Carlos Zambrano is now my hero. Yes, you read that correctly.
Way to go, buddy. Stand up, speak your mind, rip this pathetic team. That is just awesome. And to think that some people think he should be suspended. Why? For breathing life into this team? For being honest with the media, unlike everyone else? For trying to motivate his teammates?
Any other reasons come to mind? This is not meltdown like those in Z’s past. This is a player standing up and calling out his team. Carlos is definitely a complicated man, but this is just pure frustration with the poor play. Bob Brenly backed Z during a radio appearance Monday morning by calling the Cubs a “dead ass team.” He is right. There is no heart or desire, at least from the perspective of an on-looker. Poor offense, poor defense, poor pitching, poor everything. This team is an absolute joke. There is just no other way to say it.
It is the beginning of June, and unlike 2007, the team doesn’t have the ability to make a run to the playoffs. Lou threw a base. Something changed. However, Carlos rambling and yelling will not come close to have the same effect. You can take that to the bank.
So, what comes next?
The 2011 MLB draft began Monday night, and as soon as it is over, Jim Hendry should be relieved of his duties. This move will signify a change in philosophy and direction. Oneri Fleita can be the interim GM and do whatever he can to unload players.
If Ricketts is serious, he will be okay eating salary to dump these contracts and acquire younger players. Pay a large chunk of Kosuke’s salary and trade him to a team that needs defense.
Since Aramis’ option is automatically triggered with a trade, agree to pay at least half of his salary for 2012 and pick up a prospect or two. If that is not enough, pay more. And despite what Ramirez’s agent said Tuesday, do everything possible to convince him that this is the right move for his career.
As others have opined, if there was ever a time that Zambrano would waive his no-trade clause, it is right now. So, send him packing and get something back. It is hard to believe he still wants to be part of this team after Sunday’s tirade. So, sit him down, hear him out and trade him to the American League East. Do it very soon. Or milk it and get even more at the trade deadline.
Yes, we have all heard of the proverbial white-flag trade in professional sports, and it is time for the Cubs to pull off one of their own.
This team is a few years away, but beyond Soriano’s albatross of a contract, there is a lot of money coming off the books this season, especially if they trade Zambrano. The Cubs can expect to free up at least $40 million dollars for 2012, give or take a little depending on Aramis and whether he is traded.
The farm system is replete with talent. Whether or not that talent translates to the “Show” is the question. Tony Campana has performed above expectations during his brief time in the Bigs, but on the flip-side, Tyler Colvin has been a big disappointment.
Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney represent the future of this ball club. It is time to go young, and at no time has that been more apparent that it is now. Fans and pundits have been calling for change for quite some time, but Big Z’s angry rant has brought this issue to the forefront.
The Cubs are dysfunctional.
(Yes, I know … I am the master of the obvious.)
When a team is swallowed into this type of dysfunctional abyss, someone must pay.
I hope Crane Kenney enjoyed his seat on top of the Green Monster a few weeks back because he will have to pay for it himself the next time.
Jim Hendry will be gone as well. While some will be very excited for this news, others will be saddened, but I think everyone will agree it must be done. Hendry was the most successful General Manager in Cubs history, based on post-season appearances, but his time is up.
He is most responsible for the debacle that this team has become and must go. He went for it in 2007 and ’08. It didn’t work. He is not solely responsible, but he dug this hole, and instead of moving in a different direction, he kept digging.
It is time to force Hendry to put the shovel down. It’s over.