Carlos Zambrano

Good ol' Canadian James Richard Harden showed us why the Cubs got him when he pitched 2 innings in Tuesday's Cactus League game against Seattle.

The cubs have been all tip-toe with Rich, limiting his throws since he's been taking trips to the DL for the past 3 seasons, and was on the stint when he was traded.

Continue reading "Rich Harden Debuts, Finally"

Hi there. i'm gonna make this pretty short about myself, since this is my first blogpost and I would hate to bore you on the first time.

I have been dedicated to the Chicago Cubs since 1984 as a little 3-year-old gal. Since then, the friends I have made are either dedicated White Sox fans or former-Cubs-fans-turned-Sox-fans-cause-they-couldn't-take-losing.

Continue reading "A little about myself, What the Chicago ..."

 This list includes baseball greats such as Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera, Grady Sizemore, Carlos Zambrano, Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, and many more stars to display their talents to the world.  Are you excited?  Are you ready to root for your country and hope they bring home they big cheese?  Are you really that excited?  I say, who cares.  The World Baseball Classic means nothing.  I mean, what is the point of it.  Sure, it is a way for us to see talent around other countries and we can see who will be the next Albert Pujols.  But why do we need this.  In the United States, our nation could care less if we win or lose, even though it is embarrassing for us to lose after it is called "America's Pastime."  United States has many more important things going on in the sports world besides the WBC.  This might mean a lot to other neighboring nations because it is a way for showing their pride and a way of showing their talent to the world.  They do not have the World Series like the United States.  This is their World Series and their gold medal in the Olympics.  Japan went crazy when they won the first WBC title.  It was an honor for them to win it and they really appreciated what they have accomplished.  That will not be the same in the United States.  

Continue reading "WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC IS A WORLD BASEBALL OF CRAP"

Oh cubbies-cubbies-cubbies.

Well they wouldnt be the Cubs if the season didnt end like it did.  The 2008 Cubs had more wins this season than they have in the past 66 years.  The last time the Cubs had this many wins was 1942 - coincidentally the last time they appeared in the Fall Classic.  And we all know they didnt even win it then.

Continue reading "tisk tisk tisk"

  Add in one VERY fat pitch to James Loney, and you have a recipe for absolute disaster.  Carlos Zambrano actually did not pitch that bad.  2 ER out of the total 6 R they put up on him, and he threw a ton of pitches for a defense that let him down.  More on the defense later, but he did whatever he could in that fateful 2nd inning, and it is totally unfair to ask him to get 6 outs in an inning.  He made several pitches that could have limited the damage to 1 or 2 runs, but the errors absolutely killed him.  By the time Russell Martin stepped up, the bases were loaded and Z fell behind 3-1.  He had to throw a pitch over the plate, and all the credit in the world to Martin for crushing it into the gap.  He did what any respectable hitter should: sit on a pitch over the plate and don't miss.  By the time Game 3 rolled around, Rich Harden had no realistic chance to bring the Cubs back after giving up 2 early runs.  While Harden wasn't really that bad, it was too little (4.1 IP), too late (Game 3 on the road).  The strength of the 2008 Chicago Cubs, their aces in the hole, were trumped by superior hitting by the Dodger and a total lack of run support.  Ted Lilly, arguably the strongest pitcher down the stretch for the Cubs, never threw a pitch.  A 17-game winner, riding the pine when the Cubs needed pitching.  Lou Piniella should be ashamed.

Continue reading "6 months, down the drain"

case of the "it's-the-playoffs-OMGZ" in Game 1.  No hitting, save Mark DeRosa.  Carlos Zambrano, despite taking a tough loss, was a victim of unspeakably bad defense by every infielder.  That fateful 2nd inning, Zambrano essentially pitched 7 outs.  Ryan Theriot should have gloved the ball after the lead off single, DeRosa should have had an easy double play, and Derrek Lee, most surprisingly of all the infielders, booted a can of corn grounder.  Normally, he picks that like a badly congested nose.  Counting the double play as two outs, that's 4 potential outs passed up, and Zambrano had to work for the next 3.  7 outs.  SEVEN!  Unbelievable and unallowable.

Continue reading "Suspending judgment until.... later...."

Let's just get this out of the way: P Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter on Sunday night at Miller Park was brilliant.  Sure, the Astros were tired, worn-down some from Hurricane Ike, and the game was a virtual home game, but you would have a great amount of difficult convincing me that Carlos couldn't do that to any other team in the majors.  His fastball was popping, he's splitter was uber-filthy, and he had every hitter off balance.  THe only time he lost his command has the pitch he plunked OF Hunter Pence with, and the walk to OF Michael Bourne was on three pitches that were extremely close but didn't go Carlos' way.  It is great to see

Continue reading "A utility-man's appreciation"

Notice, I didn’t mention the turmoil that is Carlos Zambrano. Just thinking about him and his arm makes me queasy.

Continue reading "No, not again. Please tell me I'm ..."

ike Hampton ($15.975M, courtesy of his monster Rockies deal) John Smoltz ($14M)Josh Beckett ($10.1M)Carlos Zambrano ($16M)Mark Buehrle ($14M)Javier Vazquez ($11.5M)Jose Contreras ($10M)CC Sabathia ($11M)Jake Westbrook ($10M)Roy Oswalt ($13M Gil Meche ($11.4M) Jon Garland ($12M)Jason Schmidt ($15.2M) Derek Lowe ($10M)Ben Sheets ($10.1M)Johan Santana ($16.9M)Pedro Martinez ($11.8M)Andy Pettitte ($16M)Mike Mussina ($11M)Carl Pavano ($11M)Matt Morris ($10M)Greg Maddux ($10M) Barry Zito ($14.5M)Chris Carpenter ($10.5M)Vincente Padilla ($11M)Kevin Millwood ($10.3M) AJ Burnett ($13.2M)Roy Halladay ($10M)

Continue reading "Washburn's Farewell"

went down with bulging disks; he’s now back with the club, and doubled in Sunday’s win. Carlos Zambrano went on the shelf with a mild shoulder strain, but he returned on Friday and was the dominant ace pitcher we remember from April and May. Reed Johnson saw a minimum 15-day DL stint with back spasms, but he is now 100 percent, and has gotten plenty of playing time in the four games since his activation. So as most of the battered Cubs have seen themselves get back on track, their leadoff man is still missing in action.

Continue reading "Healthy Cubs are Dangerous Cubs"

So with the recent arm trouble of the heart of the ballclub, Carlos Zambrano, there is no way we should not throw everything we have at Cleveland for  pitcher C.C. Sabathia. Sabathia would be a huge acquisition for the boys in blue, and could be reminiscent of a trade that brought a certain someone from Cleveland in 1984 for Joe Carter. C.C has won the Cy Young, he's started games for the US National Team, he's won playoff games, and he's only turning 28 years old this month. He is a guy we can piece together with Zambrano, and finally give Z some protection. Lilly has been solid, but is he a cemented ace or #2 guy? No. Having Big Z and Big C.C. going back to back would be deadly. Carlos is the power throwing righty with the fierce demeanor, and C.C. is the cool, calm, competitive lefty that is as poised as anyone. It would be our own variant of Drysdale-Koufax, and Schilling-Johnson.

Continue reading "Cubs Crave Sabathia"

So I wouldnt be surprised to see Lee, Ramirez, Hoffpauir and yes even Carlos Zambrano used as a DH.   I think Z may be used in his start as hitting plays a part in his makeup and help

Continue reading "Soriano breaks hand - out six weeks. ..."

ery minute of it.  This team has some of the most exciting player's in the NL.Two words.  Carlos Zambrano.  Big Z.  Call his what you want but his pitching and even hitting

Continue reading "The Chicago Cubs and Zanie Zambrano"

It has been a while since my last post, which was bitter to say the least. A month and a half later I can hardly find much to complain about when it comes to the Cubs. They look like the best baseball team in the National League right now (obviously their record doesn't disagree), and after a 7-0 homestand this week, my baseball excitement is at its peak. I can't miss a Cubs game anymore. I make a point to try to watch or listen to every game, and I went to two games during the undefeated homestand. They have just been so entertaining to watch. Their play has been solid all around, and their offense has just been hilarious. Geovany Soto has been incredible, and he looks like he is going to be a legitimate NL all star catcher for years to come in the shadow of Mike Piazza.

Continue reading "Cubs Tearing Up the National League"

I was in attendance at the Wednesday night cubs victory, what a finish! Carlos Zambrano wasn't his best, but he stayed strong and kept the cubs in position to win. A chilly night left both team

Continue reading "Good times at Wrigley"

   And when I see a perfomance like I did tonight by the ace pitcher of the Chicago Cubs, Carlos Zambrano, who went 4 for 5 with 2 RBI's to raise his season average to .343, it makes me want more than ever to see this stupid rule done away with.   

Continue reading "Dump the Designated Hitter Rule ..."

After the Cubs had one of their best records in April in 1969, the start of May is starting to resemble the collapse towards of the season in 1969.  In one their toughest weeks this season, nothing looked pretty as the Cubs just won two out six against there NL Central rivals the Brewers and the Cardinals.  In a week that could have seperated them from everyone else in the divison, the Cubs are now looking up towards the Cardinals who now have a 1 1/2 lead over the Cubs.  Lets quickly recap this horrible week the Cubs have endured.

Continue reading "Rough Week for Cubs spells Rough Road Ahead"

sacrafice fly in the tenth inning.

     Carlos Zambrano and Ben Sheets pitched up to their enormous potential each throwing shutouts for 6 and 2/3 and 6 1/3 respectively before giving way to their bullpens.

Continue reading "Cursed Start?"

ut his early struggles will likely prevent him from attaining a .295 average throughout the year.

Carlos Zambrano: Wins (15 1/2)-over, ERA (3.42)-under, Strikeouts (190 1/2)-over

     The excuses of a contract situation are behind

Continue reading "Bodog: Buy or Sell"

Still no Brian Roberts, still no centerfielder acquisition. That's okay, because it still looks like at least one of those is going to happen before opening day. And Soriano has finally been nudged from the leadoff spot, thank god. It will be good to see him driving in runs this year. I don't really like him in the 2 spot though because he isn't going to advance any runners (unless they plan on stealing constantly, which may work because pitchers will avoid throwing him fastballs at all costs). 

Continue reading "Two Weeks Till Opening Day"

;  One just has to ask former Cub catcher Michael Barrett about the emotional ups and downs of Carlos Zambrano. This has been a topic amongst fans and media alike for the last couple of years.

Continue reading "Harnessing the Bull...."

these do happen you wish would not happen, please do no send me hate mail.  Enjoy!

 (1) Carlos Zambrano will get injured.

     Ever since the Dusty Baker era in 2003, Zambrano has become a work horse by pitching over 200 innings each year.  That includes his whopping total of 216.1 innings last year.  To add to that, Zambrano has averaged 107.9 pitches per game since 2003.  This will eventually catch up to this 26 year old.  His arm is bound to give in soon, and when it does, the Cubs will not know what to do.

Continue reading "Carlos Zambrano Injured!!!"

ng this pessimistic feeling that Ted Lilly isn't going to be as clutch as he was last year, and Carlos Zambrano seems to be losing his mind and control on the mound more and more each year.

Continue reading "Let Baseball Season Begin Already"

“Hell is going to freeze over” and the Cubs will win the World Series.  Then came Carlos Zambrano with his “I’m going to win the Cy Young Award and we will win World Series,” scheme.  None of these predictions have worked and it only gives their fans false hope.  What else do us Cubs fans have?  Lou Pinella says he plans on having a meeting with the team when they all report on not to carry the load of 100 years of futility on their backs.  Come on Lou, you they will.  Do you know how much attention the Cubs will get during the season especially as the season winds down when everything counts?  Do you think it will be in everybodys mind when your in the playoffs and the cry for this crisis to end is in need?  Oh, and what if you are in the World Series, trust me, it will be in the players minds.

Continue reading "Is this the year of Dreams? Think ..."