After another one-run loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, this one by a 3-2 score, the Chicago Cubs record fell to 23-34 and things are turning ugly in the locker room.
After starter Carlos Zambrano (5-2, 3.98 ERA) was yanked after pitching seven innings, the controversial pitcher who has starred in several physical confrontations in the dugout, took exception to the play of one of the team’s relievers and blew another gasket.
After hurling seven innings and allowing one run on five hits, Z was set up to earn the win; until relief pitcher Carlos Marmol took the mound and gave up a hit to Ryan Theriot that sent the game into extra innings and converted Zambrano’s effort to a “no decision”.
Although it was Albert Pujols who hit the game-winning, walk-off homerun off another reliever, Rodrigo Lopez, a visibly upset Z grabbed the media’s attention in the locker room and pulled no punches laying the blame on Marmol.
“The problem wasn’t Pujols,” Z said post game. “The problem was Theriot’s at-bat. We should know that Ryan Theriot is not a good fastball hitter.”
That shot was thrown at Marmol for dishing a slider to Theriot who took advantage and ripped a double to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The fact the listless Cubs were only able to muster up two runs over the first nine innings should have also been mentioned as well as… well the list is too long to go into right at the moment.
“This is embarrassing. Embarrassing for the team and the owners. Embarrassing for the fans. Embarrassing, that’s the word for this team. We stink.”
Yes the Cubs do stink and it looks like the anger management classes Zambrano attended last year have possibly worn off over time. I always wondered how long those type of counseling courses lasted.
Used with permission of the author.
Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.
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