Anger-Gate

[CyggyMarlin]

mlb.com

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100625&content_id=11567858&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[Medias Blancas]

I was at U.S. Cellular Field for the game today, and I saw the commotion in the dugout from my seats. Zambrano was the last one off the field after the first inning ended (the White Sox put a 4-spot on him highlighted by Carlos Quentin's 3-run blast), and he was ranting like a high school football coach. Then, when he went at Derrek Lee, Piniella had to take him to the Cubs clubhouse. In a video that has I have not yet seen, Zambrano reportedly went on a profanity-laced tirade at some local TV crews as he left the ballpark. The link below does not contain the video I referenced but just shows Zambrano sitting on his car.

 

This incident with Zambrano has come to dominate all the sports talk radio tonight, losing the White Sox' ten-game winning streak in the shadows.

 

Link

[Rabbethan]

That guy needs to grow the f*** up.

[Sirspud]

What Z did was stupid, but that Cubs team just really needs to be imploded and both GM and manager parted with. Jim Hendry has brought in second-rate free agents to stock their roster year after year, resulting in a $100 million payroll and a limited few marquee players who are showing they are over the hill now. Worse, they mismanaged pretty much every young talent they've had, or even traded them for more second-rate guys who were usually gone a year later. So they've built nothing but a perennial group of mediocre veterans, which is not a blueprint for success.

 

I used to be a Cubs fan owing to my dad's Chicago heritage, but there was only so much I could take of that awful organizational philosphy. I was always a Marlin's fan first, but I pretty cut the Cubs lose entirely when I saw them spending big money on mediocrity year after year, while the Marlins were at least building a core of young players who were exciting and fun to watch. But with the resources that a team from Chicago has, it's laughable that they come away from every offseason having pinned their playoff hopes on guys like Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukodome.

[Michael]

It could just be that I like Derrek Lee as both a player and a person, but I'm glad that Zambrano got suspended indefinitely by the team.

I say just release him, nobody will want him with his attitude. [i would hope]

[Medias Blancas]

What Z did was stupid, but that Cubs team just really needs to be imploded and both GM and manager parted with. Jim Hendry has brought in second-rate free agents to stock their roster year after year, resulting in a $100 million payroll and a limited few marquee players who are showing they are over the hill now. Worse, they mismanaged pretty much every young talent they've had, or even traded them for more second-rate guys who were usually gone a year later. So they've built nothing but a perennial group of mediocre veterans, which is not a blueprint for success.

 

I used to be a Cubs fan owing to my dad's Chicago heritage, but there was only so much I could take of that awful organizational philosphy. I was always a Marlin's fan first, but I pretty cut the Cubs lose entirely when I saw them spending big money on mediocrity year after year, while the Marlins were at least building a core of young players who were exciting and fun to watch. But with the resources that a team from Chicago has, it's laughable that they come away from every offseason having pinned their playoff hopes on guys like Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukodome.

 

 

The Zambrano incident aside, the Cubs have really become an afterthought in Chicago. With the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks and "Hoping to sign LeBron" Bulls making news in the offseason, coupled with the White Sox surge that has them nipping at Minnesota and Detroit's heels, the Cubs' countinued foundering makes them less and less important.

[Jonny Ramos]

What Z did was stupid, but that Cubs team just really needs to be imploded and both GM and manager parted with. Jim Hendry has brought in second-rate free agents to stock their roster year after year, resulting in a $100 million payroll and a limited few marquee players who are showing they are over the hill now. Worse, they mismanaged pretty much every young talent they've had, or even traded them for more second-rate guys who were usually gone a year later. So they've built nothing but a perennial group of mediocre veterans, which is not a blueprint for success.

 

I used to be a Cubs fan owing to my dad's Chicago heritage, but there was only so much I could take of that awful organizational philosphy. I was always a Marlin's fan first, but I pretty cut the Cubs lose entirely when I saw them spending big money on mediocrity year after year, while the Marlins were at least building a core of young players who were exciting and fun to watch. But with the resources that a team from Chicago has, it's laughable that they come away from every offseason having pinned their playoff hopes on guys like Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukodome.

 

 

The Zambrano incident aside, the Cubs have really become an afterthought in Chicago. With the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks and "Hoping to sign LeBron" Bulls making news in the offseason, coupled with the White Sox surge that has them nipping at Minnesota and Detroit's heels, the Cubs' countinued foundering makes them less and less important.

 

You are 100% correct. The fans and FO of another team with the same payroll would not tolerate this kind of shenanigans year after year. It seems like Chicago doesn't really care about the Cubs anymore.

[cubbies21]

   Lol you guys clearly don't know anything about Chicago sports fans... The cubs have not won in over 100 years now, and they are still the most popular team in Chicago.... Everyone still wears their cubs stuff with pride, and they still sell out every single game... Chicago is plenty used to this bs the Cubs pull every year... Remember folks, "The lovable losers" was practically our official motto in the 90's and early 2000's... Trust me, Chicago cares about the Cubs... About double the fan base of the white sox.

 

 

As for Z, I say trade him if there is a team stupid enough to take him, if not, I think its time to just waive/cut his sorry ass... He's not a has been, he is a never was, who had a few moments of brilliance a few years ago...  

 

 

Z is another one of Jim Hendry's brilliant contracts... Thanks to him we are stuck with Ramirez, Lee, Z, and Soriano for years to come, all with huge contracts.

 

 

Also, I hate to say it, but it's time for Lou to retire.

[LordMagnus]

What Z did was stupid, but that Cubs team just really needs to be imploded and both GM and manager parted with. Jim Hendry has brought in second-rate free agents to stock their roster year after year, resulting in a $100 million payroll and a limited few marquee players who are showing they are over the hill now. Worse, they mismanaged pretty much every young talent they've had, or even traded them for more second-rate guys who were usually gone a year later. So they've built nothing but a perennial group of mediocre veterans, which is not a blueprint for success.

 

I used to be a Cubs fan owing to my dad's Chicago heritage, but there was only so much I could take of that awful organizational philosphy. I was always a Marlin's fan first, but I pretty cut the Cubs lose entirely when I saw them spending big money on mediocrity year after year, while the Marlins were at least building a core of young players who were exciting and fun to watch. But with the resources that a team from Chicago has, it's laughable that they come away from every offseason having pinned their playoff hopes on guys like Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukodome.

 

 

Mediocre free agents isn't really the problem (aside from Bradley). The problem is that they signed guys to very long contracts that they cannot get rid of and they have gotten old (Lee, Ramirez, Soriano), and their minor league system has failed to produce suitable replacements. And Zambrano is obviously a huge disapointment as well, but any GM would have signed a guy with that sort of talent to a long term contract.

[Schnellders]

He is now definately more hassle than the value he brings to the team

[Rabbethan]

What Z did was stupid, but that Cubs team just really needs to be imploded and both GM and manager parted with. Jim Hendry has brought in second-rate free agents to stock their roster year after year, resulting in a $100 million payroll and a limited few marquee players who are showing they are over the hill now. Worse, they mismanaged pretty much every young talent they've had, or even traded them for more second-rate guys who were usually gone a year later. So they've built nothing but a perennial group of mediocre veterans, which is not a blueprint for success.

 

I used to be a Cubs fan owing to my dad's Chicago heritage, but there was only so much I could take of that awful organizational philosphy. I was always a Marlin's fan first, but I pretty cut the Cubs lose entirely when I saw them spending big money on mediocrity year after year, while the Marlins were at least building a core of young players who were exciting and fun to watch. But with the resources that a team from Chicago has, it's laughable that they come away from every offseason having pinned their playoff hopes on guys like Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukodome.

 

 

Mediocre free agents isn't really the problem (aside from Bradley). The problem is that they signed guys to very long contracts that they cannot get rid of and they have gotten old (Lee, Ramirez, Soriano), and their minor league system has failed to produce suitable replacements. And Zambrano is obviously a huge disapointment as well, but any GM would have signed a guy with that sort of talent to a long term contract.

It's really contracts all around. Both on guys they locked up that you mentioned and guys like Fukudome ($13.5M next year), Dempster ($13.5M next year, $14M in 2014 at 35yo), Ted Lilly ($13M this year). Lilly and Dempster have been good but not nearly $26M combined good.

[MrMarlinPride]

It's a bad deal for Chicago because they've done pretty much everything they could to make this guy work for all the money he's making.

Starting Pitcher isn't working, Bullpen work was meh at best and he's nothing short of an asshole in the dugout.

They have been looking to trade him for about two years now but nobody wants to pick up his contract, attitude and lack of production.

And they certainly can't option him to the minors because I can't even imagine the reaction he'd have to that.

[Admin]

I would rather have him in the Marlins bullpen over everyone but maybe one or two arms.

[MrMarlinPride]

I would rather have him in the Marlins bullpen over everyone but maybe one or two arms.

 

 

Maybe, I guess I'd take him over Sosa, Houser, Leroux, Wood but his contract is way to high for the way he;s pitched the past few seasons.

[Schnellders]

Just read that once his suspension ends, Zambrano is headed back to the Cubs bullpen

[cubbies21]

 Mediocre free agents isn't really the problem (aside from Bradley).  The problem is that they signed guys to very long contracts that they cannot get rid of and they have gotten old (Lee, Ramirez, Soriano), and their minor league system has failed to produce suitable replacements.  And Zambrano is obviously a huge disapointment as well, but any GM would have signed a guy with that sort of talent to a long term contract.

 

THIS.

[Sirspud]

What Z did was stupid, but that Cubs team just really needs to be imploded and both GM and manager parted with. Jim Hendry has brought in second-rate free agents to stock their roster year after year, resulting in a $100 million payroll and a limited few marquee players who are showing they are over the hill now. Worse, they mismanaged pretty much every young talent they've had, or even traded them for more second-rate guys who were usually gone a year later. So they've built nothing but a perennial group of mediocre veterans, which is not a blueprint for success.

 

I used to be a Cubs fan owing to my dad's Chicago heritage, but there was only so much I could take of that awful organizational philosphy. I was always a Marlin's fan first, but I pretty cut the Cubs lose entirely when I saw them spending big money on mediocrity year after year, while the Marlins were at least building a core of young players who were exciting and fun to watch. But with the resources that a team from Chicago has, it's laughable that they come away from every offseason having pinned their playoff hopes on guys like Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukodome.

 

 

Mediocre free agents isn't really the problem (aside from Bradley). The problem is that they signed guys to very long contracts that they cannot get rid of and they have gotten old (Lee, Ramirez, Soriano), and their minor league system has failed to produce suitable replacements. And Zambrano is obviously a huge disapointment as well, but any GM would have signed a guy with that sort of talent to a long term contract.

It's really contracts all around. Both on guys they locked up that you mentioned and guys like Fukudome ($13.5M next year), Dempster ($13.5M next year, $14M in 2014 at 35yo), Ted Lilly ($13M this year). Lilly and Dempster have been good but not nearly $26M combined good.

 

This is some of what I mean. They're price free agents are guys who are all second tier or worse. Ted Lilly is not a bad pitcher, in fact he has stabilized their rotation many times, but he's not a frontline pitcher either. One would think that the Cubs at some point would have picked up one of the top tier pitchers flying around, but they're always willing to commit very good money to OK players and not big money to very big players.

 

I can't really blame Lee or Ramirez, they're certainly a problem now but I'm talking about every year since they got rid of Sosa. Even when these guys were awesome, the only guy around them worth anything was Soriano, and even he is majorly inconsistency.

[Admin]

The amount of money the Cubs have to pay out to some of these guys (Soriano, Zambrano, Ramirez, etc) in coming years is outrageous. I know the Cubs draw well and have a good TV base, but I'm surprised that they have the revenue to support this.

[Erick]

Lol you guys clearly don't know anything about Chicago sports fans... The cubs have not won in over 100 years now, and they are still the most popular team in Chicago.... Everyone still wears their cubs stuff with pride, and they still sell out every single game... Chicago is plenty used to this bs the Cubs pull every year... Remember folks, "The lovable losers" was practically our official motto in the 90's and early 2000's... Trust me, Chicago cares about the Cubs... About double the fan base of the white sox.

 

 

As for Z, I say trade him if there is a team stupid enough to take him, if not, I think its time to just waive/cut his sorry ass... He's not a has been, he is a never was, who had a few moments of brilliance a few years ago...

 

 

Z is another one of Jim Hendry's brilliant contracts... Thanks to him we are stuck with Ramirez, Lee, Z, and Soriano for years to come, all with huge contracts.

 

 

Also, I hate to say it, but it's time for Lou to retire.

 

 

 

Zambrano is a "never was?" Really? He's a had a solid career, if you ask me.

[Puma]

B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria also got into a little spat in the dugout this afternoon. Can't we all just get along? haha

[Medias Blancas]

Accordng to the Chicago Sun-Times, Zambrano is still blaming Derrek Lee. What a malcontent.

 

Link

[Michael]

OK I've had this thought for the last couple days...

 

When Zambrano went back to get in Derrek's face, was anyone hoping that Derrek was going to deck him right there and just knock him out?