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Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Is there anything Carlos Zambrano can't do on a baseball field [other than keep cool]? What is he, an ace or an ass?
Dave van Dyck speculates in this morning's Chicago Tribune that if Zombie [call him Big Z if you like; I call him Zombie - it will make a good stage name when he becomes a pro wrestler] misses his Friday start in Milwaukee one of three Iowa Cubs will take his place: Randy Wells, Mitch Atkins or Jose Ascanio.
Atkins' first two starts were poor and as a result he still carries a bloated and somewhat misleading ERA of 6.99. The last three have been better.
Wells has been solid from the outset in compiling an ERA of 3.13.
Both Atkins and Wells have K/BB ratios of 3:1 and are big, imposing righthanders.
Ascanio has made five starts and sports a sparkling ERA of 1.25 but only in his last outing did he go five innings. His pitch count that night was 81, the first time he's been that high as he transitions from relief to the rotation. Of the three candidates van Dyck names, Ascanio seems the least likely from here.
This morning's Des Moines Register says Wells will start the opener of the I-Cub homestand tonight versus Nashville. The team's website tabs Atkins. A complicating factor might also be that the team's last two games over the weekend in Memphis were rained out.
Atkins' last appearance was on April 30, Wells' was April 27 and Ascanio was May 1.
There's always Samardzija...MW
Comments
Ward Returns to Chicago!
The White Sox signed first baseman-outfielder Daryle Ward to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte. Ward hit .250/.300/.393 in 28 at-bats this spring before the Reds sent him packing. He played for the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League during the month of April.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
The problem with Samardzija, and apparently Ascanio, is that they aren't properly stretched out. You can't have them start knowing basically best case scenerio is they get 5 innings. I'd rather take a flier on Wells.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Mike Wellman:
Dave van Dyck speculates in this morning's Chicago Tribune that if [Zambrano] misses his Friday start in Milwaukee one of three Iowa Cubs will take his place...
Isn't that Heilman's job?
And besides, I don't think you'll find many ball players as exciting as Zambrano. I think many of us want our Cubs to be high-energy ball players like that. I'll take the risk of him hurting a leg trying to beat out a bunt. That's effing awesome.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
I think Samardzija and Guzman are the 'long' relievers right now. Heilman is being used as the 7th inning guy mostly.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
These type of spot starts you just have to see what happens. Chances are you aren't going to see any of them put up great numbers in their first major league starts. If no one goes on the DL, I'd say Samardzija is the choice for 4-5 innings and then Guzman and Patton after that.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Too bad for Heilman he's been an effective late inning reliever. If he had been stretched out, or stayed stretched out, he'd make plenty of sense. How long has it been since Samardzija made a start? He ought to still be at least as stretched out as Ascanio, right? I believe AZ Phil mentioned in a recent post that Randy Wells would be the most likely replacement starter at this point in the season (if anyone is called up from Iowa to start). If Phil thinks it's a good idea, I'm for it.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Denise Richards I guess butchered "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" this weekend. While it wasn't as bad as some reporters are making it out to be. Hopefully the Cubs can stop this action and just play a recording of harry doing it. This story shows Richards and then gives a good take on the whole thing.
http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/05/03/denise-richards-latest-illustration-of-why-wrigley-tradition-nee/?icid=webmail|wbml-aol|dl4|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fmlb.fanhouse.com%2F2009%2F05%2F03%2Fdenise-richards-latest-illustration-of-why-wrigley-tradition-nee%2F
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Uh no..it was just putrid....unbearable to listen to, and she read every word off a card. Other than that, she was hot!
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
It really was that bad.
And the radio interview was just as bad, if not worse.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
I was bad, but not Gordon-Ozzie-Ditka bad. BUT, I absolutely hate the tradition and especially hate the interview that follows.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Tonight's interview with the Red Stars player may have been historic: she was so uninteresting, Len dismissed her even before the second out of the half inning. As much as we hate these interviews, Kasper and Brenly must hate them more.
Santo seems quite happy with them, however, as though he is receiving company in his living room.
Loved this Santo question of Peter Cetera—"So what are your hobbies?"
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
In another inning:
Santo: "....well...."
Long pregnant pause
Hughes: "and the pitch to..."
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Yeah, that was great. I hope it becomes a tradition. "Well, sorry you have to go." I don't have to..." "Thanks for being here, good bye."
Z out 2-4 week
According to Bruce Levine's sources.
Re: Z out 2-4 week
Bummer, dude. Oh, well. It's May. Not really that big of a deal in the long run.
Re: Z out 2-4 week
http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog?post=41356...
Here's the post from Levine. Of course equating Zambrano's injury to Sutcliffe is a little premature. So I'm assuming we'll get to see a couple of starts from one of the Iowa guys. I bet Z only misses 2-3 starts.
As for the 'should he have bunted' question? He's just as likely to pull his hamstring on a groundout to short as a bunt. I'm just glad this happened in a game he started and not a PH appearance. Baseball is a game of risk you can't wrap the guys up in bubble wrap.
Re: Z out 2-4 week
I agree. He's a ballplayer, if he gets hurt running to first, you can't really fault him for that.
I think it was Kruk who said something to the effect "that's why power hitters don't bunt". Saying, if you bunt for a hit, you are guaranteeing a sprint to the base as opposed to a basehit where he doesn't necessarily need to go full speed. I think it's a good point, but I'm still fine with Zambie doing what he does.
Re: Z out 2-4 week
He was bunting for a hit, not a sacrifice.
With questions on his conditioning he should not be doing sudden sprints when not neccessary.
It was dumb
Re: Z out 2-4 week
The reason Kruk didn't bunt was because he was too fat. The reason power hitters don't bunt is because they don't want singles, they want doubles and HR's. Some power hitters who are reasonable athletes will bunt, particuarly to get rid of a shift. I remember Edmonds doing that a couple of years ago.
Re: Z out 2-4 week
I for one am in favor of giving Samardzija the start. He needs the innings anyway (he should be starting in Iowa). Otherwise, reports no Randy Wells seem to be positive.
Re: Z out 2-4 week
I agree 100%. Z isn't going to be out 4 wks. It's not an arm injury. Also agree that shit happens. Of course you be careful with these guys but if they can help the team, ie pitcher PHing, well that's what he's there to do.
Re: Z out 2-4 week
We all know the Cubs and their injury reports, so let's just hope it is 2-4 weeks and that Z gets 100% healthy and it is not something he needs to deal with the rest of the year. Even 4 weeks is not the end of the world, and with a $140MM payroll, the Cubs should be able to handle it. Unfortunately their minor league system is not very good, but with 2 off days the next 2 Mondays, we should be able to skip that spot a few times.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Did anyone ask Fergie or Mad Dog to take Z's spot in the rotation? Was anyone at the game yesterday? How was the ceremony? I missed the ceremony but saw the game.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
I was at Atkins start in Memphis last Thursday. He didn't look good at all. Sam Fuld saved his bacon on several occasions. Atkins was giving up line drives in the gap all game. There was a light rain/drizzle all night to effect the hitters, and it still didn't matter. Topped out at 90 pitched mostly at 86-88.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
That's cool, Dr. The only MiLB game I have seen ever was at Wrigley last summer.
One of these years I want to hit Peoria, Indianapolis (I've been told its a great park), and Lansing.
Re: Z
Meh. As I posted the other day, I love the guy, and he "tweaked" his hammy with a perfect bunt! Sean Marshall cannot even get a fucking bunt down when he squares up, let alone a thing of beauty like Z,
Until there is DH in the NL, this stuff will happen. I don't have a problem with the way it did.We knew that we'd have a starter go down at one point or another. It sucks that not only did we trade Marquis, but Hendry DFA'd the pitcher we traded for! That makes perfect sense to me...
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Agree E-Man. This stuff will happen. He was hustling down the line, kudos to that. Let's just get him 100% now.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
How come a 6'5", 250 pound starting pitcher is capable of a lead off bunt single but neither Pie nor Patterson could ever learn this skill? Hopefully all this means is that if the Cubs make the playoff Z's arm will have a few less innings on it.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
"Hopefully all this means is that if the Cubs make the playoff Z's arm will have a few less innings on it."
File under "Silver Linings."
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Indianapolis is indeed a beautiful ballpark. Best minor league park in the country and it isn't close. Great view of the Indy skyline from behind home plate.
I'd wait a year or two if you plan on making a special trip down, however. They're building a new hotel across the street and there's a bunch of construction equipment and stuff behind the LF fence that really detracts from the view right now.
I'll be there tonight. Hoping for an A-Rod rehab sighting so I can boo the shit out of him.
Re: Zombie: A Tool or Five?
Boo him for me, too, WES.
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