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The Cubs pitcher is sent home after a screaming fit in the dugout and confrontation with Derrek Lee.
Our Cubs blog, Bleed Cubbie Blue, is just coming out and saying it: on the heels of Carlos Zambrano's dugout tirade and suspension, the Cubs need to wave goodbye to Zambrano.
Is that the kind of "fire" you want? Not me. I think Carlos Zambrano has played his final game in a Cubs uniform.
Bleed Cubbie Blue has plenty more, including some thoughts on how valuable the idea of "firing up your team" really is. Check out the rest.
How can you tell when a season is really going downhill for the Chicago Cubs? When Carlos Zambrano has his annual dugout meltdown, which in this case came Friday in a faceoff with Derrek Lee.
Shortly after the screaming fit, Zambrano was sent home and then suspended indefinitely by the Cubs.
"His conduct was not acceptable," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "It has become a bit of a tired act."
Hendry said Zambrano's suspension was indefinite pending an investigation by Major League Baseball and the players association. Hendry said he spoke briefly with Zambrano, who was sent home during the game by manager Jim Piniella, but didn't indicate whether the pitcher apologized for his actions. ...
Manager Lou Piniella:
"That's something that can't be tolerated. He came in after he got the third out and he started yelling and screaming. It was embarrassing. ... There's no excuse for this, none at all, no excuse whatsoever."
This story sounds vaguely familiar, right? Well, it should. Zambrano brawled with former Cubs catcher Michael Barrett during the disappointing start to the 2007 season, shortly before the Cubs began a turnaround that took them to the NL Central title. Alas, that was a month earlier and the Cubs were chasing a mediocre Milwaukee club instead of this year's more formidable St. Louis Cardinals-Cincinnati Reds tandem.
Check out Bleed Cubbie Blue, our Cubs blog, for more on Zambrano and the Cubs' season.
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Cubs Send Zambrano To Restricted List After Dugout Tirade
The Cubs will send Carlos Zambrano to the restricted list after a three-game suspension is up, the team announced Monday. The pitcher is not expected to rejoin the team until after the All-Star break, using the time off to seek treatment for his anger. Chicago GM Jim Hendry:
As far as teammates go, Zambrano appears to have plenty of rectifying to do. Several Cubs said over the weekend that they don’t buy Zambrano’s interpretation of his confrontation with Derrek Lee.
Jun 28 8:11p by Brandon Larrabee - 0 comments