When it comes to high drama there’s no one like the Chicago Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano. Well, at least since Mark Prior left town and Kerry Wood discovered the Cubs’ bullpen.
It had been a relatively quiet five months for Big Z. Sure there had been a few broken bats across the knee and the usual attack or two on the dugout watercooler.
Both of which are a far cry better than last season’s emotional antics. Better to spill a few drops of H2O than spill the blood of your starting catcher (Michael Barret) or incite the wrath of 40,000 Chicago Cub baseball fans.
Yep, 2008 looked like the year Zambrano finally had wrestled with his demons and won. And with his $91.5 million dollar contract Big Z pitched like the ace everyone in Cubdom had expected.
Then August came and Zambrano went. Like last season, August 2008 hasn’t been kinder or gentler to the emotionally reformed right hander. Since August 3rd, Zambrano has a 1-1 record with four no decisions. The Cubs went 4-2 in those starts.
On Tuesday, Zambrano left after five innings and 86 pitches, complaining of discomfort. This came after he was scratched from Sunday’s scheduled start in hopes of rejuvenating a “tired” arm.
“He visited Dr. (Stephen) Gryzlo this afternoon and he physically examined him. The MRI he was supposed to take, he didn’t take for whatever reason, so the examination is incomplete. Until he gets an MRI done, we don’t have anything to report,” Piniella said.
Although the news was as quiet as the Chicago Cubs bats, I suspect there’s a tad more concern. Rich Harden, who also has complained of soreness, won’t pitch again till Saturday, 12 days after his last start.
And let’s not forget the Cubs just getting swept by Houston for their fifth consecutive loss and longest of the 2008 season.
Regardless of the outcome of Zambrano’s MRI, the Chicago Cubs will continue to keep their eye on the prize. That long look of despair? That’ll belong to Cubdom.
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