to Z's suspension than just what was caught on TV.

 

How is it not Jim Hendry's call? Either him or someone from the Front Office who answers to him went to MLB and the Player's Association, told them they wanted to place Z on the restricted list while having him seek mental help, and the MLB & Player's association signed off on it.

 

It is not just Jim Hendry's call. MLB and the Player's Assoc both agreed on the action. Z's problems apparently are much worse than what we are privy to.

[UMFan83]

Yeah I bet there was something behind the scenes there. Wish I knew what happened.

[NCCubFan]

Confirmation from cubs.com.

 

I knew a player could be called back up from the minors before ten days to replace a player placed on the DL. Apparently that also applies to the restricted list.

[EhDubya]

Don't forget Brooks Keshnick. I thought the Cubs had a Bo Jackson on their hands. As an aside, he didn't have many fond memories of his time with the Cubs organization.

 

Did Kieshnick play football and I missed it? Or did Bo Jackson also pitch?? :-k

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

This compromise situation is probably for the best. The Cubs obviously aren't ready to have Zambrano back, but to continue the suspension would cause the Cubs to play a man short.

 

In Zambrano's favor, at least he gets paid while on the restricted list. It's not ideal in the least, but considering the messiness of the situation, it's not a bad temporary resolution.