Stat Boy Learns That Pitchin' Ain't Easy

So much has been written about the Cubs' lack of hitting, that sometimes people overlook the guys on the bump.  To the naked eye, it looks like the Cubs got waxed in their three-game set against the Cardinals.  But to the wise observer, the Cubs starters should be showered with praise after handcuffing one of baseball's best offenses.

Cubs starters Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano combined to eat up 21.2 innings over the weekend.  That's $37.75 million worth of starting pitching earning their respective paychecks.  Lilly and Big Z each allowed two earned runs, while Dempster only allowed one -- on the Brendan Ryan home run with the assist from Bobby Scales' mitt.  The trio's collective WHIP over the weekend  was 1.037.

Those are the kinds of numbers that pitching coaches dream about seeing.  Too bad Larry Rothschild won't get any credit for this.  It's safe to assume that had Dave Duncan been working with this bunch, Teddy, Demp and Big Z would have thrown 27 innings of perfect ball.

More drool-inducing numbers after the jump.

Cubs Interested In Shipping Zambrano? Here's Your Irresponsible Blogger-Turned-GM Post Of The Day!

The story of the day in Chicago baseball was the Cubs' 2-0 win against the Milwaukee Brewers.  The win would have meant something a year ago at this time as the Cubs and Brew Crew were duking it out for NL Central supremacy.  Right now, the Cubs' biggest battles are against themselves and mediocrity.

And now we bring you to the buried lead in the story brought to you by Chicago Tribune Cubs beat writer Paul Sullivan:

Now that Hendry is assured of returning in 2010, he'll have to decide which players to bring back. Dempster, who signed a four-year, $52 million deal last winter, is assured of returning. [Carlos] Zambrano, who signed a five-year, $91.5 million deal in August 2007, is not.

Despite the fact that Zambrano has a full no-trade clause, the Cubs plan on shopping him this off-season, sources said, believing he'll waive the clause to go to the right team, as Jake Peavy eventually did when the Padres consummated a deal this summer with the White Sox.

According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, Carlos Zambrano has $53.75 million coming his way from 2010-12, with a vesting option worth $19.25 million in 2014.

Let the record show that despite a mediocre season by Zambrano (8-6, 3.77 ERA), pitching has not been the Cubs' downfall.  The North Side staff ranks in the top-5 in strikeouts, ERA+, WHIP, H/9 and K/9.  But with a weak free agent market awaiting, now might be the best time to move Big Z.

But where?

Cubs, Cards & Aces From A(dam) to (Big) Z

Chicago Tribune blogumnist Steve Rosenbloom is absolutely correct.  Adam Wainwright, not Carlos Zambrano, is pitching like someone worth $18 million per year.

However, Rosenbloom is completely off base with his comparison.

Comparing Wainwright and Big Z is like comparing the a street baller and a prep school player.

Consider this.

Do You Think Village Idiot Baseball Writer Phil Rogers Still Want To Trade Carlos Zambrano?

Carlos Zambrano's line in the Cubs' 2-1 win against the Milwaukee Brewers.

7 IP 5 H 1 R 1 ER 3 BB 3 K

Big Z lowers his season earned run average to 3.50 as he picked up a no decision in what was a pitcher's duel at Wrigley Field. He also picked up a RBI single when he knocked in Jake Fox to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning. And now the Cubs are only two games out of first place and a 1.5 games behind the second place Brewers.

Oh, and by the way, Cubs players wearing red hats? That's a fashion fauxpas if I've ever seen one.

Photo courtesy of the AP

Cubs Tip Brewers 2-1 in 10 innings [Chicago Tribune]

Z The Ball. Pitch The Ball. Hit The Ball.

If Carlos Zambrano wants to match what Randy Johnson did this week (winning his 300th game) before he retires, he's got his work cut out for him.

Zambrano announced his "retirement" after picking up his 100th win in a 2-1 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds. Big Z said he will call it quits after his contract expires in 2012, or 2013 depending on the player option. If he wants to hit the magic 300, he will need to average 40 wins in that span.

Thankfully, Z isn't going anywhere anytime soon because, of course, he was joking. Right? Either way, it proves the point I'm ready to make with this blog. Despite the sideshow, the antics and the overall batsh*t craziness, Zambrano proved in last night's win against Cincinnati why its OK to turn a blind eye to his antics at times. Because he can be that damn good.

Zambrano tossed 6.2 scoreless innings, punching out seven hitters and allowed only two hits in his best outing of the year.

On top of that, Big Z delivered the big hit of the night as he blasted a homer to center field which proved to be the decisive run. Zambrano has 18 homers since 2003, and that's the most among pitchers in the DH Era since Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals hit 24 in his Hall of Fame career.

To put things in perspective, he has more than double the second place hitting-pitcher in that time frame (Dontrelle Willis has 8) and has two more career homers than teammate Aaron Miles.

Makes me wonder if Big Z can handle third base in Aramis Ramirez's stead, or right field while Milton Bradley is out with a/an (injury/suspension/mental health day).

Other than Micah Hoffpauir (and maybe Jake Fox?), Zambrano is the cubs most potent bat off the bench ... if only because he can pinch hit from both sides and do so with power. And with his footspeed, Zambrano might be the best threat as a pinch runner.

If Zambrano could ever get his head on straight, he could be one of baseball's elite players. Notice that I didn't just say pitchers.

See, guys like him don't come around these parts often. These days, pitchers only care about their golden arms and contracts, so as they develop, they spend less and less time around the batting cage or in the field working on their all around game. It is why pitchers cannot field their position, move runners over or run the bases without making an adventure out of it.

With that said, I will (try) to enjoy Zambrano's presence on the North Side Nine because they surely don't make 'em how they used to.

Bye-Bye Big Z: Cubs Ace Out With a Boo-Boo

There's panic in the streets of Wrigleyville and it has nothing to do with the Piggy Flu. In fact, it has everything to do with the Cubs' horse of an ace, Carlos Zambrano.

Big Z pulled his hammy in Sunday's win after beating out a drag bunt.

Somewhere, Hank Steinbrenner is grinning ... until Jason Bay takes CC Sabathia deep in the new Yankee Stadium.

Eventually, there will be a post mocking the DH ... but that won't come until after I'm done with my finals.

Sigh, priorities.

Zamrbano to DL [Chicago Tribune]

The weight - and wait - of a (Cub) Nation rests on Big Z's shoulder

Down 0-1 in the NLDS.

Backs against the preverbial wall.

A fan base on the edge, ready to jump.

This is why Jim Hendry and the Tribune Co. shelled out more than $90 million to keep Carlos Zambrano in Cubbie blue.

When Big Z trots out to the Wrigley Field mound tonight, the focus of Cubdom shifts squarely on the $91.5 million dollar man and the right arm that has brought joy and pain this season.

The question at hand is which Zambrano will show up at the Friendly Confines tonight?

Will it be Carlos Zambrano-no, who in 14-wins has 76 punchouts and a 1.53 ERA? Or will it be El Toro Loco, who posted a 10.53 ERA in six losses this season.

While the bandwagoners are jumping ship, continually awaiting doom, I will still have faith in the Cubs going into Los Angeles.

In Game 3, the North Siders will have Rich Harden, who went 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA since joining the team in July. He's not CC Sabathia, but he's been just as dominant at times, striking out 89 batters in 71 innings in the familiar blue pinstripes.

Ted Lilly would take the bump in Game 4, unless the Dodgers pull of the unlikely sweep. Teddy Neversmile has been the Cubs' best pitcher down the stretch, and though he's prone to giving up the long ball, pitching in pitchers paradise Dodger Stadium lightens the load Lilly would have to carry.

Cubs fans: it's not over. It's not even close to being over. It's not time to be praying for a miracle.

This ain't your daddy's or granddaddy's or great-granddaddy's Cubs.

This ain't your 1909-2007 Cubs.

This is 2008. This is the team. This is the year.

Enjoy the ride.

And Go Cubs!

Far from un-hittable

Sometimes your the dog and sometimes your the fire hydrant.

Carlos Zambrano's line today against the St. Louis Cardinals:

1.2 IP 6 H 8 R 8 ER 3 BB 1 K

Yeah, it's 2:31 p.m. and the game is still going on and Big Z's day is done.

Still you can't take away Sunday's no-no.

Not Drayton McClane. Not Skip Bayless. Not Bud Selig.

No one.

If this score stands, the Chicago Cubs' magic number will remain at 2.

No-no, Yes!

No flashy lead. No pretty girl. No witty remarks.

Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano pitched the franchise's first no-hitter since 1972 in his first start since being shut down because of recent rotator cuff soreness in the Cubs' 5-0 victory against the Houston Astros.

The game was played in Milwaukee's Miller Park in front of a largely pro-Cub crowd because of the effects of Hurricane Ike.

Zambrano struck out Darin Erstad for the 27th out on a pitch in the right-handed batters box. So unlike Milt Pappas' 1972 gem, Zambrano missed his spot but got the result he wanted in the end.

More importantly, the Cubs won the game, and moved their lead over the Milwaukee Brewers to 7.5 games because the Brew Crew was swept in their double header in Philadelphia.

That's like a double whammy for the Brewers, ain't it?

Not only did the Beermakers, who are fading like those 1980s acid jeans, their most fierce rival
played as the home team in their park and won a game in which their ace pitcher threw a no-hitter.

Cool by me. Just win in October, then I'll be really happy.

Until then, I'll just sit back, relax, enjoy a Miller Lite and smile.

Bravo! Carlos. Bravo!