Carlos Zambrano

[Chicagofan76]

Wow, still not sure on all the details on this. If he did walk out, thats the end of his Cubs career. Come play on the South Side Big Z. Ozzie will get your head straightened out.


Carlos Zambrano retire: After latest ejection, Cubs' Zambrano says he's retiring - chicagotribune.com

Quade should have pulled him earlier, Big Z is known to lose it when he gets shelled, just ask my Sox last yr.

[Goody]

What a big baby. Nothing more to say about this. Case closed.

[MadBum]

I, for one, will miss Big Z if he's retiring for real. Sure, he acts like a big baby and has emotional problems, but at the very least he's entertaining. That's more than you can say for Doug Davis or Ramon Ortiz. Heck, he's better than any of the pitchers the Cubs have right now!

I'm sure the Cubbies would give the Pale Hose Carlos if the Sox would just take on the 18 million he's owed...

[Goodsox]

Hoping Adam Dunn follows his lead

[CD1083]

If he retires that means I attended his last home start with the Cubbies.

Kind of bitter sweet.

[Chicagofan76]

I like Big Z, I still think he has it in himself to win 20+ 3 or more yrs in a row. He can be close to lights out when he is on. He just needs some counseling.
Can we trade Dunn & Zach Stewart for Big Z and A-Ram?

[rudel.dietrich]

This is fantastic news for the Cubs if true. He is owed 24 million between this year and next season. If he walks away from it, that would facilitate rebuilding.

[endgame]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

This is fantastic news for the Cubs if true. He is owed 24 million between this year and next season. If he walks away from it, that would facilitate rebuilding.

Exactly.

[CD1083]

If he doesn't want to pitch, I will.

[mrcoach00]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

This is fantastic news for the Cubs if true. He is owed 24 million between this year and next season. If he walks away from it, that would facilitate rebuilding.

He's not going to walk away from 24 million. He is more Milton Bradley than he is Gil Meche. Big Z may have pitched for the last time as a Cub, but he's going to take them to the bank.

My guess is the Cubs will release him like they did Silva at the beginning of last year, but only after they figure out that they have absolutely no leverage in trying to trade him to another team. Seriously, who would even trade a low level prospect for him even if the Cubs pick up the $18 million he is owed for next year? He's a ticking time bomb (timeline of events) that most sane GMs wouldn't want to touch.

He'll be released, eventually, and then someone will pick him up for MLB minimum while the Cubs pay the rest of his regrettable contract.

The only question is this: will Big Z break the contract eating salary record? The D'backs cut Russ Ortiz back in June of 2006 and "ate" the remaining portion of his contract. Ortiz' number is $22 million. If they cut Big Z right now it would be a little under $24 million.

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by mrcoach00

He's not going to walk away from 24 million. He is more Milton Bradley than he is Gil Meche. Big Z may have pitched for the last time as a Cub, but he's going to take them to the bank.

My guess is the Cubs will release him like they did Silva at the beginning of last year, but only after they figure out that they have absolutely no leverage in trying to trade him to another team. Seriously, who would even trade a low level prospect for him even if the Cubs pick up the $18 million he is owed for next year? He's a ticking time bomb (timeline of events) that most sane GMs wouldn't want to touch.

He'll be released, eventually, and then someone will pick him up for MLB minimum while the Cubs pay the rest of his regrettable contract.

The only question is this: will Big Z break the contract eating salary record? The D'backs cut Russ Ortiz back in June of 2006 and "ate" the remaining portion of his contract. Ortiz' number is $22 million. If they cut Big Z right now it would be a little under $24 million.

They're not cutting him. It's a game of chicken. The odds are in favor that Z will swerve first. He's unstable and let's emotions get the best of him.

Zambrano is still producing fairly well. It would be in the Cubs best interest to let him be the one who decides to leave and if he doesn't leave put him on the mound and make him produce for you.

[Rasmuth]

it never fails to amaze me how quickly a career of a good/great player can deteriorate...whether by physical or mental decline...

It helps me appreciate better the players who put together long careers as productive MLB players.

[1998 Yankees]

Originally Posted by Chicagofan76

I like Big Z, I still think he has it in himself to win 20+ 3 or more yrs in a row. He can be close to lights out when he is on. He just needs some counseling.

As you said earlier, he needs a no-BS manager who will tell him "Last chance. Cut the crap or else." However, I think mrcoach is right about no GM wanting to take a chance on this nut job.

Originally Posted by The Chase Davis

If he doesn't want to pitch, I will.

From your typing fingertips to God's ears. Can you imagine? I would give my left you-know-what (I'm right-, uh, handed) to have had the chances and experiences that Zambrano has had. Everything is relative, however. I am sure that there are plenty of people who would love the (sometimes) boring office job that I have.

Originally Posted by Rasmuth

it never fails to amaze me how quickly a career of a good/great player can deteriorate...whether by physical or mental decline...

It helps me appreciate better the players who put together long careers as productive MLB players.

+1. The mental aspect of sports is under-appreciated and -reported IMO. The mental toughness and equanimity required to play well, especially baseball, cannot be over-emphasized.