Sunday the Cubs placed pitcher volatile pitcher Carlos Zambrano on the disqualified list after another very public blowup Friday. A trip to the disqualified list means that Zambrano will receive no pay and can have no part in team activities for 30 days.
After giving up five homers and being ejected during Friday nights 10-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Zambrano was ejected after a brush-back pitch to Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones. The brush-back pitches to Jones stemmed from back-to-back homers from Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla.
After being ejected, Zambrano stormed off the field and into the clubhouse where he promptly cleaned out his locker and mentioned that he may decide to retire.
Cubs GM Jim Hendry said that Zambrano’s actions, including the brush-back pitch to Jones was “intolerable”.
“This was the most stringent penalty we could enforce without a release,” Hendry said.
Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster had similarly strong words.
“He’s made his bed. Let him sleep in it,” Dempster said.
“It’s not like it’s something new.”
The possible departure of Zambrano may leave Cubs fans celebrating in the streets of Chicago. The $18 million due to the right-hander next season would be forfeited in he (Zambrano) decides to retire.
If Zambrano is in fact gone for a considerable amount of time or for good look for Ramon Ortiz, who relieved Zambrano Friday and struck out Jones, could start in Zambrano’s place.
Source: ESPN, Yahoo Sports