And by "this" I mean referring to yourself in the third person, the way Carlos Zambrano just did when asked about his contract and his future with the Chicago Cubs. Here's what "Treinta Ocho" told WGN-TV..."If they don't sign me, sorry, but I must go. That's what Carlos Zambrano thinks."
Forget the threats to the Cubs. Carlos Zambrano owes George Costanza an apology. That line is so 12 years ago.
As for his threat, the Cubs are in a bad place here. They can't not give him what he wants, which is a deal in the neighborhood of $15M per (oh by the way, he wants it before the season starts). If they don't, somebody else almost certainly will, like division rivals St. Louis, or Cincinnati, either New York team, Atlanta, or pretty much anybody else who wants a 25-year-old, hard-throwing, durable, strikeout machine, with a career ERA under 3.30. Plus, if they don't re-up with Treinta Ocho (seriously, I'm hoping this nickname sticks), and if Mark Prior can't make 30 starts this year, then the money they spent this off-season on Ted Lilly, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and others will be kind of wasted because they'll have no quality pitching.
Although just for the sake of future posts, it would be funny if the Cubs don't re-sign him, and if nobody else offers him anything close to what he wants, and he gives another interview next year at this time and says, "Carlos is getting frustrated!"
6 comments:
"Terinta Ocho" hunh?
What was Gagne? "Trois Huit"?
Remember when George would say his last name like a jingle so that it would get in womens heads subconsciously so the would end up wanting to date him and not know why? That was awesome.
"Believe it or not,
George isn't at home,
please leave a mes-saaage at the beep.
I must be out or I'd pick up the pho-one.
Where could I be?
Believe it or not,
I'm not hooome."
And about Zambrano... I keep hearing that the Cubs have money and this guy has been their most consistant pitcher over the last few years. Tough not to sign him.
i think ricky henderson said that ricky henderson did it before george...
"The Cubs have money." Really? They have some leftover after throwing out $500 million of contracts this offseason?
If you're the current Chicago management, I think you don't sign him based on the excessive workload Dusty Baker forced on him the last few years. Nobody in the bigs threw more pitches last year, despite 21 pitchers throwing more innings. And his pitches per start for the last three years are outrageous (111.9, 107.9 and 110). I would be very worried that he's going to break down.
And even if he stays healthy, some of the indicator stats are going the wrong way. His walk rate went up last year, to the point where he's got a K/BB under 2. His HR rate has come up significantly from where it was two years ago.
I wouldn't mind throwing a 3-year, $55 million deal his way. But he's going to want 5 years or more. I think it's very reasonable that in the last couple years of that contract, he'll be a very mediocre contributor.
Post a Comment