The Zambrano road show continues. Yesterday it was reported that Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has been ordered 
to undergo anger management treatment. Tomorrow he will be evaluated by MLB approved doctors and a program will be set up for him.
According to various sources, Zambrano must follow the treatment to the letter. What does that mean? Does it mean if he doesn’t follow everything he is told to do the Cubs could void his contract? This is the million dollar question.
After announcing that Z was being placed on the restricted list and will undergo anger management therapy, Hendry was asked if Z had apologized for his tirade. Hendry’s response was that this wasn’t the time for apologies, Apologies can come later.
There is a lot of speculating going on here. Last night on MLB Tonight, analyst and short-time Cubs player Kevin Millar gave his thoughts about the Zambrano situation, stating he had spoken to Z a week before the outburst and Z was looking for someone to fire up the team. He claimed Z wasted Carlos Silva to fire up the team since he was doing well. He said Z was not directing his temper toward any one player, but to everyone.
“That was basically his view, that he shouldn’t have done it, he wasn’t the right guy to do it, he wanted Carlos Silva to do it last week. It wasn’t one play; it wasn’t the Derrick Lee play that caused this whole scene. He ran in the dugout and was yelling at the whole group,” Millar said.
Whether this is true or not. Z has a history of temper problems and it finally came out full force.
Yes, much of it is probably frustration. Frustration with the team, with the manager and with himself. Z’s not doing as well as he had, and it’s probably a safe assumption to say that’s he’s very frustrated with himself. Is he a fierce competitor? Yes. Does he need help with his anger issues? Absolutely yes.
According to a commentary by Mark Potash in today’s Sun-Times, Hendry may have missed a few warning signs in the past. The three things Potash points to are prior ejections as a direct result of his temper, injuries over the years and Z’s declining productivity. He says Z was coddled by Hendry and former manager Dusty Baker. Hey, he was Z, he was the Ace of the bullpen.
Well, people get older and their performance starts to lag. It’s a fact of life. You can’t be the Ace forever and at some point you have to grow up and face the music. Perhaps there’s just too much wrong with this Cubs team for Z to handle. Maybe it’s time for Z to move on, but who would take the rest of his contract?
Re-printed with permission of the author.
In addition to contributing to Sports Climax, Miriam Romain maintains a Chicago Cubs column for Examiner.com. The Chicago native has also been published in several Cubs annuals by Maple Street Press and is writing a book with the working title “Summers at Wrigley with my Dad.”
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