Carlos Zambrano Cops to Laziness, Vows To Change Habits

There are few players in baseball more polarizing than Carlos Zambrano, the mercurial right-handed hurler for the Chicago Cubs. Whether you love or hate Zambrano, the one thing for which he must be given his due is that he's never boring. Just this season, Zambrano has been to the disabled list twice, gotten his money's worth with a colorful ejection and been one of the Cubs better players (7-4 record with a solid 3.35 ERA in 20 starts).

For the past several weeks, Zambrano has been on the shelf with back spasms. He's targeting a return to the hill next Tuesday against Washington. His rehab has taken longer than expected, and, Sunday, an accountable Zambrano explained why.

"My problem is I've been lazy," a contrite Zambrano admitted after his morning session. "There are things in life you don't like to do, but you have to do them. I don't like abs [abdominal muscles workouts] but I have to do them. I have to start doing them every day and be serious about it.

"I've got to be honest with me and with you [media] guys and the fans. I'm 28 years old, I'm not 16 anymore, I'm a big guy and I work hard every day [but] one of the things I don't like to do is my abs, my core work.If I do abs every day and keep doing my job and be serious about my abs, I'll be OK."

If you're the Cubs or one of their millions of fans, it's quite disappointing to hear someone the team needs for the stretch run -- as they desperately cling to the pennant race -- has been lazy. Sure, it's nice to hear he's admitting his mistake and will rectify it, but the number of games remaining in the 2009 season is dwindling and the Cubs trail the St. Louis Cardinals by five games in the NL Central. They are 3 1/2 behind the wild-card-leading Colorado Rockies, but two teams are stuck between the Cubs and Rockies in that race. Needless to say, it's going to be an uphill battle, and the Cubs would like to have their Opening Day starter for as many starts as possible.

Also of note, Zambrano was asked if his herculean swings in the batter's box have had anything to do with his back injury. He said they didn't, but if Cubs management wanted him to cut back on his swing, he would.

It sounds like he's been selfish but plans on being a team player moving forward. The Cubs will hope it's not too little, too late as they try to salvage what has been a pretty disappointing 2009 season.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-17-2009 @ 2:50PM

Kris said...

He's an overpaid, spoiled cry baby. Everytime he gives up hits, something happens to him and he has to leave early. Probably to save his ERA. Him, Marmol, Soriano and Bradley need to go. Soriano is a complete waste of money. $110,000 per game to strike out (6th highest in baseball)The three of them are legends in their own minds. Hendry needs to go with them and Lou isn't doing much better. Yep, Soriano needs to "skip" right outta here. Do a search of the Cubs salary and see who makes what. The guys making the least amount of money are the ones doing the best. Get rid of the overpaid spoiled brats!

8-18-2009 @ 7:20AM

Koch said...

The cubs should be able to not pay him for a while. Thats what has happened to sports now, too much money and not enough effort. I hope the owners go broke condling these over rated overpaid hacks.

8-18-2009 @ 7:38AM

nonny2t said...

Oh pulease! Yes, it is important for him to do those workouts so he doesn't have recurring back problems, but he is hardly the only one that skips things he doesn't like to do in baseball. I love Carlos. He has matured and isn't as volatile, even with the ejection, which he had a point about, and all in all is a great pitcher and great for our Cubbies. We have just had injury after injury this year which has flattened us each time we seem to be making headway. As the true Cubs' fan says, "There's always next year!"

8-18-2009 @ 8:07AM

webguyster said...

This is like The David Beckham Story. He is always on the in'jerk'ed list and is more money than most people can comprehend ever having or visualizing.

8-18-2009 @ 8:35AM

Terry said...

Zambrano is not only way overpaid, he is selfish, barely a team player and he has the personality of an ass. I hope he chokes on his money and stays injured all year.

8-18-2009 @ 8:59AM

keepergo said...

if anyone in my household were fortunate enough to make the amount of money this man does, lazy would surely be a banned word.

8-18-2009 @ 9:03AM

solo25 said...

Another Hispanic player with an attitude problem.

8-18-2009 @ 9:14AM

autorollcentral said...

Who Cares, The Cubs aren't going to the post season anyway. Wait till next Century.

8-18-2009 @ 10:02AM

UncleD said...

Over paid, under worked prima donnas. They've taken the sport out of baseball and have turned it into nothing more than a money-market PONZI scheme to rip off true baseball fans...the ones that made baseball a "fan sport".

8-18-2009 @ 10:08AM

pizzaman7 said...

I wish they would limit the amount of Hispanic's can play in the MLB because it is turning into the Hispanic League. Pretty soon we will have a team "Gonzales" playing a team "Ramierz" and white kids and black kids will be back-ups. Who pays for the tickets to these games anyway?? When I go I see it overflowing with AMERICAN WHITE people. Just like our tax system I guess, we pay they get a check.

8-24-2009 @ 9:42AM

Rob said...

Wow! Do they make you guys on a conveyor belt?

I know better than to argue with this point of view, though - 'twill do no good.

8-18-2009 @ 10:14AM

seans said...

That is why pro athletes need to be paid for performance?

Novel Idea huh? How about 500k per win? 50 k per loss?

1 mil bonus if you win 20 games,1 mil if you make playoffs, 1 mil if you win WS...1 mil if you win most valuable player?

At least he would earning it?

8-18-2009 @ 10:21AM

rich one said...

Rom 10:9 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved

8-18-2009 @ 11:08AM

catwalkcowboy said...

It is up to his felow players to kick his ass and get him going or black ball him. If i was busting my ass making less money then that jerk i would do something about it.

8-18-2009 @ 11:11AM

We are talking baseball not church rich one

8-18-2009 @ 2:35PM

First, the Cubs have the third highest payroll in all of baseball, behind the Yankees and the Mets, and we have the most slugs in baseball. Teams who are at the bottom of the barrel with payroll are doing way better than us. We need to stop catering to these "diva's". Frickin' go out there and do what you're paid for or "skip" on outta here! Carlos is paid the most on the team with Soriano right behind him. The two highest paid players and we can't get production out of them? Just pay attention when Carlos is pitching. If he's on the money, than he doesn't get "aches & pains", when he's off, than something starts bothering him. Pay attention. You'll see the pattern. Soriano? For $110,000 a game, he should get on base at least 75% of the time. He should catch fly balls and run like hell to catch them. He should stop that "skipping" crap and play like a pro and not like he's playing "t" ball. Same goes for Bradley. We will never win a world series with Hendry at the helm. And Lou, at 65, should just call it a day. He doesn't seem too excited and if your skipper isn't excited than the players won't be. Just an opinion of a third generation Cubs fan who has seen the best and worst.

8-18-2009 @ 2:39PM

Great idea seans, send it to Hendry. Maybe they could lower the price of tickets with the money they save.

8-18-2009 @ 2:41PM

pizzaman, ARE YOU FRICKIN' KIDDING ME? What about basketball. Should we limit the amount of blacks who play the game? There'd be no game to watch. What about foortball? same there. GIVE ME A BREAK!