Zambrano declares himself 'cured'

[RayRay]

Anyone else laughing with me? I really do hope he gets the anger under control.

Zambrano said Tuesday he completed three months of anger management counseling last October, and that it's no longer an issue with him.

"It's all done," he said with a grin. "I'm cured."

The "new Big Z" has been hyped annually in spring training, but there have been the inevitable blow-ups The list of Zambrano's transgressions is long and memorable, culminating in last year's tirade at the Cell.

Zambrano conceded he had to change his focus on the field, though he wasn't concerned about changing his overall image.

"My problem is not (trying to be) a good person," he said. "The problem I have to solve is when I get upset on the field. My problem is after I cross those lines. Whether somebody makes an error, or whether I make an error, that's my problem and I have to focus on that this year.

"But off the field, I consider myself a nice guy."

Quade has said he doesn't mind an occasional outburst, as long as Zambrano moves on.

"All right, so he explodes — take a walk, see you in five days," Quade said. "Pitch well. If it becomes a recurring thing, yeah, we have a problem."

[Jammer]

This is the first time in a while he won't be the opening day starter for the Cubbies.

[RayRay]

Dempster deserves it and Z handled it well.

[JohnnyHustler]

Dempster deserves it and Z handled it well.

Well, there's the first test. If Z can cool off in game and in the clubhouse (and that's all I'm worried about), this pitching staff is deadly.

[RayRay]

Dempster deserves it and Z handled it well.

Well, there's the first test. If Z can cool off in game and in the clubhouse (and that's all I'm worried about), this pitching staff is deadly.

Did you see this?

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=3903

[JohnnyHustler]

Dempster deserves it and Z handled it well.

Well, there's the first test. If Z can cool off in game and in the clubhouse (and that's all I'm worried about), this pitching staff is deadly.

Did you see this?

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=3903

Yeah, just read that a bit ago.

[ptrain86]

Yeah. okay. Hopefully, Zambrano puts a happy face inside his glove to help him realize its not his left hand's fault that he sucks.

[sabresrule30]

Yeah. okay. Hopefully, Zambrano puts a happy face inside his glove to help him realize its not his left hand's fault that he sucks.

youre almost funny

i did laugh though

[ptrain86]

What's so funny?

[Jammer]

I think we all knew it was only a matter of time before he blew his stack.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano went ballistic on the team, and particularly teammate Carlos Marmol, after another crushing loss resulted in a St. Louis Cardinals' sweep on Sunday.

Albert Pujols hit his second walk-off home run in as many games -- this time in the 10th inning off Rodrigo Lopez -- but Zambrano placed the blame squarely on Marmol for allowing a game-tying double to former Cub Ryan Theriot on a flat slider with two outs in the ninth.

"The problem wasn't Pujols," Zambrano said. "The problem was [Theriot's] at-bat. We should have known better than this. We are playing like a Triple-A team. This is embarrassing. Embarrassing for the team and the owners. Embarrassing for the fans. Embarrassing, that's the word for this team."

"We should know that Ryan Theriot is not a good fastball hitter," Zambrano yelled after turning in the direction of Marmol's then-vacated locker. "We should know that as a team. We should play better here. We stink. That's all I've got to say."

Marmol, when approached for the second time by reporters, was surprised to hear that Zambrano had pointed the finger at him.

"I don't know what's going on," Marmol said.

Zambrano threw seven innings on Sunday, allowing just one run on five hits, but got a no-decision after Theriot's double down the left field line sent the game into extra innings.

Cubs catcher Koyie Hill said he suggested Marmol throw a fastball to Theriot, but Marmol shook him off and asked to throw the slider.

"I think he's obviously frustrated," Hill said about Zambrano. "At some point you get tired of just saying, 'You have to play hard and keep playing hard.' Eventually you just say something else.

"I don't think he means that the guys are Triple-A players or dogging it. I don't think he means that at all. But when you put together a string [of losses] like we have, you might think a Triple-A team would give us a run for our money. It's funny, but there's a big difference between being frustrated and being discouraged, in my opinion."

[lotus]

He's a dick.

[JohnnyHustler]

First, I'd like to say that Z went too far in pointing out a certain player. This is a team effort at looking like an indie minor league club.

Now, to my main point. I'd like to see more players with the fire that Z is displaying, minus the calling out of teammates. Right now, I see one player getting pissed at losing, while everyone else on this team is acting like their only concern is whose mom brought the fucking pop and twinkies after the game. I'd say calling this bucket of shit a triple A team is being damn kind right now. Ricketts is acting too nice for my liking, Hendry is incompetent, and there's a wave of complacency in that clubhouse that someone needs to end right now. They're acting like it's a fucking badge of honor to have gone 103 years without a World Series title (let's not fool ourselves, that streak continues this season). Like it's their identity.

So, you get rid of Z. Then what? The rest of the team is more vanilla than the 80's Atlanta Braves. When does a shakeup start to happen? Fine, get rid of a lot of these guys for pennies on the dollar, but what is their plan to restock the team? The pitching in the minors has yet to produce jack for the major league club, and considering the new pitching coach was promoted, I think we can see why based on the results we're seeing in Chicago this year. Everyone is waiting on Pujols to show up next year, but I just don't see it. How many times will Hendry have to fuck up before everyone realizes that as long as he's GM, this team is going to remain stagnant? Sure, he had a good trade to bring Lee over, along with the deal for Ramirez years ago, but since then we've had shit like the Soriano and Fukudome busts. When is this shit going to end.

While I may not agree with how he threw Marmol under the bus, I COMPLETELY agree with the basis of the statement. This team sucks, and will suck for a long time as it's set up now.

[lotus]

Brandon Phillips has passion. Zambrano is just a dick who blames everybody else. I'm not suggesting that he's not a great player, but there are ways you handle frustration and losing, and most of it takes place in the clubhouse or in practice.

[JohnnyHustler]

Brandon Phillips has passion. Zambrano is just a dick who blames everybody else. I'm not suggesting that he's not a great player, but there are ways you handle frustration and losing, and most of it takes place in the clubhouse or in practice.

But really, how would you feel if everyone around you in a competitive environment was just sitting there counting their paychecks, and not really giving a damn about what's on field? While I would have avoided throwing individuals under the bus, I would have gone off on the embarrassment that is the Cubs at some point.

[lotus]

I think all he's done is offered further proof that he's a problem in the clubhouse and a complainer, thus reducing his chances of landing at a club who is more competitive. You think Griffey wasn't frustrated in Seattle and Cincinnati?

I can understand his frustration, and it's not like players in other sports don't call out their teammates, but I guess I still expect a higher level of decorum in baseball. To me, demonstrating his passion by saying he's tired of losing and that he's going to do whatever he can personally do to make himself and his teammates the best they can be, blah blah blah.

Is it bullshit? Totally.

Does he come out looking even better? Oh yes.