Chicago Cubs to decide Carlos Zambrano’s fate as the starter pitches after three months – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs’ starter Carlos Zambrano hurled 40 pitches on Wednesday, November 2 to formally impart the message that he was ready to play. Appearing in Venezuelan Winter League, his three-inning tune-up bodes well for him in the event of getting a chance
to play in the Cubs.
What troubles Zambrano, however, is the fact that he has not won any game for the Chicago Cubs since August 2011. His last appearance for the team against the Atlanta Braves brought no less than five homers that forced his ejection with the throw inside
to the Braves’ Chipper Jones.
So overwhelming was the frustration back then that he left the ballpark there and then, saying he was retiring. Such an intemperate behaviour earned the ire of team management that then placed him on the restricted list which lasted for a month.
Since then, the player has had no opportunity to play in the team. However, the appearance in Venezuelan Winter League may prove to be beneficial for the player as he is also scheduled to start against Magallanes in the coming weekend.
The pitcher expressed his satisfaction over the start that he had last night.
"After three months without pitching, I was a little tight, but the important thing is I did get in a rhythm," Zambrano told reporters in Venezuela. "I had a good sinker and slider, and those are the pitches I need batters to hit on the ground."
However, what remains unclear is how Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein deal with the case. Known to be strict disciplinarians, any decision may come once they sit to deliberate over the issue.
The message, however, was a bit of unclear when Epstein spoke on the matter. "Now it's just a matter of processing the information, putting it together, following up directly with Carlos and seeing what's best for the Cubs," Epstein said. "That's what's
most important."
With Quade dismissed, the Chicago Cubs, under the auspices of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, will make a host of big decisions to put the team on the winning track as they lost over 90 of their games in the 2011 regular season.
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