Z's frustration mounts
Another shaky start brings out serious questions about Zambrano
What's wrong with Carlos Zambrano? The theories are piling up after another bad first inning by the Cubs' Opening Day starter led to another loss, this time 6-4 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
The guy who declared in spring training he was going to win the National League Cy Young Award is 3-3 with a 5.83 ERA -- already trailing at least three pitchers on his own team in the early stages of the Cy Young race.
The guy who declared in spring training he was going to win the National League Cy Young Award is 3-3 with a 5.83 ERA -- already trailing at least three pitchers on his own team in the early stages of the Cy Young race.
Is he not aggressive enough early in the game? He allowed at least two first-inning runs in four of his eight starts, including four and three runs in the last two.
(AP)
Is he not aggressive enough early in the game? He allowed at least two first-inning runs in four of his eight starts, including four and three runs in the last two.
Could it be something physical, considering his fastball was clocked at 88 mph in the first inning Thursday and 93 later in the game?
Is it simply mechanics, as Zambrano and manager Lou Piniella suggest?
And what about that would-be $84 million contract that's hanging in limbo because of the sale of the Cubs' parent company?
''No,'' Zambrano said. ''Nothing to do with that. Just mechanics. Mechanics have nothing to do with the contract.''
But something has him out of his comfort zone on the mound. Even last year, when he had a poor April coming off the World Baseball Classic, he was lights-out by May, producing a sub-2.00 ERA through May and June combined.
Certainly the loose end of a contract that was a final detail away from completion two days before the season opener has been at least a small distraction.
''No,'' Zambrano said sternly. ''Next question.''
Either way, he's clearly frustrated by his lingering struggles, with only two quality starts to show for the first 5½ weeks of the season. Frustrated by first-inning woes that included hitting the first batter Thursday, then allowing three straight hits in a three-run, 34-pitch inning. Frustrated by mechanics flaws that Piniella suggested are giving hitters a longer look before Zambrano delivers the ball.
Who wouldn't be frustrated?
''It's not frustration, man. I don't know that word,'' he said sharply. ''I mean, for real. I don't even think about it.
''It's like when you're married, you don't talk to your wife about divorce. That doesn't exist in my life. Not frustration. At all. I feel good. Like I say, when you're married, don't ever say 'divorce.' That's how I am.''
Maybe it's as simple as that. Zambrano has said countless times how much he wants to stay with the Cubs and how strong a relationship he has with general manager Jim Hendry. He wants no part of a divorce from the team.
''I don't think there's anything wrong with him,'' said catcher Henry Blanco, who has known Zambrano for years and has caught half of his starts this season. ''I think he's trying to be too perfect instead of throwing the ball. ... I think he's kind of frustrated a little bit.''
Frustrated? Yikes.
Maybe he's simply trying too hard to do too much -- trying to show whoever it is with the authority to approve that contract that he's worthy of another five years with his first baseball love.
It can't be good for his mechanics, much less his psyche.
''We've all been there in that situation,'' Blanco said. ''Let's hope it's not that, and he can move on and start winning some ballgames.''
Pittsburgh AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
FSanchez 2b 4 1 2 0 0 1 .250
JBautista 3b 5 1 1 0 0 2 .262
Bay lf 4 2 2 3 0 0 .273
Doumit rf 3 1 2 0 1 1 .442
Nady cf 3 1 0 1 0 1 .256
Duffy cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230
LaRoche 1b 3 0 1 1 1 0 .168
Paulino c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .214
JWilson ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 .267
Maholm p 3 0 0 0 0 3 .143
Capps p 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
c-McLouth ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .226
STorres p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --
Totals 34 6 8 5 2 10
CUBS AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
ASoriano lf 3 0 1 0 1 0 .313
Theriot ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 .316
DeLee 1b 4 0 1 0 0 2 .389
ARamirez 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 .270
Murton rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .254
DeRosa 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 .247
d-Ward ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .357
HBlanco c 3 0 0 0 0 0 .300
Wuertz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --
Pagan cf 3 2 2 1 0 1 .667
CZambrano p 1 0 1 0 0 0 .250
a-JJones ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .268
Cherry p 0 0 0 0 0 0 --
b-Barrett ph-c 1 1 1 2 0 0 .262
Totals 32 4 8 4 1 7
Pittsburgh 302 010 000--6 8 0
CUBS 010 001 020--4 8 2
a-grounded out for Zambrano in the 6th. b-homered for Cherry in the 8th. c-struck out for Capps in the 9th. d-flied out for DeRosa in the 9th.
E--Murton (1), CZambrano (1). LOB--Pittsburgh 5, CUBS 2. 2B--JBautista (11), Bay (9), Doumit (7). HR--Barrett (5), off Maholm; Pagan (1), off Maholm; Bay (5), off CZambrano; ARamirez (7), off Maholm. RBI--Bay 3 (21), Nady (14), LaRoche (14), ARamirez (19), Pagan (1), Barrett 2 (19). SF--Nady. GIDP--Paulino, ASoriano, Theriot, ARamirez.
Runners left in scoring position--Pittsburgh 1 (Paulino).
DP--Pittsburgh 3 (JWilson, FSanchez and LaRoche), (JWilson, FSanchez and LaRoche), (JWilson, FSanchez and LaRoche); CUBS 1 (Theriot, DeRosa and DeLee).
Pittsburgh IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Maholm W, 2-4 7.1 7 4 4 1 4 86 5.40
Capps H, 11 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 19 1.93
STorres S, 11 1 0 0 0 0 2 13 5.40
CUBS IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
CZambrano L, 3-3 6 7 6 4 2 6 117 5.83
Cherry 2 0 0 0 0 3 23 3.24
Wuertz 1 1 0 0 0 1 15 1.72
HBP--by CZambrano (FSanchez).
Umpires--Home, Charlie Reliford; First, Larry Vanover; Second, Tony Randazzo; Third, Tom Hallion.
T--2:23. A--41,101 (41,160).
HOW THEY SCOREDPirates first Sanchez was hit by a pitch. Bautista doubled, Sanchez to third. Bay doubled, Sanchez scored, Bautista scored. Doumit singled, Bay to third. Nady hit a sacrifice fly, Bay scored. Three runs. Pirates 3, Cubs 0.
CUBS SECOND Ramirez homered. One run. Pirates 3, Cubs 1.
PIRATES THIRD Bautista struck out. Bay grounded out. Doumit walked. Nady safe at second on Murton's error, Doumit scored. LaRoche singled, Nady scored. Two runs. Pirates 5, Cubs 1.
PIRATES FIFTH Bay homered. One run. Pirates 6, Cubs 1.
CUBS SIXTH Pagan homered. One run. Pirates 6, Cubs 2.
CUBS EIGHTH Blanco grounded out. Pagan singled. Barrett pinch-hitting for Cherry. Barrett homered, Pagan scored. Two runs. Pirates 6, Cubs 4.
PIRATES 6, CUBS 4: