Zambrano announced Opening Day Starter

by Chanman25 on Feb 14, 2008 5:21 PM CST

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080214&content_id=2373336&vkey=spt2008new s&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Well lets hope things change since last year (or the year before that, and the year before that). Looks like he has also gotten in shape and lost a few pounds (seven that is). Apparently he has been working at first base to help out his legs. He seriously wants to get better and have one of his best seasons. Hopefully his track record of opening day starts will be a little better this year....

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Boy o Boy .. I hope so

Big Z's overdue for a change here.

That big black sports car he drove to camp wasn't too shabby a change either. Or was it?

I saw it on the news last night on WGN. Was that a Porsche or a Lamborghini? Either way, the engine sounded pretty rough.

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Feb 14, 2008 5:39 PM CST 0 recs

Lamborghini?

I hope not. Chicago Sports players and Lamborghinis just don't mix. Just ask the Devon St. bridge on the Edens...

by Fuk-U-Meter on Feb 14, 2008 6:14 PM CST 0 recs

According to the reports

it is a Lamborghini.

This year is different because Zambrano isn't worried about his contract status. Last spring, he was steps away from an arbitration hearing. He eventually settled with the Cubs, who then reworked his contract and gave him a five-year, $91.5 million deal in August. It's part of the reason Zambrano is driving a sleek, black Lamborghini this spring.

"If you take it to Venezuela, you can go all speeds," he said, "but not here."

Ack! Don't go nuts in that thing Big Z! Maybe they should put something in his contract about that car like they do with motorcycles...

"Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?"

by Jettero2112 on Feb 14, 2008 8:03 PM CST up 0 recs

"one who invented the light "

great quote from Z

I can't believe I'm batting 9th again -Ted Lily

by NIUcubbie on Feb 14, 2008 6:41 PM CST 0 recs

This will be different for him,

yes, its Opening Day, but he hasnt expierenced true opening day at wrigley, has he?

1st Official Al-Wanna-Be! Feel free to become an Oficial Al-Wanna-Be Today!

by LilLPLancer23 on Feb 14, 2008 6:44 PM CST 0 recs

True.

His three OD starts have all been on the road. Maybe this one will be different.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Feb 14, 2008 9:56 PM CST up 0 recs

And i thought

i heard zambrano didnt want to start opening day because of his previous opening day experiences and how its affected the club.

1st Official Al-Wanna-Be! Feel free to become an Oficial Al-Wanna-Be Today!

by LilLPLancer23 on Feb 14, 2008 6:45 PM CST 0 recs

this is good to hear:

"Last year, I won 18 games, and my first month wasn't that good," Zambrano said. "I will try to have a good start, a fresh start, and go from there game by game. I will focus on pitch by pitch, and more concentration on the game. At the end of the season, I should have good results.

"I know I had a good season last year, but I want to be better," he said. "Every year I want to be better. It's not about if you are comfortable, or you did a good job last year. It's, 'Be better every year, be consistent every year, be durable.' I want to stay healthy this year. That's the key. Every year, you come to Spring Training with goals and be better than what you did last year."

Focus. That's what he's needed. If that's what he can do, we could be in for a great season.

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Feb 14, 2008 7:22 PM CST 0 recs

well

we'll be 0-1 with 161 more to go unless we score 12 runs. He just gets too pumped up to be effective. Lilly would have been a better choice with Z in game 2.

by socalbob on Feb 14, 2008 8:33 PM CST 0 recs

I'm with...

...SoCalBob on this one. Zambrano is too excitable. Now, if he ~truly~ goes on a pitch-by-pitch basis, then maybe. But I want to see that over time, not beginning with Day One. - TL

"Why shouldn't we believe that we're going to win the World Series?" - Ted Lilly, 1/19/2008, Daily Herald interview w/Barry Rozner

by timlacy on Feb 14, 2008 8:42 PM CST up 0 recs

I think he's a different big Z

I dunno if anyone else noticed it, but ever since that blow up with the fans at Wrigley he's been a different pitcher IMO. He was alot more relaxed and not so exciteable. In Zambranos last six starts of the season(including playoffs), he allowd 7 ER in 38.1 IP. Four of those runs came in one game when Zambrano was pitching on three days rest. If Zambrano was gonna get to hyped up don't you think he would have done it in the game clinching game vs the Reds? Or in game one against the Diamondbacks? So I think this year he's just gonna relax and go out there and pitch. He won't try to be awesome or do to much like he did over the last three years. From his interviews today I seen the same guy I saw late last year. So I'm starting to get a pretty good feeling about Zambrano for next season.

by cubsfan25 on Feb 15, 2008 12:32 AM CST up 0 recs

i think it

would be wise to have lilly start game one then big Z and thn rich hill this will help break up the lefties of course. hill and lilly are prety similar

by Glacier on Feb 14, 2008 9:21 PM CST 0 recs

Big z

I think he will have his best year this coming year. I know people will probably say I'm just an optimistic cubs fan, but I think it will happen because there seems to be less pressure around zambrano this year. People aren't thinking he'll win the cy young or have a great year and I think he comes into the season very motivated.

by cubsmania on Feb 14, 2008 10:01 PM CST 0 recs

SI article on Zambrano

Can be found here

by hightightfastball on Feb 15, 2008 4:56 AM CST 0 recs

I had forgotten Zambrano

predicted the Cubs would win the World Series, this same time last year, like Dumpster did last a couple days ago.

How'd that prediction turn out. Precisely why you should just keep your mouth shut, when it comes to saying garbage like that.

Hey Ryan, let's just work on making it the playoffs in consecutive years, for the first time in 100 years. Always cracks me up when Cub players "predict" they will win the World Series. Like they need any more added pressure, by saying such things that can come back to haunt you.

by hightightfastball on Feb 15, 2008 5:01 AM CST up 0 recs

When a player sayssomething like that

it doesn't come back to haunt anyone.

Do you really think that when a prediction doesn't pan out these guys get upset about the fact that they said it?

They probably don't think about it again.

Once the season starts and they cross the foul line the only thing that matters is the pitch and the swing, the stuff that is happening in the moment.

Dempster is exuding confidence and I think thats great. One of his best attributes is being the clubhouse guy that keeps peoples spirits up and feeling positive and that all he's doing here.

Yeah lets start the season with the real goal in mind. Saying it doesn't hurt a thing even if it doesn't come true.

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on Feb 15, 2008 11:46 AM CST up 0 recs