Yardbarker: Carlos Zambrano

Stubhub gets a 15 Yard Penalty

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:22:14 -0500

NFL rules include (at the referee's discretion) flagging a 15 yard penalty for Taunting. MLB umps just give 'em the "yer outta here" thumb. Even Carlos Zambrano occasionally gets into the fun.

I received this e-mail today from Stubhub:

Where do you want to sit?

Hey Joseph,

Be there alongside your Chicago Cubs as they chase baseball immortality. Go to StubHub, where you’ll find a fantastic selection of tickets to every playoff game – so you experience the championship chase live and in person. Check it out. Go to StubHub and get the seats you want today.

Then a few hours later I got this apology:

Hi Joseph,

Earlier today, an email promoting Chicago Cubs postseason tickets was sent to you. This, unfortunately, was a mistake. We regret the error and apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.

Sincerely,

The StubHub Team

CONFUSION?

That's about the only thing regarding the Cubs making the 2009 playoffs that I don't have.

TRICK OR TREAT?

I'd better check the apple in my goodie bag. Someone in the Stubhub house just might have mistakenly put a razor blade in it.

What the Hell Happened with Carlos Zambrano?

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:40:58 -0500

Since Carlos Zambrano came into the league he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball. He’s no longer as dominating as he once was, but he’s still a really good pitcher. He picked up his 100th career win this season. Zambrano has had a lot of up and down seasons and 2009 was no different. Much of the “up and down” is imagined by the media and fans, but when Zambrano is bad, he’s really bad. And when he’s good, he’s really good. The g...

Zambrano could retire after 2010

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:01:00 -0500

Carlos Zambrano has been tricked into thinking he’s had such an awful season that he will retire at the end of 2010 he is not better than 2009. Someone should tell him that he’s had his best season since 2005 and that he needs to stop listening to the dumbass fans. “Look, this is the only season I haven’t won 16 or 18 or 14 games,” he said. “If it happens again next season, two seasons in a row, I’ll quit. Believe me, I’ll quit. I just have to p...

Z Complete Game Shutout for Zambrano - Cubs 3 Giants 0

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:12:16 -0500

Game One Hundred Fifty-Three - Cubs 3 Giants 0 WP - Carlos Zambrano (9-6) LP - Tim Lincecum (14-7) Save - None Friday night was all about Carlos Zambrano. In a game that took only one hour and 56 minutes to complete, not only did Zambrano toss the Cubs first nine-inning complete game of the year he drove in two of the Cubs' three runs. Carlos Zambrano out pitched Tim Lincecum and handed the Giants' ace his second home loss of the season (9-2). Big Z found a rhythm early agains...

3 Teams Zambrano Willing to Get Traded To

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:18:45 -0500

This is basically a one-line blog entry, but I'm so over all this Bradley drama.

Nick Cafrado over at the Boston Globe is reporting that if Carlos Zambrano is moved, there are only three teams he'd be willing to go...Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. I would say, I don't know how the Angles wouldn't get on that list. If he's willing to to an AL team or Los Angeles, you couldn't find a classier organization than the Angels, so if the Cubs really pursue that course, I'm sure they'll get a few attentive general managers on the phone.

As for Bradley, pardon my over-used metaphor, but it's a disaster of Hindenburg proportions both by the player and management. Good luck trying to move that $21M off the books Jim, unlike Zambrano, I don't think they'll be a lot of attentive gm's on the phone for that call. The only other parallel I can think of is Jose Guillen getting suspended by the Angels near the end of 2004. The Angels did move him to the Nationals in the offseason for Maicer Izturis and Juan Rivera, but Guillen (according to BR.com salaries) only had $3.5M and a $4M 2006 option left on his deal. They also had Jim Bowden as their GM, who made a habit of taking on talent basket cases at a discount.

Zambrano's Own Trap Sets His Own Trap

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:36:30 -0500

(Click on the thumbnail for the full-size image)

Well, what do you think about Carlos Zambrano maybe getting traded?
He's got a no-trade clause in his $91.5 million dollar contact which would keep him a Cub through 2012 (there's a vesting option for 2013 too).
But he's apparently going to be shopped by the Cubs, which makes sense only if the Cubs have an idea that Carlos would approve something.
There's a pretty good interview with Steve Stone on the Mully and Hanley show on the Score about this.
"Carlos has told some people that he'd be willing to go. More than one or two people, by the way." he said.
If that's true, and I think it is, then it's kinda Carlos' own trap setting his own trap.
The other news was that Jim Hendry will be returning for 2010 (plus more about Carlos Zambrano being shopped - read the end).
That's a pretty large story there.
It has seemed (to me at least) like Carlos has been sort of ambivalent about being a Cub for awhile now.
That "joke" about loving the White Sox earlier didn't sit so well, you know?
Anyway, changes are gonna come, and we should all be expecting them to.
If Carlos goes somewhere, well then I would hope the Cubs get something serious in return.

Tim Souers is the illustrator and author of Cubby Blue and appreciates the opportunity to guest blog here at The Cub Reporter.
http://www.cubby-blue.com

Carlos Zambrano Doesn't Care If The Cubs Trade Him

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:15:00 -0500

Reports have been swirling around Chicago recently that the Cubs would be looking to deal pitcher Carlos Zambrano during the winter. It is widely known that he has a no-trade clause in his contract, yet the reports keep coming. It's pretty predictable that Zambrano wouldn't be too thrilled about the reports. But you knew someone would eventually ask him about them. You also knew that Zambrano would eventually loose his cool when asked. "I don't care," Zambrano ...

Paul Sullivan Continues His Anti-Z Jihad

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:13:32 -0500

A day after Paul Sullivan made it clear he doesn't have time to talk to people at Wrigley Field, he implicitly criticizes Carlos Zambrano for not wanting to talk to people at Wrigley Field: Afterward, Zambrano was in no mood to discuss a Tribune report that the Cubs plan to ask him to waive his no-trade clause and shop him this off-season. After initially contacting the Tribune about the report, Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, declined to comment, as did the Cubs."Why, are you g...

The Market for Carlos Zambrano

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:15:00 -0500

With news breaking yesterday that the Cubs may look to deal Carlos Zambrano, I can't help but be skeptical. Firstly, I have a tough time believing that any team will take on the more than $50+ million owed to Zambrano over the next three years (probably more). Secondly, I doubt that the Cubs will be able to get a package for Zambrano that they find appealing. Zambrano has too much money owed to him and too much of a injury risk for teams to deal legit prospects for him:With that said, I s...

Cubs To Shop Zambrano This Winter?

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:51:50 -0500

The Cubs plan on shopping Carlos Zambrano this offseason, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Citing unnamed sources, Sullivan says the Cubs believe Zambrano would waive his no-trade clause to accept a deal to the right team. The 28-year-old righty jokingly suggested it might be easier to play in another market. "Maybe if I go to a different city next year, if I get traded, I can do what I want," he said. Sullivan says the Cubs think they can find a team willing to ...

Ken Rosenthal Says Cubs Could Trade Carlos Zambrano

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:54:21 -0500

According to MLBTR, Ken Rosenthal said the Cubs could trade Zambrano this offseason in a recent video on foxsports.net I have to ask, who is running the team? Is it the media and fans or is it Tom Ricketts, Crane Kenney, and Jim Hendry? I’d like to think it’s the latter, but that would basically mean Ken Rosenthal is making **** up. That’s entirely possible and I hope that’s what it is. So with Rich Harden headed to free agency, Ken Rosenthal thinks the Cubs might b...

Zambrano Returns

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:17:34 -0500

Carlos Zambrano returns Tuesday night after spending several weeks on the DL with a strained back possibly related to his overzealous batting practice swinging habits. He gets to take a little dip in the kiddie pool (pitching against the Nationals) before diving into the big boy pool in his next start (pitching against a real [...]

Zambrano Says: "I've Been Lazy"... And Other Cubs Notes

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:03:22 -0500

More photos » by Wilfredo Lee - ASSOCIATED PRESS This was the last time we saw Z on the mound -- August 1 at Florida. Browse more photos » The headline isn't intended to be snarky -- it happens to be exactly what Carlos Zambrano said about himself: "My problem is I've been lazy," a contrite Zambrano said. "There are things in life you don't like to do, but you have to do them....

Carlos Zambrano: The Most Overpaid Player in Baseball?

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:15:00 -0500

Sometimes you run across an article that is so ludicrous that it makes your head spin. This was one of them. Sometimes you run across an article that you can tell will be terrible just from the headline. This was one of them. As soon as I saw this headline, I knew I was in trouble: "Zambrano May Be the Most Overpaid Player in the Game " Oh, boy. Here we go. This guy has obviously never heard of Barry Zito or Vernon Wells: The facts don't lie. The Cubs are paying for top flight p...

From the Wire ... Zambrano to the DL

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:50:52 -0500

According to a report from Bruce Levine from ESPN 1000 in Chicago, Carlos Zambrano will be placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday. The Cubs will likely recall Jeff Stevens from Triple-A Iowa to take his place on the roster. Carlos Zambrano flew back to Chicago on Saturday morning for a MRI on his back.