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Published: Aug. 6, 2011 at 5:18 PM

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on June 30, 2011. UPI /Mark Cowan 

CHICAGO, July 16 (UPI) — The Chicago Cubs activated ace pitcher Carlos Zambrano and will start him Saturday against the Florida Marlins.

Zambrano (6-4) was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 1 because of soreness in his lower back.

Zambrano has started 18 games this season with a 4.34 ERA.

To make room for Zambrano, reliever Chris Carpenter was optioned to Class-AAA Iowa.

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

Carlos Zambrano (Photo Credit: Getty Images, By: Jonathan Daniel)

By Shawn Muller–

CHICAGO (CBS) Carlos Zambrano has been quite the “character” during his time with the Chicago Cubs.

From his outbursts at himself, the umpires, the media, his teammates and seemingly anything or anyone else that gets in his way, Carlos is never one to hide how he really feels.

Most of the time, Zambrano’s outbursts get old — and flat out tiring — for the Cubs organization and its fans, but his tirade Sunday, in my opinion however, was one that was long past due…

And I mean that in a good way.

Big Z went off on Carlos Marmol and the rest of his Cubs teammates while talking to the media after the Cubs dropped another heart breaker to the archrival St. Louis Cardinals (capping off the teams’ second straight series of being swept) down in the “Gateway to the West” on Sunday.

I say “Bravo!” Carlos Zambrano!

Now, I am not condoning people who rip their co-workers for a lack of production. But, in the case of Mr. Zambrano on Sunday, nothing he said was wrong.

Zambrano said, “We are playing like a Triple-A team. This is embarrassing. Embarrassing for the team and the owners. Embarrassing for the fans. Embarrassing, that’s the word for this team.”

When he was talking about Marmol, he was just stating the obvious. Ryan Theriot played for the Cubs. Marmol should know his tendencies at the plate. Koyie Hill wanted fastball. Marmol shook him off in favor of the slider. Theriot tied the game. Albert Pujols eventually ended it.

It’s as simple as that.

The Cubs are playing like a Triple-A team, Carlos Marmol should know better, and…oh yeah…they are embarrassing.

Chicago is 11 games under .500. They have lost eight out of their last 10 games and six straight overall. Oops. I almost forgot. Chicago is only a game and a half ahead of the Houston Astros (who recently swept the Cubs at Wrigley Field) for the worst record in the National League.

What did anyone expect him to say? The same old and tired crap that, “we just need to settle down” or “we’re close” or any other lame excuse you hear coming out of the mouths of players on crappy teams? I sure don’t.

Chicago can’t hit. Chicago can’t pitch. Chicago can’t hold onto a lead.

Not much more to it than that.

When your team seemingly isn’t capable of doing any of those three things, the results usually will be embarrassing. And for the Chicago Cubs so far…this is the truth.

I am sure every player is frustrated with the way things have been going for the ball club lately, but maybe Carlos’ little outburst can turn into a positive down the stretch.

For any team to be successful, the players must hold each other accountable for their mistakes. This isn’t Little League where you don’t want to say anything negative because you don’t want to hurt little Tommy’s feelings.

These are professional athletes who deserve a little kick in the pants once in a while…especially when those athletes are playing as bad as the Chicago Cubs.

Do you agree with Shawn? Post your comments below.

Shawn Muller

Shawn Muller has lived in the great city of Chicago for 7 years. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and, in October of 2010, Shawn received his certificate in radio broadcasting. In his free time, Shawn enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and 3 year old daughter Ava, catching any live sporting event, and traveling. Check out his radio show, Grab Some Bench with Muller and Bangser” every Thursday night at 8:30 P.M., at www.blogtalkradio.com/spmuller24. Read more of his blogs here.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

ST. LOUIS – Albert Pujols is sizzling. Just ask the Chicago Cubs.

For the second successive afternoon, they felt the fire from his burning bat.

Pujols unloaded a game-winning home run in the 10th to send the Cardinals past the Cubs 3-2 before 40,701 fans at Busch Stadium. The 36-25 Cards thus swept a three-game series from the sagging Cubs, now 23-34 and 11 games behind the Redbirds.

“It was greatness in person,” said St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, marveling about Pujols’ second-game winning home run in two days. The Cards’ slugged clouted a 12th-inning one to beat them 5-4 on Saturday.

La Russa added, “I’ve seen that every day for 10 years and two months.”

Pujols, now with 13 home runs, was glad to see a favorable pitch from Chicago reliever Rodrigo Lopez (0-1). Cards’ reliever Fernando Salas (3-0) logged the win.

“I got a good pitch to hit and I was looking to hit the ball hard,” Pujols said of his 426-foot shot into the left center field bleachers. It was also his first hit off Lopez, who the Cubs recently acquired from Atlanta.

Pujols said, “I think I’m 1-for-13 against him in my career.”

La Russa added, “Albert was just trying to get a lousy single off him (Lopez) and he hits the ball out of the park. I wasn’t surprised they pitched to him because Albert was leading off the inning. They had to go after him.”

And it backfired again for the Cubs, who have lost six in a row and couldn’t hold a 2-1 lead in the ninth. Pujols hit four home runs against them in the series and blasted five on the seven-game homestand.

He has raised his batting average to .278 and he has 38 RBIs to go with his growing home run total. Pujols tied for third in the National League for homers.

“I’m trying to work hard, make adjustments and do what I need to do,” Pujols said.

The Cubs aren’t sure where they are headed. Take it from starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who experienced a no-decision. Ryan Theriot’s RBI double with two outs in the ninth tied it and set the stage for Pujols’ heroics.

“We’re playing like a Triple-A team,” Zambrano fumed. “The problem wasn’t Pujols. The problem was the previous at-bat. We should know that Theriot isn’t a good fastball hitter and we throw him a slider.”

Zambrano said pointedly, “We should know better than that. This is embarrassing. It’s embarrassing for the team, for the owners and for the fans. We stink. That’s all I have to say.”

Cubs’ manager Mike Quade wanted to turn the page. The Cubs continue their road swing tonight in Cincinnati.

“We were just a pitch away from winning it,” he said of the ninth inning. “The only thing you can do is to say the hell with it, go to Cincinnati and find a way to beat them.”

Aramis Ramirez’s two-run double off St. Louis starter gave Zambrano a lead in the fourth. The Cardinals then strung together three singles, including an RBI one by Allen Craig in the sixth, to make it 2-1.

Sean Marshall replaced Zambrano in the eighth and kept the Cards quiet. Yadier Molina opened the ninth with a single, then Chicago closer Carlos Marmol struck out the next two hitters.

Marmol had a two-strike count on Theriot, but he never got the third one. Theriot doubled into the left field corner to score pinch-runner Tony Cruz and tie the game. Theriot thus extended his hitting streak to 19 games.

“I wanted to get on base, extend the game and give Albert a chance to win it,” Theriot said. “And that’s what he did.”

Pujols said, “Ryan had a great at-bat against Marmol and that was a huge hit to tie the game. But that’s something he has been doing for us all year.”

Chris Carpenter worked nine innings, allowing seven hits and two runs. Carpenter, 1-5, is finding it elusive to secure his second win. But that doesn’t faze him.

“There’s no frustration,” he said. “I can do what I do and that’s it. This was a great win and whether we win 2-1 or 7-6, it doesn’t matter to me.”

There is the quick update of the day.

There is the quick update of the day.

CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano said he won’t miss a start after X-rays on his stiff neck were negative.

Zambrano, who earned his fifth win of the season by beating the New York Mets 9-3 on Thursday, complained of a stiff neck after the game. After undergoing an X-ray, Zambrano was told by Dr. Steven Gryzlo that the discomfort was coming from a knot in his neck and is mostly muscular.

“I usually sleep with my head turned that way like when I’m watching TV,” said Zambrano, who has been experiencing stiffness in his neck for the past three or four starts. “So I guess I’ll have to turn it the other way.”

Zambrano said he will have massage therapy and will not miss a start.

“Nothing to worry about,” Zambrano said. “The doctor said just to keep doing my exercises and massage treatment. it will be OK.”

That’s good news for the Cubs, who have three-fifths of their rotation on the disabled list.

Matt Garza was put on the DL on Monday with a sore elbow. Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner went on the disabled list April 8, but Wells is scheduled to return Saturday after straining his right forearm April 4.

Zambrano allowed two runs — one earned — in six innings against the Mets and went 3-for-3 with a double and RBI.

Bruce Levine covers baseball for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

That’s all for today.

CHICAGO —
Ryan Dempster pitched seven effective innings, Starlin Castro had three hits and three RBIs and the Chicago Cubs pounded the stumbling New York Mets 11-1 on Tuesday night.

Alfonso Soriano, Darwin Barney and Lou Montanez each had two hits for Chicago, which kicked off a nine-game homestand with its 11th victory in its past 12 games against NL East teams. Montanez started in right field hours after he was promoted from Triple-A Iowa when the Cubs put right-hander Matt Garza on the 15-day disabled list with elbow stiffness.

The Mets dropped their first game since a pair of magazine articles about owner Fred Wilpon. Wilpon first made a couple of chilly comments about three of the team’s biggest stars in an interview with The New Yorker, then told Sports Illustrated the club is “bleeding cash” and could lose up to $70 million this year.

Manager Terry Collins held a pregame meeting and urged his team to focus on its play on the field. The Mets all said they got the message, but it was hard to tell on an unseasonably cool night in Chicago.

Backup catcher Ronny Paulino made two errors, leading to five unearned runs. Pat Misch issued consecutive walks to force in a run and give the Cubs an 8-1 lead. Fernando Martinez booted Reed Johnson’s single in the seventh for New York’s third error, setting a season high.

Cubs manager Mike Quade had starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano hit for Dempster in the seventh and he delivered a two-run single into center field.

New York (22-25) has dropped three straight after winning three in a row. It also lost left fielder Jason Bay to a stiff right calf in the seventh inning.

Dempster (3-4) allowed one run and seven hits, improving to 10-5 in 26 career appearances against the Mets. He struck out five and walked one.

Dempster got all the support he needed in the second inning.

Montanez’s one-out RBI double off Jonathon Niese (3-5) put runners on second and third for Koyie Hill, who hit a bouncer to first.

Daniel Murphy threw home but Paulino dropped it, allowing Soriano to score.

Barney singled in Montanez and Castro added a two-run single that extended the lead to 5-0.

Paulino also made a throwing error while trying to pick Dempster off first in the sixth, allowing Hill to score from second.

Niese gave up six runs, two earned, and seven hits in five innings. He had won his previous two starts.

Jose Reyes had two hits and drove in a run one day after he was one of three players panned by Wilpon in an article posted on The New Yorker website. Wilpon said the oft-injured Reyes has “had everything wrong with him.” He also said outfielder Carlos Beltran was “65 to 70 percent of what he was” and third baseman David Wright was “A really good kid. A very good player. Not a superstar.”

NOTES: Cubs C Geovany Soto (left groin strain) is scheduled to play in an extended spring training game in Arizona on Wednesday, then make two rehab appearances with Double-A Tennessee. He could be back in Chicago this weekend. … Mets OF Angel Pagan (strained left oblique) went 1 for 3 and walked twice in a rehab game with Class A St. Lucie. He is expected to play for St. Lucie again on Wednesday, then make an appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday. … Cubs OF Marlon Byrd, who was hit in the face by a fastball Saturday against Boston, saw a specialist at Northwestern and general manager Jim Hendry said the bruising in his left eye had subsided a bit. … The gametime temperature was 45 degrees.

—
FOR MORE NEW YORK SPORTS CLICK HERE TO VISIT ESPN NEW YORK

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

There is the quick update of the day.

CUBS 9 ASTROS 5

Pitcher Carlos Zambrano extended a franchise record with his 22nd career homer and ran his winning streak to 10 games. Alfonso Soriano’s home run capped a five-run first for the Cubs. Zambrano’s homer made it 6-0 in the sixth. Zambrano pitched five scoreless innings before the Astros jumped on him for five runs in the sixth.

E—W.Lopez (1). LOB—Cubs 6, Astros 5. 2B—Barney (1), Je.Baker (2), M.Downs (3). HR—A.Soriano (4), off W.Rodriguez; Zambrano (1), off Abad; M.Downs (1), off Zambrano. RBIs—Barney (4), Ar.Ramirez (6), Je.Baker 2 (6), A.Soriano 3 (10), Zambrano (1), Ca.Lee (7), Wallace (6), Hall (4), M.Downs 2 (5). SB—S.Castro (2). S—W.Rodriguez. DP—Astros 2 (M.Downs, Towles, Wallace), (Ca.Lee, Ang.Sanchez, Hall).

T—2:54. A—20,987 (40,963).

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Apr. 4, 2011 11:20 AM
The Arizona Republic | azcentral.com

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CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano left Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh inning with cramping in his right hand.

Zambrano, who had just given up a home run to the Pirates’ Garrett Jones, threw 99 pitches, allowing three earned runs, five hits and three walks while striking out four.

Kerry Wood came in to relieve Zambrano.

Zambrano, who underwent anger management counseling last season after he was suspended following a dugout tirade on June 25 at U.S. Cellular Field, was 8-0 over his final 11 starts last season.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs for ESPNChicago.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

That first test for Mike Quade was more of an audition and he passed. Managing the Chicago Cubs on an interim basis after Lou Piniella retired in August, the team responded by winning 24 of its final 37 games.

Next came a competition for the job on a full-time basis. Backed by veteran players impressed with how he handled the final six weeks of 2010, Quade beat out a field that included Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.

Not long into spring training earlier this month, there was yet another test. His leadership skills were on instant display when he had to deal with a dugout altercation between pitcher Carlos Silva and third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

It immediately brought back memories of Carlos Zambrano’s blowup last season after he was upset with his teammates’ fielding, a meltdown that led to his suspension and anger management counseling.

Quade diffused the Silva-Ramirez scuffle with a team meeting the very next day, clearing the air and showing that his managing skills go beyond the strategies of the game itself.

Now comes the real exam. Can Quade, a man who has managed more than 2,000 minor league games, lead the Cubs to the playoffs after a fifth-place finish in the NL Central last season? The final stretch he presided over last season may have helped him get the job, but it came without the pressure of a pennant race.

And for those counting, if the Cubs don’t win the World Series their drought will reach 103 years.

“You want to create an environment where the guys will come to play. And people say, ‘Come to play for you.’ I want them to play for us, for their teammates and for themselves,” Quade said, adding he was humbled and flattered by the players’ response to him.

“For all that stuff, there are going to be tough decisions. There are going to be people irritated with me and vice versa,” he said.

The Cubs acquired two former Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason, trading for talented right-hander Matt Garza, who won 15 games pitching in the tough AL East a year go, and signing free agent first baseman Carlos Pena to a one-year deal.

They see Garza as an ace eventually. And they need Pena’s power from the left side and his stellar glove at first, while also hoping and expecting he will hit higher than his .196 average a year ago.

Garza, who had an inconsistent first spring with the Cubs, was key in the Rays’ rise from AL cellar dweller to a World Series team in 2008. He played a pivotal role in that season, winning the ALCS MVP award.

“If you don’t come into this game expecting things, you might as well just hang it up now,” he said this spring. “They pay you for a reason. It’s not to come out here and just hang out. It’s to get a job done and get outs. That’s what I’m supposed to do, so I’m going to do it.”

General manager Jim Hendry also brought back a familiar face, the one-time ace and still fan favorite Kerry Wood, who returned for a one-year, $1.5 million deal to be a setup man for closer Carlos Marmol.

It’s been 13 years since Wood struck out 20 Houston Astros and gave up only one hit — an infield single — in his fifth major league start. His career has been slowed by numerous trips to the disabled list, but he’s just glad to be back. And he likes the makeup of the team.

“It’s got a good mix of young guys and some older guys and some veteran guys,” Wood said.

“We’re going to need the young guys to keep us young and obviously our job is to help them get better, as well. I think we have a good enough team to surprise some people.”

Up the middle, there is 21-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro, who batted .300 as a rookie a year ago; a former NL Rookie of the Year in catcher Geovany Soto; and center fielder Marlon Byrd, who made the All-Star team in his first season with the Cubs.

Left fielder Alfonso Soriano worked on getting his legs stronger in the offseason. Now that he’s no longer a big base-running threat, the Cubs would like to see more than his 24 homers of a year ago and a steadier defensive performance.

More than anything, the Cubs need stronger performances from the players who are making the big money, like Ramirez, Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and Zambrano. And they need a good start in the cold weather of April, especially at Wrigley Field.

Zambrano could be a key. He went 8-0 in his final 11 starts, his pitching certainly a factor in the Cubs’ strong finish that helped Quade secure the job. Ryan Dempster, an innings workhorse, a 15-game winner a year ago and a clubhouse leader, will start opening day Friday against the Pirates at Wrigley Field in year two of ownership under the Ricketts family.

Randy Wells, who pitched well two years ago and then faltered last season, has had a strong spring and will probably be the fourth starter. Silva was released on Sunday, meaning the Cubs are on the hook for his $11.5 million salary this season and that Andrew Cashner had the final spot in Chicago’s rotation.

Marmol, who had 38 saves last season, got a new three-year, $20 million contract this spring, and is considered one of the game’s best closers, even though he has bouts of wildness.

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

That first test for Mike Quade was more of an audition and he passed. Managing the Chicago Cubs on an interim basis after Lou Piniella retired in August, the team responded by winning 24 of its final 37 games.

Next came a competition for the job on a full-time basis. Backed by veteran players impressed with how he handled the final six weeks of 2010, Quade beat out a field that included Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.

Not long into spring training earlier this month, there was yet another test. His leadership skills were on instant display when he had to deal with a dugout altercation between pitcher Carlos Silva and third baseman Aramis Ramirez.

It immediately brought back memories of Carlos Zambrano’s blowup last season after he was upset with his teammates’ fielding, a meltdown that led to his suspension and anger management counseling.

Quade diffused the Silva-Ramirez scuffle with a team meeting the very next day, clearing the air and showing that his managing skills go beyond the strategies of the game itself.

Now comes the real exam. Can Quade, a man who has managed more than 2,000 minor league games, lead the Cubs to the playoffs after a fifth-place finish in the NL Central last season? The final stretch he presided over last season may have helped him get the job, but it came without the pressure of a pennant race.

And for those counting, if the Cubs don’t win the World Series their drought will reach 103 years.

“You want to create an environment where the guys will come to play. And people say, ’Come to play for you.’ I want them to play for us, for their teammates and for themselves,” Quade said, adding he was humbled and flattered by the players’ response to him.

“For all that stuff, there are going to be tough decisions. There are going to be people irritated with me and vice versa. That’s the nature of a family or a ballclub or anything else.”

The Cubs acquired two former Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason, trading for talented right-hander Matt Garza, who won 15 games pitching in the tough AL East a year go, and signing free agent first baseman Carlos Pena to a one-year deal.

They see Garza as an ace eventually. And they need Pena’s power from the left side and his stellar glove at first, while also expecting he will hit higher than his .196 average a year ago.

Garza, who had an inconsistent spring with the Cubs, was key in the Rays’ rise from AL cellar dweller to a World Series team in 2008. He played a pivotal role in that season, winning the ALCS MVP award.

“If you don’t come into this game expecting things, you might as well just hang it up now,” he said this spring. “They pay you for a reason. It’s not to come out here and just hang out. It’s to get a job done and get outs. That’s what I’m supposed to do, so I’m going to do it.”

General manager Jim Hendry also brought back a familiar face, the one-time ace and still fan favorite Kerry Wood, who returned for a one-year, $1.5 million deal to be a setup man for closer Carlos Marmol.

It’s been 13 years since Wood struck out 20 Houston Astros and gave up only one hit — an infield single — in his fifth major league start. His career has been slowed by numerous trips to the disabled list, but he’s just glad to be back. And he likes the makeup of the team.

“It’s got a good mix of young guys and some older guys and some veteran guys,” Wood said. “We’re going to need the young guys to keep us young and obviously our job is to help them get better, as well. I think we have a good enough team to surprise some people.”

Up the middle, there is 21-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro, who batted .300 as a rookie a year ago; a former NL Rookie of the Year in catcher Geovany Soto; and center fielder Marlon Byrd, who made the All-Star team in his first season with the Cubs.

Left fielder Alfonso Soriano worked on getting his legs stronger in the offseason. Now that he’s no longer a big base-running threat, the Cubs would like to see more than his 24 homers of a year ago and a steadier defensive performance.

More than anything, the Cubs need stronger performances from the players who are making the big money, like Ramirez, Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and Zambrano. And they need a good start in the cold weather of April, especially at Wrigley Field.

Zambrano could be a key. He went 8-0 in his final 11 starts, his pitching certainly a factor in the Cubs’ strong finish that helped Quade secure the job. Ryan Dempster, an innings workhorse, a 15-game winner a year ago and a clubhouse leader, will start opening day Friday against the Pirates at Wrigley Field in year two of ownership under the Ricketts family.

Randy Wells, who pitched well two years ago and then faltered last season, has had a strong spring and will probably be the fourth starter. Silva was released on Sunday, meaning the Cubs are on the hook for his $11.5 million salary this season and that Andrew Cashner had the final spot in Chicago’s rotation.

Jeff Baker, Blake DeWitt and Darwin Barney can all play second base. DeWitt, acquired from the Dodgers in a trade last season, struggled this spring and could not be in a utility role.

Marmol, who had 38 saves last season, got a new three-year, $20 million contract this spring, and is considered one of the game’s best closers, even though he has bouts of wildness.
 

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