Jonathan Daniel - Getty Images
Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs hits against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Angels 12-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
NOTE: I posted this early Friday, and then... well, there was quite a bit of other news Friday so this post got quickly buried and not heavily commented. I thought, since it's quieter on Monday, I'd move this back to the top of the page, in case you missed it on Friday.
Carlos Zambrano played 11 seasons for the Cubs. Not many players in recent years have had that many years in blue pinstripes -- since 1980, apart from Big Z only Ryne Sandberg, Shawon Dunston, Kerry Wood, Sammy Sosa and Mark Grace have played for the Cubs for that long or longer -- and that long a tenure has to create at least some positive memorable moments. Since I detailed the reasons yesterday why new Cubs management felt they had to send him to the Marlins and move on, it seems only right that we recall the good things about Big Z, the things that made us feel good about him, the things that made him a popular player for a long time.
I first saw Carlos Zambrano pitch in spring training in 2001; it was a game against the Oakland Athletics, as I recall, though there aren't any spring box score links going back that far and I can't remember exactly what he did that day. I do remember thinking that this tall, skinny (yes, he was quite thin), not-yet-20-year-old kid wearing No. 67 might someday make a good closer.
You know, even in hindsight and knowing what Z did all these years, that might not have been a bad idea. Consider guys like Jose Valverde, who often show antics on the field that fans of opposing teams don't really care for. Z might have been a closer like that; throwing one inning at a time wouldn't have given him the long days on the mound that eventually led to his blowups. I have no doubt that if he'd been made a setup man, then closer, out of the minor leagues, that he'd have been a good one. On August 20, 2001 he became the first player born in the 1980s to make a major league appearance when he started the second game of a doubleheader against the Brewers at Wrigley Field. He got hit hard and gave up seven runs in four innings. I was at that game, but truth be told, I don't recall much about what he did that day other than noting how young he was. In the expansion era (since 1961), Z is the youngest Cubs pitcher to make his MLB debut as a starter.
2003 was the first year Z was in the rotation full time and he made the most of the chance, leading the NL in HR rate (0.4) and giving up just nine homers in 214 innings. He had his best games when his hard sinker was working; I wish he'd have stuck with that instead of trying to become a strikeout pitcher. It seems that management, both the front office and field managers, wanted Cubs pitchers to be "hard throwers" and Z's walk and HR totals started going up beginning in 2005. He led the NL in walks in both 2006 and 2007, but also led the league in wins in 2006 for a really bad Cubs team, and finished fifth in Cy Young voting in both seasons.
This was also around the time that everyone became aware of how good a hitter he was. In 2005, he hit .300 with a .463 SLG (six doubles, two triples and a home run). The home run was a monstrous shot in Minute Maid Park off Roy Oswalt that helped the Cubs win this game 4-2. A year later he hit only .151, but with six HR, tying the Cubs' team record set by Fergie Jenkins in 1971.
Overall with the Cubs, in 708 plate appearances -- about one season's worth for a leadoff hitter -- Z hit .241/.251/.395 with 26 doubles, three triples, 23 home runs, 69 RBI and 72 runs scored. In fact, those numbers would look even better if his managers hadn't insisted on using him as a pinch-hitter, something he wasn't very good at (3-for-29 lifetime with 14 strikeouts). Take out those AB and Z's career triple-slash line is .248/.258/.408. His 23 HR lead all active pitchers and if he hits two this year, he will pass Bob Gibson and Walter Johnson on the all-time pitcher home run list.
The hitting, I will miss. Watching Big Z take one of those gargantuan swings, trying to smash a 900-foot homer into Lake Michigan, was always entertaining, and when he connected, even more fun.
On October 3, 2007, it appeared that Z would finally make his mark in the postseason. In Game 1 of the NLDS against the Diamondbacks he had an outstanding outing -- six innings, three hits, one run, eight strikeouts. But Lou Piniella, in one of his worst managerial moves, pulled him after only 85 pitches, ostensibly "saving" him for Game 4. The game was tied 1-1 and Z was cruising. Lou should have left him in; Carlos Marmol, then a setup man, blew the game and there never was a Game 4.
Then there was Z's no-hitter on Sept. 14, 2008, one of the most exciting times I've ever spent at a ballpark. You all know the details; here's what I wrote about how Z performed in that day's game recap:
He was focused, didn't engage in mound histrionics, and kept his pitch count down (110 pitches, 73 strikes, and if that doesn't sound like "down", remember that we have seen Z throw 100 pitches in five innings at times in the past). Give Geovany Soto some credit for this -- I think he has been a real calming influence on Z ever since his recall, and deserves all the props he can get for handling the entire pitching staff all year like a veteran. Z also singled and scored -- thankfully, the relay throw was bobbled when Z was rounding third, because the last thing any of us wanted to see was Z having to slide into the plate.
It's the only no-hitter thrown by a Cubs pitcher in the last 39 years. I feel privileged to have seen it in person. It will always be one of my best baseball memories.
And a year later, on Sept. 25, 2009, he threw a game that some think was nearly as good as his no-hitter. He outpitched the Giants' Tim Lincecum at AT&T Park and threw a two-hit shutout (both singles) with eight strikeouts. The Cubs won three of four in that series and that game helped knock the Giants out of the wild card race.
Time has a way of making bad memories fade and keeping the good memories up front. When Ron Santo was traded away from the Cubs after 1973, a lot of fans, tired of Santo's strikeouts and the fact that teams he starred on never won anything, said "Good riddance." Yet here we are, about to celebrate Santo's induction into the Hall of Fame as one of the most beloved figures in team history.
I'm not saying Zambrano will be a Hall of Famer -- most likely, not -- only that in spite of the bad behavior that pushed Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer to send him away almost at any cost, there are still many good memories we all share of Carlos Zambrano's 11 seasons in a Cubs uniform, three of which wound up as playoff years, even though the Cubs were eliminated in each of those postseasons. Like it was for Santo at the time he left, now is the time for Z to go, for various reasons.
I do wish Z well, except when he's facing the Cubs. And I hope Chris Volstad is at least a serviceable major league starter. It's a new dawn and a new era for the Cubs, and we'll eventually find new heroes.
Until then, for a moment at least, forget the bad behavior and keep the memorable good times in mind.
2 recs | 66 comments
Very well done, Al
Thanks for reminding us that we don’t need to feel just one way about a player.
BleedinCBintheBalkans - January 6, 2012
Al, ever thought of going into the mainstream media?
You are an awful lot more “fair and balanced” than anybody I see.
Like I commented yesterday; I’ll miss the good Z.
The_Rock - January 6, 2012
I'll never forget the way he performed in September 2004
He was the only Cubs player on that team that played well down the stretch. I believe he had an sub 2 ERA in 4 September starts. During his early years, when Z was on, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball.
magicblue - January 6, 2012
In five starts from Sept. 6-27, 2004
… Z had a 1.01 ERA, and the Cubs won all five games. He had a 1.065 WHIP and gave up just one home run in 35.2 innings.
Al Yellon - January 6, 2012
Thanks, Al. An excellent bookend to yesterday's essay. Warts and hugs, a complete picture.
Although he never hit one out to the streets during a game (at least I don’t think he did), Z was very good to the ballhawks during batting practice. He definitely had more power from the left-side (strong enough to reach both Sheffield and Waveland), but wasn’t too shabby right-handed either.
My favorite memory of Z though, was a simple, two-word sentence – “We stinks.” Some might argue that just shows his immaturity, part of his meltdown mentality, etc. but to me, in this cliche-ridden world of not-my-fault athletes, it was a breath of fresh air. I’m sure the slight grammatical incorrectness had some allure as well, but the simple honesty of that two-word sentence spoke volumes to me. They did stink and he wasn’t afraid to admit it. Works for me.
ballhawk - January 6, 2012
I hate to ruin feel good Z day but Hawk you're memory of that day is a little fuzzy.
Go back and look at the boxscore. Z said “we stinks” but what he meant was Carlos Marmol stinks. That’s the game that Marmol blew in the 10th against the Cardinals. Z threw his teammate under the bus. Z pitched 7 innings and gave up 1 run. He wasn’t talking about himself.
If he would have taken this approach when HE had a bad game, we probably would not be in the situation we are in today. I appreciate all the great things Z did here. Hell, I was at his no hitter. It was fantastic. But no revisionist history either I’ll be honest. I’m still mad. Our team has to suck on $15 million because he put them in a position where he couldn’t come back. Sorry, but that’s how I feel.
Rick B - January 6, 2012
Okay, I did go back and look at the boxscore (6/5/11)
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201106050.shtml
Lopez is the one who lost it in the 10th, giving up a HR to Pujols. Marmol blew the save in the 9th by giving up a single to Molina and double by Riot, amongst two strikeouts and a groundout. Yes, it was a blown save, but I wouldn’t say it was of catastrophic proportions that would prompt being thrown under a bus.
That loss was their 6th in a row, and 8th out of last 10, putting their record at 23-34 and in 5th place, 11 games out. Also happened to come on the heels of the previous day’s extra-inning loss on yet another Pujols walkoff HR, compliments of Shark. Just got swept by the Cardinals, coming after being swept by the Astros (at home!), and losing 2 of 3 against Pirates (again, at home) before that.
Yeah, I’d say “We stinks” is a pretty accurate summation of the Cubs at that time. Now if Z had said “Look at me, I’m pitching great, I’m doing all I can and we still stinks”, then I’d consider him to be thinking more about himself than the team. But as it played out in real-time, I’d say it was an expression of extreme frustration that had been building up for some time.
ballhawk - January 6, 2012
I think you can characterize Z's last three years as frustrating.
He wanted nothing more than to win. he didn’t deal well with losing.
cub in louies nest - January 9, 2012 via mobile
Even though he was a hot-headed...
I always thought if he got traded to a team like the Yankee’s he’d really thrive. Surrounded by players that are expected to be in the World Series every year may have been a humbling experience to him. Also, You have to know if ARod/Jeter tells him to shut up, he may just listen given their status as players.
ubercubsfan - January 9, 2012
I think his drive to win
Would’ve fit well with the Yankees. I think lack of strong leadership within the Cubs organization didn’t help him. I don’t think Z really understood how to motivate his teammates. His frustration resulted in blow-ups.
cub in louies nest - January 9, 2012 via mobile
You may be right...
…which is why the culture that Hendry created over the years was really the worst thing for a guy like Zambrano. You could say that was the managers fault, but the Cubs havent’ had a manager that stayed for any prolonged period over his career. The one constant, was Hendry.
MPH73 - January 9, 2012
I disagree. He talked specifically about the Theriot at bat.
. That brought attention to one guy. Marmol. We see it differently.
Rick B - January 9, 2012
Any big contracts this year is wasted 'sunk cost'
And that includes the lame Harry Caray impersonator, and 10 game winner in 2011 (Z had 9), Ryan “the Foundation” Dempster, he of the $14M wasted contract. He fought with the manager and refused a trade…two pieces of evidence against Z and Ramirez. Sorry, but that’s how I feel.
Dan Serafini - January 10, 2012
Thanks, Al
It’s good to read the positives. Big Z was a very good pitcher.
Let’s also remember the no-hitter that was stolen from him by the first-base ump back in… I don’t know, 2003? Arizona, 7th or 8th inning. He should have two.
Last year, had Z finished the season, he would have led the team in wins with 12 or 13. Sometimes, he put us over the top with his bat. Sometimes, he did it with guts, pitching out of jams and going deep into games.
I’ll miss THAT Big Z, the one we saw MOST of the time.
Volstad excites me not. No WHIP under 1.3 throughout the minors too. This is a salary dump for a number five pitcher.
KO Stradivarius - January 6, 2012 via mobile
Just what Theo said.
They tried and tried to move Z. No takers until Florida came along. It appears the Cubs were lucky to get a live body.
Grockcubs - January 6, 2012
The Marlins specifically said Ozzie had a lot to do with this.
If Ozzie were still with the White Sox, would they have done the same thing? We’ll never know.
Al Yellon - January 6, 2012
I remember that Arizona game.
I believe the blown call was with two outs in the eight. He retired the next batter and the first two in the ninth before giving up a couple more hits. Had it not been for the blown call, that second out in the ninth could have been the final out of a no-no.
Julio Zuleta's Voodoo - January 6, 2012
What can you say?
He could of been the best Cub pitcher of all time. Maddux left in his prime, Fergie moved onto Texas and Boston. Z could of spent his whole career here and would of been appreciated tremendously. It is ironic when Z signed the big deal he was never the same pitcher.
Good luck Z. Hope you find peace.
Grockcubs - January 6, 2012
Apostrophe-v-e
It’s not “could of” and “would of,” it’s could’ve and would’ve. It’s a contraction of the words “could have” and “would have.” The word “of” is completely incorrect and doesn’t even make sense semantically. The word “of” indicates origin or cause, so when you say “would of been” that indicates that “been” is some function of “would,” which means absolutely nothing.
hescalleddyer - January 6, 2012
This hardly seems necessary.
We knew what was meant.
bdlugz - January 6, 2012
Imma let you finish and then rec this
ballhawk - January 6, 2012
He prolly gets that alot
Shanghai Badger - January 9, 2012
Wow.
I have lived with a English major/English teacher for 27 years and I do not get grilled like this. I am sure you are fun to be around. Have a Happy New Year.
Grockcubs - January 6, 2012
I am sorry. Correction.
an English major not a English major.
Grockcubs - January 6, 2012
One more thing.
I am glad I am part of your two comments.
Grockcubs - January 6, 2012
awesome
“I’m going to sign up for every SBN site and only point out when someone is using the word ‘of’ incorrectly”.
Also, his name should be he’scalleddyer…. hes is not a word and means absolutely nothing.
Fukudometer - January 9, 2012
Oh wow!
My name is all wrong too. No caps & a missing apostrophe — I have the corre t name too. I was never able to log on using it.
cub in louies nest - January 9, 2012 via mobile
Yikes
As a spelling/grammar/punctuation Nazi myself, I noticed this too, but come on, is it worth it? If hescalleddyer had made this post to criticize somebody else’s writing style, it would have been merited, but that wasn’t the case.
If you really have an itch to correct, do what I occasionally do, and fix articles on Wikipedia. Seems that nobody knows how to use semi-colons anymore:
Wrong: I bought a new Cubs hat, however it doesn’t fit.
Right: I bought a new Cubs hat; however, it doesn’t fit.
Cheers!
jdb-44 - January 9, 2012
Why not just make sure the hat fits before you buy it?
Julio Zuleta's Voodoo - January 9, 2012 via mobile
Good one...
:)
jdb-44 - January 9, 2012
Echoing the sentiments above.
But well done, Al. It’s good to be reminded that as mindboggling as some of his actions could be, Carlos was still fun to watch when he was locked in. I was at Big Z’s last win on August 6. My buddies took me to a Sheffield Rooftop as a diversion while my fiance was in Afghanistan, and the day turned out to be a total success and a great memory, to include his HR in a rare 2011 Cubs victory. So thanks for the good times, Carlos, and hope you can find a way to channel that talent and that big heart so many people talk about… just not against the Cubs.
Mapanator - January 6, 2012
For a long time
He was my favorite Cub. I loved his competitiveness. You are right, when he was locked in, he was exciting to watch. I loved to watch him hit. There was always a chance he’d hit a souvenir.
cub in louies nest - January 9, 2012 via mobile
One point of contention Al,
when you say that the Cubs management wanted him gone, what you really meant was management and a majority of Cubs fans wanted him gone. It needed to happen.
I agree with what you said. As I posted yesterday I saw him pitch in Des Moines at age 19 and many other times in Chicago, notably once against the Astros in August 2003 when he was un-hittable. His career was full of promise each time I watched him, waiting for the year he performed like this for an entire season. It was promise never met.
mrcubsfan - January 6, 2012
My Connection w/ Z
I too was at that doubleheader and scored both games, although I gave up on the scorecard in the 4th of the second game. Not only did I see his debut, I also fought my friends to catch his first HR ball. We had great seats in the bleachers that day and I vividly remember shoving my friends away as the ball was coming to us. I was two seats away from my buddy who made the catch. In the 7th, somone from the Cubs came and asked for the ball. My friend gave it up and we got to go to Gate K after the game to get autographs as the players went to their car. A few days later my buddy got an autographed bat & ball from Z. Good Times!!!
OnTheFloor - January 6, 2012 via mobile
Z's no-no
Tim Tschida was the home plate umpire the night of Z’s no hitter. Tim lives in St. Paul, and I happen to know a few guys who are long-time friends of his. One of them talked to Tim a few days after the game, and he said that Tim told him that it was probably the best-pitched game he’d ever seen… Z was just ON that night.
cubfanbob - January 6, 2012
The only game I have ever seen in person
… better than that, was Kerry Wood’s 20-K game, which arguably was the most dominant performance in MLB history.
Al Yellon - January 6, 2012
Wood was robbed of a no-hitter that game as well
Should’ve been E5 if I remember correctly.
WindisBlowingOut! - January 9, 2012
Right.
Al Yellon - January 9, 2012
Wrong day to get traffic for this post considering the news we've had.
ubercubsfan - January 6, 2012
Heh.
I was just thinking that. I wrote 1200+ words on Z and got 25 comments.
Oh, well. It’ll be here over the weekend.
Al Yellon - January 6, 2012
Where am I, Fishstripes?
I’m tempted to suggest you should take this down and re-post it tomorrow or Sunday. What an insane day. As usual, the Cubs continue to twist my emotions in so many different directions.
daver - January 6, 2012
It's still on the front page.
People can revisit any time they want.
Al Yellon - January 6, 2012
After the two marathon Z Threads...
I think most of us don’t wish to revisit the Z issue anymore. He’s gone and we got something of value in return. Some are happy and some aren’t. His fan club on BCB has shrunk over the last 6 years (by his doing) to the point that it’s not going to be a long goodbye for him here.
santoswoodenlegs - January 6, 2012
I'll always remember Tony LaRussa's comment about Zambrano in '03.
Someone had asked him about Mark Pryor and Kerry Wood and what he thought about them. He said the pitcher on the Cubs that had him worried was Zambrano.
Cubfansince1957 - January 6, 2012
we
dont play the marlins much so we might see him once.im sure other former cubs like ramirez and maybe pena will come back to haunt us.
NOMAR - January 8, 2012
Good/ bad-either way it was time for him to go.
katie casey - January 9, 2012
I'm not sure I've seen anyone here who disagrees with that.
That being said, after two threads with hundreds of comments about the bad Z, this is a good opportunity to remember that he did bring us a lot of positive moments. I, for one, was always amazed by his athleticism for a man his size. I can remember someone hitting a dribbler down the third-base line, and watching Z explode off the mound a charge at the ball, stab it bare-handed, quickly whirl on one leg and throw a strike to first, and wonder “how does a man that big make a play like that?”. He was definitely a unique player.
Julio Zuleta's Voodoo - January 9, 2012 via mobile
Sitting behind the third-base dugout at Citizens Bank Park back in '05,
I watched Z craft a nifty four-hitter through eight, while occasionally overhearing Phillies fans marvel at Zambrano’s ability to look like a professional hitter.
The Cubs were up 1-0 in the late innings, as the Philly Phanatic tried to rattle Zambrano from his perch atop the first base dugout. It was a great show, and the Phanatic did taunt Z into a five-second stare-down. It might have led to a celebrity death match to end both their careers, but Z fortunately kept his composure and retired the side in order in the eighth.
As Worf knows, I sometimes expect pitchers to be used as they were in the bad old days before five or six inning starts became the rule, so on this day I didn’t bother to check Zambrano’s pitch count, fully expecting to see him ready to complete his shutout in the ninth.
Of course, that’s not the way it works anymore, and there was Dempster, filling the bases and walking in a run, before eventually striking out the side during an agonizing 20 minutes of ninth inning nonsense. That kind of finish has to take something out of a team, and IIRC, the ’05 Cubs went on the skids right after that game. Lucky for Demp he recovered enough that day to avoid the wrath of Z.
ernaga - January 9, 2012
I didn't find out about the Z trade until I got home from work
While we were happy about the trade, we still laughed about some of his antics. My favorite was the uproar he caused by attending a women’s fast-pitch softball game after he’d left a game early with a tight back. He lobbed up 2 balls and from the reaction, you’d think he was trying to throw 100 mph underhand.
RiskyBusiness - January 9, 2012
OT
probably posted but
RT @Ken_Rosenthal: Source: #Cubs close on Maholm. #MLB
RIP Slim - January 9, 2012 via Android app
Posted in the fanshot section.
Al Yellon - January 9, 2012
"Probably posted...
I’m too lazy too look"?
Arbusto - January 9, 2012
nah
I am at work alot so I use sbnations phone app and they don’t have fan shots, only Al’s posts and fan posts. sorry guys.
RIP Slim - January 9, 2012 via Android app
This might be the wrong place to ask a ? about the Cubs Convention
but I didnt want to start an entire fan post with what might be a stupid question.
After years of not going to Cub Conventions, I got my tickets. Looks like they are just lanyards without ID… are these transferable? Can I bring one of my kids with the pass Friday and a different one on Saturday and another on Sunday? Or do they somehow ID for those passes?
Thanks for the info…
Champ Summers - January 9, 2012
The passes are transferable.
Only one person can use one pass at a time, but you can have one person use it Friday and a different person Saturday. They don’t ID.
Al Yellon - January 9, 2012
Thanks, Al!
Thats a huge help!
Champ Summers - January 9, 2012
I went to a Cubs-Mets game in 2006
and I’ll never forget it. Summer day, Z on the mound. Cubs were nowhere near playoff contention, but Z made that game a memorable one. He pitched his heart out and picked up a couple of hits. After a single, he stole second base and then on the very next pitch, he stole third. Wrigley gave him a standing O.
Bottom line is, despite all of Z’s recent mishaps, I’m going to remember the Z that brought us all so many memories like the one I mentioned above. I miss him already.
mikegncb34 - January 9, 2012
Easy to sum up Z...
…million dollar arm and a 10 cent head.
When you add these together = dissappointment
MPH73 - January 9, 2012
Things I remember about Z you won't find in a box score or headlines
He spent an entire off season living in Chicago to get in shape. Chicago over Venezuela is a serious commitment. I remember almost always being the guy leaning on the railing in the 9th cheering for the win and the first one out to celebrate and I remember AZ Phil at TCR reporting how he routinely bicycled over to Fitch park to cook a mail for young Lain players ( though I am sure anyone could have a bite). Little meaningless things to most people, but the things I tend to remember.
Doggie Stalker - January 9, 2012
A great deal of potenial but never lived up to it.
Much like the Cubs for the last 10 years.
BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness - January 9, 2012
September 25, 2009
Meaningless game at the end of a lost season in San Francisco. My wife and I had traveled out there to see the Cubs for our 15th anniversary. Z versus Lincecum. And Carlos absolutely dominated that game. IIRC, threw a 2-hit CGSO. Adjusted his cup about 35 times in the course of it. Got to see Randy Johnson throw in the 9th. Might have been Buster Posey’s major league debut, too.
Anyway, I loved the big moose before that, but that evening sealed it for me. He had to go, but we’ll always have San Francisco. Also, I was glad that he was so efficient, because it was freaking cold at that game.
hoosierdaddynow - January 10, 2012
Will miss the guy.
How do you not like a guy who storms to the back of the mound to yell at himself?
A game I haven’t seen mentioned yet, and might’ve been the best pitched game I’ve ever attended.
<a href=“http:// ”http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=250531119&prov=ap" target="_blank">http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=250531119&prov=ap" >
The double in the 4th was of the ‘seeing eye’ variety that landed in short/left/center land, and scored a run because a hit n run was on IIRC. Other than that Z was lights out, and Gagne made his last meaningful appearance as a Dodger to boot.
PopeFlick - January 10, 2012
Zambrano Disappointing?
Blows up? Who cares?
Breaking down? Did you not expect this? Try to find a pitcher that was more abused than Zambrano from the beginning of his career. I’ll save you some time. You won’t find one.
Great pitcher. Lots of character. Fan favorite. Z was a very successful investment.
SheaWasBettor21 - January 11, 2012
Sentence fragments?
bdlugz - January 11, 2012
Not allowed here?
sad face
SheaWasBettor21 - January 11, 2012
Goodbye and good riddance....
I Amos GLAD that Zambrano is gone! I wish him well in Miami; and, hopefully, he can return to success without hurting the Cubs.
But, I am REALLY glad he is gone.
zipdog - January 12, 2012
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