Z on the 2011 Chicago Cubs: "We stinks!"

[Pushfrog98]

I was at the game today. Marmol looked ok, and his velocity didn't look too bad, he was hitting 94-95 on his fastball. He also didn't get a couple calls that could have turned things around, but you have to pitch to the current batter in the current situation, not the "What it SHOULD be" situation. Zambrano has every right to call the team (INCLUDING Quade). Can we start the preemptive Mike Quade is a Moran club? Seriously. Pitching to Pujols in extra innings with nobody on AGAIN!? Are you freaking kidding me?! Especially with the junk of a lineup the Cardinals had out there today.

[CUBZ99]

At $18MM/yr I wouldn't be sad if Hendry found a taker. With his pretty good start to the 2011 season this might be the best chance the team will have to swap him and get decent value.

[NOLA]

At $18MM/yr I wouldn't be sad if Hendry found a taker. With his pretty good start to the 2011 season this might be the best chance the team will have to swap him and get decent value.

 

I would be very sad to see Z go, but at the same time if the deal were good I would do it. I really think there would be a good market for him. I just really hope that if it happens it doesn't end badly.

[Tarver]

None of these guys are untouchable, but if we plan on actually playing meaningful games in August next year Z would be a good guy to keep around.

[Outshined_One]

Sullivan has no inside information, this is just wishful thinking by him. He has been trying to run Zambrano out of town for years.

 

I'm pretty sure Paul Sullivan would be standing up and applauding if Ryan Dempster said this instead of Z.

[NOLA]

None of these guys are untouchable, but if we plan on actually playing meaningful games in August next year Z would be a good guy to keep around.

 

True. It would have to be some really good value in return.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Trading Zambrano is waving the white flag for the next several years, hoping that it buys you some time from the fans' ire if you aren't really trying to win.

 

I say do it.

[Little Slide Rooter]

IMHO, Z said nothing wrong. He didn't point any fingers, although maybe a bit toward Marmol, but this isn't a middling team striving to be above .500. This Should be a .500 team thats playing like trash, even before the injuries. I have no problem with him calling the team out on it. I'm not saying he should repeat last years tirade, but theres no reason for people to act like this is OK anymore.

 

As for trading Z, it would be foolish, but how would people feel about Z and Soto for a prospect package built around Montero?

[NOLA]

I am definitely not trying to suggest we should trade Z. I just hope this doesn't spur some bad blood played out publicly to where the Cubs have to trade him for bad value.

[CUBZ99]

IMHO, Z said nothing wrong. He didn't point any fingers, although maybe a bit toward Marmol, but this isn't a middling team striving to be above .500. This Should be a .500 team thats playing like trash, even before the injuries. I have no problem with him calling the team out on it. I'm not saying he should repeat last years tirade, but theres no reason for people to act like this is OK anymore.

 

As for trading Z, it would be foolish, but how would people feel about Z and Soto for a prospect package built around Montero?

 

I would hope that they could get some good pitching in return for Z. I like how your thinking though with possibly throwing in Soto to sweeten the pot.

[NOLA]

IMHO, Z said nothing wrong. He didn't point any fingers, although maybe a bit toward Marmol, but this isn't a middling team striving to be above .500. This Should be a .500 team thats playing like trash, even before the injuries. I have no problem with him calling the team out on it. I'm not saying he should repeat last years tirade, but theres no reason for people to act like this is OK anymore.

 

As for trading Z, it would be foolish, but how would people feel about Z and Soto for a prospect package built around Montero?

 

I don't know if the Cubs would, but that would have to be very interesting for both teams.

[erik316wttn]

Preach it, Z!

[Little Slide Rooter]

Preach it, Z!

This will be the general sentiment of the fan base. There's no way they'd be able to justify trading him for nothing to the already fed up fan base.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Carlos Zambrano is the 14th highest paid player in the MLB. There is no way we are going to get anybody to take his salary and give up an actual quality package to do so. If the Cubs want to kick in some major money, then yes, but it has to be one or the other. Find somebody to take his contract and give it to them, or get something of value in return but have to pay the contract.

 

Z is a really solid pitcher. But he isn't anywhere close to an $18 million player, and with his unfair or fair reputation of being a slight problem child, that will further damage his trade value.

[tmicmiller]

Zambrano and Soto for Montero, Banuelos, and a couple lower tier, high ceiling prospects. Yankees take all the money. Montero plays first, Castillo/Clevenger catch, and we hope Banuelos turns into a #2 starter. Plus a ton of money of the books so we can be players in FA market next year.

[XZero771679666304]

Zambrano and Soto for Montero, Banuelos, and a couple lower tier, high ceiling prospects. Yankees take all the money. Montero plays first, Castillo/Clevenger catch, and we hope Banuelos turns into a #2 starter. Plus a ton of money of the books so we can be players in FA market next year.

 

Hahahaha...You are joking, right?

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Zambrano and Soto for Montero, Banuelos, and a couple lower tier, high ceiling prospects. Yankees take all the money. Montero plays first, Castillo/Clevenger catch, and we hope Banuelos turns into a #2 starter. Plus a ton of money of the books so we can be players in FA market next year.

 

Yes, this would be great. Except I don't even think they'd do Zambrano/Soto for Montero straight up if it meant they had to pay all the money.

[XZero771679666304]

Sure, calling out teammates isn't always in good taste, but there has been a serious lack of accountability from Hendry on down for a few years. Trading the one guy who, albeit in a less than perfect manner, says it how it is because he said it how it is would be disappointingly typical.

 

But if Hendry has any delusions of salvaging this season, and I'm sure he does, trading Z would be surrendering them.

[XZero771679666304]

Zambrano and Soto for Montero, Banuelos, and a couple lower tier, high ceiling prospects. Yankees take all the money. Montero plays first, Castillo/Clevenger catch, and we hope Banuelos turns into a #2 starter. Plus a ton of money of the books so we can be players in FA market next year.

 

Yes, this would be great. Except I don't even think they'd do Zambrano/Soto for Montero straight up if it meant they had to pay all the money.

 

They wouldn't trade Montero and Banuelos for for Z/Soto straight up with even money. Neither would I.

[NOLA]

I think there are several teams that would take a 1 year rental on a front line pitcher during a great season, then hope to sign him after the season. If the Yankees and Boston stay this close all year you never know.

[Wilson A2000]

Z is off here. First of all, he is not the guy to do this. He has never been a leader and has acted like a child since he got here. If you can't even drink the right amount of fluids and work out enough to keep your back healthy, you are in no position to call out the team. Second, Marmol has one of the best pitches in baseball and probably the best slider in baseball. You live and die with your best pitch in that circumstance. It wasn't the kind of pitch that Marmol made a mistake with, but he put the slider right down the middle to Theriot.

 

I'm just have little confidence in Ricketts/Hendry/Quade to get this straight. Quade has to take more control of this team. Hendry has to talk to Z and trade him. The Cubs aren't winning for a few years so get Z's money out of here and rebuild. Z won't be here if and when this team gets good. But Ricketts doesn't want to trade Z because it is hard to justify the price of Cub tickets when your stars are gone. But Ricketts has to realize that the economy isn't getting a lot better any time soon and if you want people to come tot he game in this climate, you have to win and winning is building the farm, getting the right FAs in here, and making good trades.

[tmicmiller]

Zambrano and Soto for Montero, Banuelos, and a couple lower tier, high ceiling prospects. Yankees take all the money. Montero plays first, Castillo/Clevenger catch, and we hope Banuelos turns into a #2 starter. Plus a ton of money of the books so we can be players in FA market next year.

 

Yes, this would be great. Except I don't even think they'd do Zambrano/Soto for Montero straight up if it meant they had to pay all the money.

 

They wouldn't trade Montero and Banuelos for for Z/Soto straight up with even money. Neither would I.

 

 

Soto has a ton of value, especially considering the Giants, Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox all need catching. Plus he is relatively cheap, and under control for a couple more years. I think we could get a ton for him as the race heats up, and why not package Zambrano with him to the Yankees just to get the money off the books? If we can create a bidding war for Soto, I think Montero and Banuelos are possible.

[questionmarkgrace]

Sullivan says this may lead to the end of Zambrano's tenure here. He's probably right, since Z is the only one making any damn sense.

 

I wish it would end sullivan's tenure here. is that possible?

[ConstableRabbit]

The media backlash has already begun. Now Haugh is chiming in:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-0606-haugh-zambrano--20110605,0,6141835.column

[TruffleShuffle]

paul sullivan is a worthless small troll who is probably still bitter that he was not cast in the lord of the rings trilogy as a [expletive] hobbit.