Carlos Zambrano Weighing Cubs Down with Negativity

COMMENTARY | Carlos Zambrano is back -- in a bad way. Zambrano is beginning to be the player which put him on the restricted list last year and in anger management classes.

Carrie Muskat has posted an article on MLB.com titled "Cubs fall on walk-off, drop sixth straight game." However, this article isn't about the Cubs' loss; it is about pitcher Carlos Zambrano.

The Cubs were swept by the Cardinals yesterday and, to add insult to injury, it was their sixth straight defeat. Zambrano was in line for the win but the bullpen failed to hold the lead. Ace Carlos Marmol has been struggling and he allowed St. Louis to tie the game in the ninth. As a result, Albert Pujols slammed a homer in the 10^th that won the game for the Cardinals.

Zambrano immediately called the Cubs a "Triple-A caliber team." He criticized Marmol's selection of pitches and finished his rant by saying, "we stink" before walking away.

The Cubs are in big trouble this year. They are now 11 games below .500. If they have a prayer, it isn't going to get answered with someone constantly dragging their efforts down.

I've been on teams with guys like Zambrano. They take the joy out of playing the game because you not only put pressure on yourself but they put pressure on you as well. Mistakes are part of the game. Players like Zambrano get mad when it affects them, as in this case -- not when it affects the team.

We should have known something was coming. Zambrano has begun to break his bat again after striking out. The Cubs are beginning to pay a price for not doing something they should have done last year, and they are paying that price when they can least afford it.

Last year, I wrote an article about Zambrano being sent to get help for anger issues. In that article, I suggested Chicago was treating Zambrano's problem too lightly. After all, he had already hurt a teammate and he routinely threw tantrums in the dugout and clubhouse. He publicly criticized his team and was anything but a "team player."

When Zambrano came back from treatment, he assured everyone he was "cured." I thought then the Cubs needed to get rid of him.

First, Zambrano pulled the breaking bat stunt. Now he's criticizing his team in the press. It's funny he doesn't get that "passionate" when someone else stands to lose the win.

It's time the Cubs admit they made a huge mistake and take their losses on Zambrano.

References:

You Tube Website, "Carlos Zambrano breaks bat over knee"

Associated Content from Yahoo Website, Gary Davis, "Zambrano Getting Help for Anger Issues, Going on Restricted List"

MLB.com Website, Carrie Muskat, "Cubs fall on walk-off, drop sixth straight game"