Cubs’ Zambrano to sit out rest of season after suspension
Posted on September 2, 2011
Chicago Cubs’ right-hander Carlos Zambrano will sit out the rest of the season after his 30-day suspension ends after games of Sept. 11.
The Cubs said Friday they’ll pay Zambrano after the suspension ends but there’s insufficient time for him to get ready to pitch again. The Cubs also said a grievance filed on Zambrano’s behalf will be processed by the players’ union, Major League Baseball and the team during the off-season.
Zambrano cleaned out his locker and talked about retiring after giving up five homers and being ejected during a loss to Atlanta on Aug. 12. His ejection followed two inside pitches to Chipper Jones.
He said he intended to be at the ballpark the next day, but his agent Barry Praver told him not to “because we were in the middle of discussions with the union and the Cubs.” The Cubs placed Zambrano on the disqualified list the next day and said he would receive no pay and have no part in team activities for 30 days.
“It was a disappointing situation and we’ll let things take their course now,” manager Mike Quade said Friday before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.
“That’s it, let’s see where the grievance situation goes. They’ve made decisions and that’s where we’re at now.”
Zambrano was also put on a restricted list last season after he became incensed by what he thought was poor defence against the White Sox and got into a shouting match with then-teammate Derrek Lee. Zambrano underwent anger management counselling, returned to the team and pitched well.
Asked whether Zambrano can still be a winning pitcher in the major leagues, Quade said: “He was. Depending on how this plays out, he’s still got something to offer. The numbers bear that out.”
The Cubs expected more when Zambrano signed a US$91.5 million deal over five seasons through 2012, including a $17.85 million salary this season and $18 million in 2012.
Zambrano is 125-81 with a 3.60 career earned-run average after breaking in with the Cubs in 2001. He has thrown a no-hitter against the Astros. He was 9-7 this season before the suspension, but his pitching has often been overshadowed by his outbursts.
In 2009, he went on tirade against an umpire, throwing a baseball into the outfield, pretending to eject the umpire and slamming his glove against the dugout fence, a tantrum that led to a suspension.
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