… because he’s been lazy. I give Z credit for honesty, at least. Let’s see if he now does what he says he will. If so, we’re in for a good run from him.

about Dempster climbing mountains like he did last year when he was making to conversion back to SP. Did he not do anything this year? I know he had some family issues but he’s also had health issues.

That’s pretty funny. Makes me wish I was the catcher if there was ever a mound conversation between Carlos and Ozzie…

… I don’t think you can specifically blame Carlos Zambrano.

when Z just came out and said hes lazy, it doesnt matter that he gives 100% or plays with passion during a game, all athletes are supposed to do that, its what the athletes do before and after the games, and it seems like Z isnt doing all of the extra work and now he finds himself on the DL becuase of that.

exercising are two different things. John Kruk has and did have a lot of passion for the game, however is exercising routine was non-exsitent. I don’t get this guys, get paid a ton of coin and you would figure they would like to continue to make money, so stay or get in shape.
 I love “Z”, but his act can wear thin. Honesty great, not getting the extra work in, not so.

so I can go there for my mid-life crisis. I can only hope it’s still around.

The only way to get him back right now would be to release Miles, which, unfortunately, the Cubs don’t seem interested in doing.

DO. NOT. WANT. HIM. TO. PLAY.

……….to all the other things the so-called bashers have stated previously?

but even I can’t really come up with a decent explanation or excuse for a professional athlete failing to stay in "game" shape

he could have used the “i smoked weed” excuse

He’s been a great player for the Cubs but also a frustrating player. The frustration comes from what I would characterize as a lack of maturity or professional approach. I don’t wish bad things on Zambrano—geeze, he’s just another player that I don’t know. But why would I defend stuff that he does (or doesn’t do) that I disagree with?

The back injury now is likely the only way that a guy like Zambrano makes the changes, so there is a positive but the positive is contingent on Zambrano’s response to adversity. It’s been a frustrating season for the Cubs, so I hope Zambrano gets healthy, stays healthy and pitches well. The Cubs need him.

It isn’t a “magic bullet”, it’s a scientific physiologiocal fact, unless his back is FUBAR’d.

Given the number of starts/innings Z has pitched in his major league career, it’s really not that surprising he’s started running into DL-worthy injuries. And this might be the case even if he was a workout fiend.

good call. :D

To be honest, when I heard Z’s quotes on this issue yesterday, I expected to find about three Z-Bashing Fanposts when I logged on this morning.

Again, my only comment really is that, as of this moment in time, Carlos Zambrano has thrown more than 1,500 innings at the major league level. So, even if he had stayed in tip-top shape, we could very well still be seeing him running into some injury issues. I definitely agree, however, that he needs to stay in better shape if he expects to maintain his skills and effectiveness as a pitcher.

this is why stats about past performance aren’t useful when it comes to projecting Z’s future and what his future with the organization should be

This is the pitcher dilemma facing all GM’s. A pitcher with decent stuff is about to test the free agent market and the perception is that pitcher will fetch huge money. Current teams GM steps in and resigns the pitcher quickly for less than the pitcher and agent expect others will pay and tout the deal as “below market” but gives up more years and a NTC.

I’m weary of this formula. Those first two years are below market, but as the contract an pitcher age, too many teams are stuck win an overpaid shell of the former ace.

When he shows that he’s gotten it, I’ll believe it.

I also find this to be part of the larger pattern with Z. He had to be reminded to hydrate properly too and not subsist on Red Bull and coffee before games.

You mean the pattern where he saw that something was a problem, addressed it, and it’s never been a problem since? Like the dehydration thing?

this is why stats about past performance aren’t useful when it comes to projecting Z’s future and what his future with the organization should be.

No, you’re grossly overestimating the variance here. It’s pretty irrelevant – some players are more prone to injuries due to conditioning / lack of conditioning than others. Look at Harden and Bradley – both are among the most vigorous trainers on the Cubs team, both to the point where it’s been speculated that their injury problems are due to over-training and becoming too muscular.

You can’t predict injuries with high certainty, but you can look at a player’s injury history and use that to assess what their risk is. Zambrano has consistently been one of the healthiest pitchers in baseball since he arrived.

That said, nothing Zambrano does will stop you from being Sanctimonious about him so I’m not sure why I’m bothering here.

Maybe Dempster,
Possibly Lilly.
I would eliminate Harden since that is a day-game, Z would probably not line-up with that date either.

get to see tonights game. Damn you WCIU!!!

because that’s the conclusion we can draw from this. o.0

and I’m pretty sure he did have a DL stint as well, so that could account for the drop.

…of Z having a bulging disc in his back. But maybe I just missed the story somewhere along the line.

Miles may get traded to the Padres and can play SS for them in this series. That could go a long way in helping us sweep them.

Z wouldn’t even pitch out of the pen to help the team.

LOL, WHUT?

The positive news the Cubs received Sunday on the two key players who left Saturday’s game with minor injuries could pay quick dividends this week in Cincinnati, including the intriguing — if remote — possibility that Carlos Zambrano could pitch out of the bullpen for the first time in seven years.

Even if Zambrano didn’t exactly embrace the idea.

Manager Lou Piniella raised that possibility for the second consecutive night after another rough finish for a bullpen that has been worked hard lately - in large part because of Zambrano’s early exit Saturday because of lower back stiffness.

“He’s got till Friday,” Piniella said of Zambrano’s anticipated fitness for his next scheduled start, “unless we put him in the bullpen for a couple of days. We might need him there in Cincinnati.”

Said Zambrano, when told of Piniella’s comments: “I’m not a reliever.”

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/8/3/973639/did-you-ever-think-youd-be-this#19161059

What is so difficult to understand cubsnlinux & drewishdrewid? Z’s boss said he might have to perform a task at work, and selfish Z brushed off Lou’s commets like it was a joke. Don’t know about you guys, but when my boss tells me to do something, I do it. Do you think it is below Z to pitch out of the pen?