Zambrano One of Cubs' Biggest Problems

COMMENTARY | Carlos Zambrano apologized to Carlos Marmol for the criticism he gave the reliever Sunday after Marmol failed to hold the Cubs' lead. Zambrano stood to get the victory.

Carrie Muskat has posted an article at the MLB.com website titled "Zambrano apologizes to Marmol for outburst."

As for Zambrano, he doesn't understand why it creates news when he opens his mouth. To start with, note in the reference article Zambrano's question "What's the big deal about this?" He just doesn't get it.

Zambrano talks to the media. If a player is unhappy in general or unhappy with another player's performance, he should deal with that in the locker room. They are teammates and should present a united front to the public.

Next, Zambrano gets personal. He doesn't keep his remarks on a general basis like making a statement that he is unhappy with the team's play; he singles out a player and says what that player should have done.

Zambrano gets physical. A couple of years ago, he hurt a teammate, and ultimately the Cubs chose to trade the victim. He used to throw tantrums in the dugout and clubhouse. He broke bats.

This all came to a head last year when he went on a rampage and went briefly after Derrick Lee. Lee was a key player for the Cubs. As a result, Zambrano was put into anger management classes.

This year, Zambrano started out well. However, recently there has been a combination of his pitching and poor offense not getting wins. He had taken all he could Sunday, apparently.

As I've written previously, I think the Cubs should have been aware that Zambrano was reverting to old habits when he started breaking bats after striking out.

Cubs manager Mike Quade is satisfied with Zambrano's apology, indicating it was made out of frustration. The target of the insult, Marmol, is satisfied with the apology. As usual, Zambrano just wants to forget what he said and move on.

I would agree if this were the first time the Cubs had endured this nonsense. The worst thing they can do is forget this. Zambrano has weeks of anger management training, and still he is in the news.

I predict that before June ends, there will be a major blowup involving Zambrano.

People have to think they have a problem to change -- I don't think he does.

Reference:

MLB.com Website, Carrie Muskat, "Zambrano apologizes to Marmol for outburst"