Zambrano says he is retiring

[Sammy Sofa]

I love that the first sentence of the post is calling other posts ridiculous. He had a temper tantrum. He'll apologize and be back. He didn't leave during the game, or do anything that was so awful that he can't come back. Silly overreaction.

It was my understanding that he cleaned out his locker and left before the game was over. Is that incorrect?

 

Correct. That said, there's a difference between a guy leaving early who is either available to play or can at least be in the dugout/bullpen and a guy taking off who has been kicked out of the game. I'm not defended Zambrano's actions; they were stupid and childish, but already the general reporting and commentary on this are making it sound like he "abandoned" the team mid-game as if he could do anything besides being in the clubhouse after being thrown out.

[Banedon]

I love that the first sentence of the post is calling other posts ridiculous. He had a temper tantrum. He'll apologize and be back. He didn't leave during the game, or do anything that was so awful that he can't come back. Silly overreaction.

It was my understanding that he cleaned out his locker and left before the game was over. Is that incorrect?

 

If that's the case, I misunderstood the sequence of events, and if he left before the game was over, I'd think at least a bit of discipline was in order, but I'm still not overly concerned about it. But I'm sure the Cubs will overreact and make this into a gigantic issue.

[glavine93]

i love this quote

 

For all the past histrionics and even last year’s suspension and anger-management therapy, Zambrano’s actions Friday were extreme enough to surprise even some longtime teammates.

 

‘‘Yeah,’’ third baseman Aramis Ramirez said, ‘‘because I’ve never seen that before, never seen anybody just pack their stuff and leave and retire, and I’ve been around for a while. Even for him. Players don’t do that.’’

 

so traditionally everyone has just accepted that there are lower standards of conduct for him, but his problem now is that he's no longer playing well enough to get away with that, and he probably knows it, and maybe that's the source of the retirement threats. personally i was more annoyed by the marmol thing though. i don't mind dramatic outbursts as long as no one else is dragged into it.

[mookie]

DrunkMiggy Miguel Cabrera

Drunkdialed Carlos Zambrano, said I'm glad I'm not smokin what you smokin. #tigers #Cubs

[Careless]

Yes, buy why does he have to leave the city/state/country?!??

Is he a citizen? He could certainly get permanent resident status if he wanted to, but I have no idea if he ever bothered.

[J.R.]

Carlos Zambrano is the kind of talent that you throw the rules to hell for. It's just Z being Z.

 

He will be back, and he will dominate the league once again. Meanwhile, Quade will be hoping to catch on as bench coach somewhere.

[abuck1220]

Seriously, you guys are going to try to turn this back around on me? You have nothing better to discuss?

 

what else is there in your post to discuss? do you want people to RAH RAH support your weird post or what? YEAH LET'S DRIVE HIM TO THE AIRPORT WITH OUR PITCHFORKS AND TORCHES! RABBLE RABBLE! LET'S DO IT!

 

HE'S A MONSTER!

 

I never said anything about pitchforks and torches or that he's a monster. Calm down.

 

What I said, had you been paying attention, is that his contract could be put toward other players that can help us win, and if he wants to go they should let him. Call his bluff, and if he's not bluffing then it's really not a big loss. Just don't end up convincing him to come back only to trade him for crap while still paying a good portion of his contract.

 

how exactly do you "call his bluff?"

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Carlos Zambrano is the kind of talent that you throw the rules to hell for. It's just Z being Z.

 

He will be back, and he will dominate the league once again. Meanwhile, Quade will be hoping to catch on as bench coach somewhere.

 

Pretty much why this whole story is kind of bs, though I don't see what Quade did wrong in this situation (besides existing as the manger for the 2011 Cubs).

 

Just more press and attention for the Cubs..."Any press is good press," amirite? DO YOU SEE THIS PUJOLS/FIELDER?

[Clem Fandango]

I didn't see the game so I didn't know the context of the situation, but why did Quade leave him in to give up that many runs in the first place? Did they all just sort of come in one huge wave and they didn't have anyone warm enough to replace him yet?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Carlos Zambrano is the kind of talent that you throw the rules to hell for.

 

Not at this point in his career, he isn't.

[salukifudd]

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/6134

 

Bruce thinks Z's days with the Cubs are over.

[Illini Iceman]

Quade is probably right but his old time baseball guy thing is really tired. "24 guys busting their butt for him"? What exactly where Rodrigo Lopez and Koyie Hill doing last night where they would feel let down?

[BigSlick]

I think with this, officially, the 2011 Cubs have become more embarrassing, pathetic and boring than the 2006 Cubs.

 

One may ask, "How can a team with so many spectacular failures and humiliations be boring?"

 

Well, one can stand only so many toothless claims from Zambrano before it becomes passé.

[JonJayCutler]

I think with this, officially, the 2011 Cubs have become more embarrassing, pathetic and boring than the 2006 Cubs.

 

Castro was on the 2006 Cubs? He homered last night which means all is well in Cubs-land right now.

[CubsWin]

Carlos's brain chemistry is likely off. Seriously, I'm speaking medically here. There's a condition called bi-polar II disorder in which the brain is missing a chemical that helps it control emotional reactions. Typically, a person with bi-polar II disorder will have uncontrollable outbursts of anger and larger, more dramatic reactions to adversity/frustration than others. They will also be moody. He certainly fits the bill. It's possible that he was diagnosed last season during his time off and given meds at that time. He certainly performed well after coming back. Whether his good performance at the end of last season was coincidence or he has stopped taking the meds he was prescribed back then. I don't know.

 

Mental health issues are very real. Just like high cholesterol. Unfortunately, they come with a stigma. It is very likely that Carlos Zambrano has succeeded in his life while suffering from a medical condition in which his body simply fails to produce enough of a certain chemical in his brain. With the proper medication and out-patient therapy, he could easily even out his emotional reactions. Whether that would make him a better pitcher, I have no idea about. But I doubt it would.

[CubsWin]

It's also pretty clear to me that Z wanted out of that game. He threw inside twice in a row. It was intentional. He didn't want to hurt Chipper, he just wanted to get thrown out. When the ump gave him the heave-ho, he didn't protest at all. He didn't even seem surprised. He just calmly walked off the field. In fact, he seemed very calm while in the dugout afterwards when some of the Braves came out onto the field. He even broke a smile and appeared to be joking with a fan in the stands.

 

It doesn't mean that his pride wasn't bruised by giving up 5 HRs. I'm just saying the he may have been telling himself on the mound that he sucked. That he had lost it. That he was no longer the type of pitcher he wanted to be. So he effectively took himself out of the game, and, as is the way with bi polar II disorder sufferers, he overreacted to his embarrassing performance and did the dramatic thing which is to retire.

 

Most bp II sufferers would reconsider after calming down. But I suspect Carlos has a larger than normal helping of pride in his personality and that may keep him from returning to the field.

 

While I have compassion for him and what is likely a chemical imbalance that he is not to blame for, I hope he stays retired. The Cubs could use the salary flexibility.

[Burtonbell]

From CBS Sportsline fantasy baseball player news:

 

Zambrano placed on disqualified list

 

Carlos Zambrano, SP CHC

News: The Cubs announced Saturday that pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who threatened to retire after getting ejected from Friday's start against the Braves, was placed on the disqualified list. Zambrano will not have contact with the team or be paid for 30 days. In that time frame, MLB and the players union will discuss what happens with Zambrano, who is 9-7 with a 4.82 ERA in 24 starts.

 

Analysis: We aren't sure if Zambrano's career is over just yet, but it's for certain that Fantasy owners can't use him in the immediate future and might consider dumping the veteran hurler on waivers if you need the roster spot. Zambrano is clearly frustrated as he has posted a 6.42 ERA in his last six starts. The Cubs haven't named a replacement for Big Z in the rotation, but Ramon Ortiz and Casey Coleman, who pitched Friday for Triple-A Iowa, are two candidates.

 

:shock:

[Rob]

Hendry is such a [expletive] joke... We are quite literally the only team in baseball that disciplines guys for being dicks.

[justin23iu]

Hendry is such a [expletive] joke... We are quite literally the only team in baseball that disciplines guys for being dicks.

 

Of course, this move would save roughly $3 million if it stands. Seems like a shrewd move in a lost season, although I can't imagine it will stand on appeal.

[Guest]

Official press release:

 

CUBS PLACE RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER CARLOS ZAMBRANO

ON DISQUALIFIED LIST

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 2011

 

ATLANTA – The Chicago Cubs have placed right-handed pitcher Carlos Zambrano on the disqualified list, effective immediately.

 

The disqualified list includes a period of 30 days without pay and no activity with the ball club. During this time, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association will discuss recent statements attributed to Zambrano regarding his baseball future.

 

Zambrano was ejected from last night’s start in Atlanta after allowing eight runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings, matching the franchise record for five home runs allowed in an appearance. He was charged with the loss in Chicago’s 10-4 setback. Zambrano is 9-7 with a 4.82 ERA (78 ER/145.2 IP) in 24 starts for the Cubs this season.

[KingCubsFan]

Hendry is such a [expletive] joke... We are quite literally the only team in baseball that disciplines guys for being dicks.

Seriously? The relationship is permanently damaged anyways, may as well try and put the money to better use.

[Tryptamine]

http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/31296083?ttag=gen10_on_all_fb_na_txt_0001

 

After Carlos Zambrano was ejected from Friday's game, Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano went into the team's clubhouse and "went off" on Zambrano, a source told CBSSports.com.

 

Zambrano was very quiet and didn't really say much after being ejected. Then, as soon as Soriano stopped yelling at him in Spanish, Zambrano packed his bag, took the nameplate from his locker and left, the source said.

 

I didn't know Soriano had it in him.

[Rob]

Hendry is such a [expletive] joke... We are quite literally the only team in baseball that disciplines guys for being dicks.

 

Of course, this move would save roughly $3 million if it stands. Seems like a shrewd move in a lost season, although I can't imagine it will stand on appeal.

 

The chances the MLBPA doesn't manage to recover his entire salary is almost nil. Denny Neagle got it all after being cut for banging prostitutes... Z got frustrated and threw an extremely minor temper tantrum lasting less than a day (his agent has even come out today and said he's "not in the retirement mode.")

 

So yeah... Z is gonna get paid his full salary. And we'll get to see Casey Coleman get shelled next season while we miss the playoffs again.

[WilcoFan]

Hendry is such a [expletive] joke... We are quite literally the only team in baseball that disciplines guys for being dicks.

 

Wait...one guy throws at a player for no reason, cleans out his locker and "retires" in the middle of the game, and the guy who suspends him (saving the team $3 million, at least until appeal) is the joke?

 

Hendry is a bad general manager...but come on.

[Rob]

Hendry is such a [expletive] joke... We are quite literally the only team in baseball that disciplines guys for being dicks.

Seriously? The relationship is permanently damaged anyways, may as well try and put the money to better use.

 

If we could, that wouldn't be a problem. But it's a guaranteed contract and Z wants to pitch. Unless I'm missing something major, there's no chance the union wont get all the money back.