MLB - Sports Rumors

Sun Jun 22, 2008 7:34 am EDT

Cubs play it safe, place Zambrano on DL

By Joe Zedalis

Carlos Zambrano

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Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano thinks he's healthy enough to start next weekend against the White Sox on the South Side, so he initially reacted angrily when he was told Saturday that he was going on the 15-day disabled list. But within an hour or so, even the emotional Zambrano saw the value of taking an extra few days to rest his strained right shoulder before returning to the mound.

''I don't want to go on the DL, [but] I have to accept it,'' he said. ''It's best for the team and best for me. We don't want a major problem in the shoulder.''

Zambrano, who left his start Wednesday in the seventh inning because of soreness in the shoulder, had an MRI arthrogram Friday that showed no structural damage. But the DL move was expected, in part to give the Cubs the roster flexibility to recall outfielder Eric Patterson from Class AAA Iowa for the weekend and left-hander Sean Marshall to fill Zambrano's rotation spot Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles and next Sunday against the Sox.

The difference between putting Zambrano (8-3, 3.13 ERA) on the DL or not doing so amounts to two missed starts instead of one. He'll be eligible to return July 4, when the Cubs open a three-game road series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Source: Sun-TimesNew Window

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20 Comments

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  1. Paco el Guapo
    1. Posted by Paco el Guapo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    1st...just like the Cubs. Good move by management to put Z on the DL. His good health is the key to continued success this year for the north siders. Coming into July with a couple of weeks rest should help Carlos prepare for that long hot summer stretch.
  2. brew crew boo
    2. Posted by brew crew boo Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    sorry but u won't really know how the little baby bull from the baby bears will throw when he gets back he does not have the mental toughness needed to go thru an august and september watching his team of chokers do what they have done for what is it 100 yrs he will snap like acarrot when he gets no run support seen it happen to many times seeya
  3. sqeeze
    3. Posted by sqeeze Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    brew crew boo hoo
    z will be jambing that ball down your throat the rest of the year.
    he just needs a couple of weeks to get his mind right.
    you heard it here first, This is our year!
  4. sqeeze
    4. Posted by sqeeze Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    the brewers might have 47 wins by the time he gets back
  5. rad_St.L
    5. Posted by rad_St.L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    It doesn't matter what the Cubs do now anyway, it's not September yet. No matter how good they play now you all know what Cubs stand for, Completely Useless By September. The Cardinals will use them as toilet paper, just like they do every year when it counts. You Cub fans hate it but you know it's true, Cardinals have 10 World Series titles since the Cubs last won it all. Don't be mad at us because we won a World Series in our new ballpark before you won one in yours, it's just the way it is suppose to be. Every year Cubs fans say the Cubs are better this year and every year it's the same old song and dance. Why do you even bother? Nothing personal but stop believing, it's old.
  6. rad_St.L
    6. Posted by rad_St.L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    And the Brewers! Please you can't win in either league, I'd rather have the Cubs. Go back to the American League. You have a .500 team so look forward to only having 44-45 wins by the time Z comes back. Good luck on your next World Series Title, ooops, I meant on ever winning one.
  7. lariat_sam
    7. Posted by lariat_sam Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    Good way to get zambaby a little more rest so he can try to have all his emotions and limited skills for the july 4th series
  8. KingOfOldSkool
    8. Posted by KingOfOldSkool Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    lol at brew crew boo.. i'd rather take big Z and his 2nd career stint on the dl than fragile little babies that litter the brewers like Sheets..
  9. Steven
    9. Posted by Steven Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    michael cubs fan, You missed the point about the cards winning in 06 . It was that they won and have won 9 other times in three different stadiums since the Cubs have won in their old dump called Wrigley field. join the 21st century. Do like the Yankees did. Build something new that won't collapse
  10. Austin M
    10. Posted by Austin M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:16 pm EDT

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    Smart move by the Cubs, and to everyone who thinks this will doom them, you are dumb. The Cubs are going to win the NL Central and the pennant.
  11. Smitty
    11. Posted by Smitty Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    jeff r needs to chill out, who won the NLC last year??
  12. moe62808
    12. Posted by moe62808 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    i would feel bad if the cubs won the pennant. i love ml loosers. go cubs loose loose. love my cub team.
  13. burmeister
    13. Posted by burmeister Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:13 pm EDT

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    Michael K ....if you knew baseball, you'd then realize that you'd prefer not having the mad Venezuelan starting against the Brewers...or Sheets starting against the Chubs. Look at the career records each has against the other's team.....
    Meanwhile, back to the intelligent posters on this board--it's probably a good move to put Zambrano on the DL. Why take chances with your #1, especially since they'll very likely need him down the stretch to try to fend off the Brewers and the Cardinals, rather than be done for the season with a dead arm.
  14. R
    14. Posted by R Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:43 pm EDT

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    And its amazing how these STL fans are talking about winning, even though they just got swept by one of the incredibly most losing teams in history the Kansas City Royals IN THEIR OWN BALLPARK. Oh ya, and even if Wrigley is old, at least we know how to win in our own ballpark. And btw, I know you're thinking you just got swept, and yes that is true, by Tampa Bay which has a much much better record than KC and it was at their ballpark, NOT OURS. Good luck getting in the playoffs, all you'll get is a wildcard spot, because the CUBS ARE GONNA WIN TODAY. GO CUBS GOOOOOOO!!!
  15. Hop Sing
    15. Posted by Hop Sing Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    This is a great move by the Cubs who are easily the best team in baseball this season. This will allow
    Zambrano to comeback at full strength and be effective throughout the remainder of the year. Even without Z, the Cubs should be able to continue their winning ways. This season has been a masterful coaching job to this point by Piniella. What a model of consistency he has been and the team has really responded!
  16. R
    16. Posted by R Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:43 pm EDT

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    I miss So thanks for responding to my comments, but you still aren't going to win the argument. Yes, we haven't won enough away from Wrigley but you know what, all that matters is the wins, which yes, we are still the best team in baseball, and 4.5 games in front of the cards. And you forgot to mention that the 1985 royals won the world series against. Oh yea! It was the cards, how could you NOT mention that, maybe thats because you're a little biased? Well all in all, I hope that the cubs win it all this year, it would be nice. Yes, not won a world series in 100 years, that's ok, because we root for them no matter what. Why? Because we are fans, not 'fair-weather fans' like most people that call themselves 'fans.'
  17. jeffutlaw
    17. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    interesting notes on the home/away thing. all games count, and if you can win enough of em to give yourself home field advantage, then all the better.
    and #21, not that it really matters, but the Cubs lost the NLDS to the Diamondbacks.
    but getting back to the thread topic, i'd much rather rest the ace now to have em later, when the games take on a new intensity. provided we haven't stretched the lead out further. should be a telling series over the 4th.
  18. rad_St.L
    18. Posted by rad_St.L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    #24, We've heard it over 99 times in a row, it's old. This is not the Cubs year like the other 99 times!
  19. mansfield card fan
    19. Posted by mansfield card fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    LETS TALK,
    Arizona is looking for offense and we are looking for a starting pitcher, I'm thinking "DAN HAREN".
    I know, I know who would we trade or who would look inviting to them. Take a look at Chris Duncan and someone out of the minors and some cash. Lets face it Mulder is not comming back and Carpenter will return but how much easier will it be for him with Dan on the mound too. Hes the logical choice and yeah we are going to have to spend some money. We have to make a run now!
  20. mansfield card fan
    20. Posted by mansfield card fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    Do you know what happens in Sept in Chicago? Lay offs for all the crew at Wrigley. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

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