Carlos Zambrano - Fantasy News & Updates
Carlos Zambrano - Fantasy News & Updates
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For the most part, Zambrano was solid throughout the season, yielding three earned runs or fewer in 22 of his 28 starts, the reason why he posted his lowest ERA since 2006. While he certainly pitched well enough to merit 13 or 14 wins, the Cubs offense didn’t always give him much run support. He may not be a true top-of-the-rotation starter, but owners can typically count on double-digit wins and a healthy chunk of strikeouts, which is why the fiery righty will make for a quality mid-round pickup again in 2010.
A disappointing end to a wildly mixed season for Zambro, here. Zambrano had fired a complete-game, two-hit shutout against the Giants in his previous start, but was at his wild and enigmatic worst in this, his final 2009 start. In all, his 2009 numbers are pretty good -- his 1.38 WHIP was the worst mark of his career, but Z's K/9 number jumped to 8.1 and his ERA fell to 3.77, with both marks representing his best season figures since 2006. The Cubs may look into shopping Big Z this offseason, but fantasy owners will know what to expect wherever he winds up -- occasional brilliance, slightly more baserunners than is desirable, and the periodic smashed water cooler.
Zambrano still has a chance to finish in double-digit wins for the seventh straight year with a "W" in his last outing Wednesday against Pittsburgh. "Obviously, this is a bad year for me," Zambrano said. "I can still get 10 wins, but it's a disappointing year. I don't want to say 'frustrating.' It's disappointing. There are many games I could've won." Wins or less, Zambrano still carries a respectable 3.67 ERA into his final outing.
The positive aspect of Zambrano's start was that he kept the ball on the ground against a powerful offense. After inducing just five groundouts against 10 flyouts in his prior two outings, Big Z forced the Cardinals into eight groundouts while setting up just four outs via the fly ball. All in all, it was a solid start for the righty as he heads into his Sept. 25 outing vs. the Giants at AT&T Park.
Zambrano clearly had some power stuff in this one, as evidenced by the nine punchouts. But after cruising through the first four innings, he ran into trouble in the fifth, when he threw a wild pitch and was the victim of some shaky defense behind him. The volatile hurler has piled up the Ks recently, fanning 24 over his last 17 innings. He’ll look to put it all together when he carries a solid 3.82 ERA into his next start Sept. 12 vs. the Cardinals.
Four of the Cubs' five starters have spent time on the 15-day DL this season, including Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ted Lilly. "We have enough pitching here to do what we want to do," Piniella said. "We're still not eliminated, and we're still trying to win as many games as possible. We'll see when we sit down and talk."
It's not good when everything falls apart against a Mets offense which is one of the least productive in the game. Big Z burned through 75 pitches in his short time on the mound, although owners can at least take solace in the fact that 53 of them were strikes. Still, Zambrano has tossed 170 pitches in 7 2/3 frames since returning from the DL. He'll be able to make up for his lackluster effort on Sunday when he takes the hill vs. the Mets again on Sept. 5 at Citi Field.
A rocky return to the mound for Big Z, who surrendered a season-high eight earned runs. Zambrano hadn't been susceptible to the long ball before his DL stint -- he allowed multiple homers in a game once in his first 20 starts -- but he served up a pair of taters, including a grand slam to Elijah Dukes in this one. He should find his next outing much more comforting when he faces a punchless Mets lineup Aug. 30 at Wrigley Field.
In his last start for Class A Peoria, Zambrano gave up five hits and struck out five over five innings. He threw 76 pitches, and did not walk a batter in his first game action since coming out of an Aug. 1 start against Florida because of back spasms. Since then, he missed a scheduled start Aug. 7 against Colorado because his back flared up again. He's also admitted to being "lazy" as far as his workouts go. Once widely considered among the game's most durable arms, Big Z needs to reverse course to keep his stock from falling.
It was all but a lock that Big Z would start after a Thursday rehab appearance for Class A Peoria in which he tossed five scoreless innings. Zambrano hasn't thrown for the Cubs since Aug. 1, but that shouldn't prevent owners from starting him without any reservations on Aug. 25. As a result of Zambrano's return to the rotation, Tom Gorzelanny will go to the bullpen, although he's still available to start if needed. Since coming over from the Pirates on July 30, Gorzelanny has a 4.82 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 18 2/3 innings over four starts.
Zambrano, pitching for the first time since Aug. 1, gave up four hits and did not walk a batter in front of a standing-room-only crowd. He threw 76 pitches, 45 for strikes in the Chiefs' game against Clinton. If Zambrano comes out of this outing without any problems, all systems will be go for his return to the hill vs. the Nats.
Zambrano was placed on the DL Aug. 8, retroactive to Aug. 2, when he left his start against Florida after three innings. The big right-hander threw a 45-pitch bullpen session before Sunday's game, declaring himself to be "95 to 100 percent" healthy afterward. He's scheduled for another session Aug. 18 and then a rehab start Aug. 20 with Class A Peoria. "Remember, he hasn't pitched but three innings in over three weeks," manager Lou Piniella said. "He hasn't run the bases or swung the bat or done anything, so we've got to be a little cautious with him. So by sending him out, he can throw 70, 75 pitches and then he'll be ready for his start here [Aug. 25]."
Zambrano, on the DL because of back spasms, has been doing his exercises and getting treatment. When the Cubs get the OK, Zambrano will resume baseball activities. "I don't expect it to be longer than two weeks," manager Lou Piniella said of Zambrano's time on the DL. "I think in two weeks he'll be able to resume pitching." Zambrano appeared ready to go on Aug. 7 in Colorado. He took batting practice before the ballgame and didn't start to feel any discomfort until he began warming up. Going forward, the Cubs may try to get the right-hander to ease up on his batting practice sessions so he can get back on the hill as quickly as possible.
The starting nod comes as a result of Carlos Zambrano's placement on the 15-day DL. Samardzija threw 73 pitches over four innings, surrendering two earned runs on five hits, in a Aug. 7 game that Big Z was supposed to start. For all his talent, Samardzija has struggled to a 6.29 ERA this season, so owners may want to see how he fares in a starting role before plugging him into the active lineup.
Big Z left his Aug. 1 start with what was termed as a stiff back. He was set to start Friday, but he left the field during his warmup with more back stiffness. It's been an injury-riddled season by his standards as two of his four DL trips for his career (he was out May 4-22 with a right hamstring strain) have come in '09. This isn't a time to cut Zambrano although owners should be wary of his production the rest of the year. Jeff Stevens, who has allowed two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings over five outings, was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.
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