Zambrano Wins Fourth Game Since Returning, 5-3

Carlos Zambrano is not completely "healed" from his anger issues by his own admission however his pitching is much better. He is now 4-0 since returning to the Cubs after being part of the second straight Cubs' win over the New York Mets, 5-3.

Carrie Muskat has posted an article on the Chicago Cubs' website titled "Big Z, Cubs enjoying renaissance." Muskat reports that the Cubs have continued to win under interim manager Mike Quade. While teams always hope for a turnaround after a managerial switch I don't think anyone was expecting this. The Cubs are 8-3 under Quade. He is the first manager to post this type of record since Jim Essian in 1991.

Zambrano moved to 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA with this victory since returning and is 7-6 overall which tells you where he was. Zambrano has a nephew who was in a coma with a bacterial infection but is much better now.

Aramis Ramirez hit a home run to back Zambrano. However with every healing process comes a challenge. In the Mets' part of the fourth there were men on first and third. On a strikeout Carlos Beltran was safe going from first to second and the third base runner Luis Castillo scored on a poor play by shortstop Starlin Castro.

Zambrano elicited an apology from Castro and then had the audacity to say he was doing what he could to help Castro learn. He did say he was still learning with respect to his anger management.

Anyone who reads my work with any regularity knows I didn't think it was a good idea to keep Zambrano. To me Zambrano falls in the teammate category of Manny Ramirez and Terrell Owens; he's his own teammate.

However the issue here isn't Zambrano, it is the Cubs.

The Cubs continue to win. They will play one more game with the New York Mets and then they will have another home series with the Houston Astros. After that they will be on the road the rest of the year save for six games.

Will Mike Quade get the nod for manager next year? I don't think he will even though he should.

References:

Chicago Cubs Website, Carrie Muskat, "Big Z, Cubs enjoying renaissance"

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