Carlos Zambrano had a rough afternoon yesterday, and because of his post-game comments ripping into the fans, I'm guessing he's going to have a rough morning, as well. From Paul Sullivan in the Chicago Tribune: "I don't accept that the fans were booing at me," a seething Zambrano said afterward. "I can't understand that. You know, I thought these were the greatest fans in baseball. But they showed me today that they just care about them, and that's not fair, because when you're struggling, you want to feel the support of the fans.Chalk it up to the frustration that comes with getting pounded by the Dodgers if you like, but those last comments about his teammates suggest that this is something that has been brewing for a while. Sullivan thinks he's Zambrano is referring to the fans' treatment of Alfonso Soriano, who recently had the boo-birds rain down on him after missing a couple of balls at the wall. Will the Wrigley faithful hold a grudge against Zambrano? It's possible ... but unlikely. This isn't the first time Z has had an emotional outburst, I'd expect the fans to simply cheer as loud as ever the next time he pitches well.
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"[Fans] pay to see a good show," he said. "They pay to see a good pitcher. Right now, I'm not doing too well. I just call [out to] the fans, 'I want a little support.' That's all. When you're struggling, or you have a brother who's struggling, you show him love. You don't show him you want to kick him out. That's what I ask of the fans-a little support.
"And not only [for] me. I go out there and try to do my best, but not everybody is like Carlos Zambrano [and can] keep his head up and keep trying to do a good job. There are people on this team who are struggling and going down and down ...
"When you're booing somebody, you're booing the 25 men on this ballclub, and that's not fair. That happened before to some of my teammates, and that's not right. I think we go out there to give Cubs fans a good show and to go to the playoffs, and that's what I want. No one wants to do a bad job. ... Every single player in that clubhouse wants to do a great job for the city, believe me."
(via Lion In Oil)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-04-2007 @ 11:09AM
Marc said...
He's a baby. Did Arod complain when they boo'd him in New York all of last year? No, he came back and is having a ridiculously good season. Zambrano needs to take accountability and turn it around. I don't blame the fans for booing him. He is a baby. He got paid. He's not delivering in the clutch.
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9-04-2007 @ 11:18AM
R Goodin said...
I wish Carlos would either quit, or get it right.
He was worse than bad, he looked like a kid in a pick up game.
Now I wish him the best, but he owed Cub fans and baseball fans an apology for yesteday's performance and behavior. It wasn't that he was bad, he was stupid and childish.
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9-04-2007 @ 11:48AM
LB said...
R Goodin are you for real? You are the fickle fan he was talking about.You support your team. They are in first place and that is rare for a Cub team. I am sure if he wins two games in a row then he will be your favorite player again.
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9-04-2007 @ 11:57AM
brainslug said...
Two words: Who cares? GO BREWERS!!!
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9-04-2007 @ 12:10PM
Joel said...
I am not sure how zambrano expects the fans to show how upset they are hell some people layed out a few hundred dollars to come see him pitch a good game against the dodger ... not walk 4 batters in a inning and befor that run thru a stop sign of the third base coach to make first out at home ... lets see how he thinks they should act ... ok we will just put him in time out and lets not be mean to anybody any more
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9-04-2007 @ 12:34PM
Gordon said...
Carlos needs to fix his hair and JUST WIN!! Oh yeah, maybe it would help if he would follow the orders of the coaches and NOT run home and get thrown out.
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9-04-2007 @ 12:44PM
birdog said...
Zambrano is an idiot. As a thrower he has "great stuff" but as a pitcher he doesn't have the brains to know how and when to use the great stuff! When ever he gets in trouble he throws the same hard pitch that either is too far away for a hitter to be fooled or right down the middle of the plate making it easy on the hitter. When his brain power matches his physical skills he might be a good pitcher.
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9-04-2007 @ 12:51PM
JKlicious99 said...
I just find it ironic that ever since Zambrono got that huge extension from the Cubs....his pitching has gone on a holiday. I'm a Brewers fan, so I hope he stays in this funk. I hope the Dodgers crush them again today.
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9-04-2007 @ 12:52PM
GHale said...
LB are you kiddin me? If I pay to see Z pitch well and he does what he did, I have every right to voice my opinion. Now since me and Z are not goin to sit down and discuss the situation the only way I can be hear is by what. Cheering for him? No you get to say how you feel by boooing. Its been goin on for years. Cub fans, you guys act like somebody owes you something. Win it then talk, otherwise...BOOOOOOOO!!!
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9-04-2007 @ 12:54PM
steve miller said...
Unfortunately, Carlos has a 10 cent brain to go with his million dollar arm. Perhaps the Cubs can give their 3rd base coach a shotgun for the next time he decides to run through his stop sign. Or maybe he can get a brain transplant from Mark Prior. Or even better, give Prior Zambrano's right arm.
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9-04-2007 @ 12:54PM
michelle said...
As a long suffering Cub fan, I agree with Carlos. I think all great players have had their rough spots and have not performed to their expectations at one time or another. Asking for the support of the fans who see the games is not asking alot. I also agree with LB........the Cubs are rarely, if ever, in first place. Give him a break.....
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9-04-2007 @ 1:12PM
R Goodin said...
I did not boo Carlos, and I would not, except for when he was punching the catcher a couple of months ago for poor/stupid play.
I wish he would mature a tad (understated), as did the rest of his team when he went running through the sign at third during yesterday's game.
Booing at Cubs games has increased. It does boggle my mind, as for one I have gone five decades without doing so. So who is doing the booing?
What would I have like Carlos to do after his game loosing mistake? Just apologize to the team and fans and get over it. Instead he takes the mound without any type of gesture that he did a very stupid thing.. with it still eating him, and then he cannot pitch. Reminded me of a normal kid.
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9-04-2007 @ 1:33PM
Pete Raymond said...
Though I've been a Cub fan since I was 8 (1961), I'm a Brewers' fan and hope our team can get back on track and win the division. However, I'm not necessarily a fan of ANY player who ignores the source of the money in his wallet and bank accounts. If I pay even a penny to see a game in person or watch a game on TV, I have the right to voice my ap-roval as to a player's performance, good or bad. Zambrano stunk up Wrigley yesterday; the funk he put himself in was a result of his base-running BONER.
All he had to do was forget it and THROW STRIKES.
Cub fans are among the greatest in the country; they have to be to put up with such futility since 1945.
I say to the Wrigley faithful: spend your money and express your feelings!
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9-04-2007 @ 4:02PM
Mike said...
we would all do well to remember that Carlos is still a very young man.....not to mention talented
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9-04-2007 @ 4:43PM
James Devon said...
Fickle Carlos..he won't win another game this year..his attidtude is all just Carlos..I hope he gets fined for running through that stop sign at third..if I were Lou I wouldn't start him at his next turn..the cubs can't win with him on the roster.
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9-04-2007 @ 4:55PM
bob said...
Carlos has great talent... But he has some issues.
I do not like the way he acts when Lou or Larry come out to the mound. He stares over their heads and chews the living daylights out of his gum. I don't think he pays attention to what they tell him. He needs to look them in the eye when they come out.
He needs to be told to do it Lou's way, or he's gonna ride the bench until he does. Right now, he acts like he's the whole show.
I like the guy & I really feel he is a potential Hall of Famer, & Cy Young winner. He needs to grow up & I hold Lou responsible for getting his attention between now & his next scheduled start. If he doesn't shape up between now & then, we're better off without him until he grows up.
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9-04-2007 @ 6:18PM
The U is Dead said...
Give me a break...Put mommy in the crowd and let her cheer ya on ya spoliled lil bitch......Don't boo me...It hurts my feelings..LMAO
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9-04-2007 @ 11:52PM
Tom said...
Big Z is a great pitcher! The only problem I seen is that when he makes a mistake, like running through the stop sign, he lets it bother him to much and forgets he is getting paid for his pitching and not his base running skills. The fans need to support him whether he does good or bad and believe me his pitching will be alot better!!!! He needs help to forget about what has already happened. I have been a cub fan since 1960 and I have seen how a mistake can effect the way the team plays. Most recently against the Marlins in the play offs. That fan touched one ball that may or may not have been caught but he didn't have anything to do with the rest of the runs scored after that!!!!
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9-05-2007 @ 5:32PM
David said...
I was at the game Monday and Z got booed as he left the game because of his continued control issues (six bad outings is a bit much, Carlos, when the same mistakes are being made). What made it worse, though, was running through the stop sign. He saw the coach - he seemed to slow down before going back into gear. We all saw that and, frankly, were still steamed.
Now I love Carlos, and am SO glad he signed a new deal. He will eventually get out of the slump. And I forgive him. Just..don't..run..through..signs.
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