Carlos Zambrano Is An Idiot, And So Are The Cubs
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by user Joebook
Why now? Why would Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano make his move now?
Because it's the right time.
Let's be honest: if you follow baseball at all, you are wondering why the Cubs spending spree in the offseason didn't include a long-term deal for Zambrano. They spent millions on Kerry Wood, Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis. (broken, bad, and worse) They signed Mark DeRosa to a contract after one good year. They locked up Aramis Ramirez and threw $136 million at Alfonso Soriano.
So why not Big Z?
Because they are the Cubs.
Zambrano recently made headlines by saying that if the Cubs didn't work out a contract for him by the start of the season, he'll walk after 2007 ends. Dumb, right? Maybe.
One on hand, he's right. If the Cubbies can spend $300 million on everyone under the sun, why can't they get a contract to one of the best pitchers in the National League? Zambrano has a career record of 64-42 with an ERA of 3.29. He's quickly become a dominating force in the NL... and he's right. If Lilly and Marquis can get multi-year deals, so could he. Hell, Barry Zito just got $17 million per, and Z is better than Z... (huh?)
On the other hand, he's an idiot. Speaking out against your team just as camp opens on a team with big expectations is never smart. It might hurt the negotiations more than his explosive personality already would. He should get Zito money, and is currently going to arbitration to get a one-year deal for more than $15 million. Expect the arbitrator to give him a little more than $12 million this year if the Cubs don't sign him.
My thoughts? The Cubs will call Zambrano's bluff, he'll win the Cy Young Award this year for the 88-74 Cubs, go to Atlanta, and become a Hall-of-Fame pitcher, only returning to Chicago after he's washed up.
And the Cubbies will celebrate 100 years without a title.
