Carlos Zambrano insists he’s going to be a little calmer in 2004, which could mean a significant reduction in shouting, fist pumping, finger pointing and wandering around the mound talking into his glove.
But as much success as Zambrano enjoyed last year while wearing his emotions on his sleeve, there’s always the risk of ruining a good thing. Does it really psych Zambrano up or is it simply modern-day theater for the ESPN generation, no different than Terrell Owens dancing after a touchdown?
“That’s the way I know how to pitch,” Zambrano said. “I don’t know any other way. But I know I have to calm down.”
Barry Bonds and Tony La Russa may disagree, but Cubs manager Dusty Baker believes the 23-year-old Venezuelan has yet to go overboard emotionally. In fact, Baker still wonders what all the fuss is about.
“Everybody made an issue out of it,” Baker said. “That’s his personality. Sure you’d wish this guy would be more exuberant and this guy less exuberant, but that’s their personality.
“Let each guy be himself, and if they get too far out of check, I’ll say something to him. . . . Sooner or later, something is going to happen out on the field to put something in check if it goes too far.”
Zambrano didn’t cause any brawls, but he upset Bonds last July when he reacted maniacally after retiring him with the bases loaded to end a threat. He upset La Russa and St. Louis in September when he proclaimed he wanted to “kill” the Cardinals.
He was so talkative on the mound that some umpires thought he was yelling at them when he was yelling at himself.
Greg Maddux, considered the polar opposite of Zambrano, said looks are deceiving.
“Some hide it better than others,” Maddux said. “But that’s who he is. It’s hard to change a personality. If a guy is a good pitcher the way he is . . . ? After he throws another 200 or 400 or 600 innings, [Zambrano’s demeanor] probably won’t look the same way. But I’m sure he’ll be just as intense.”
Zambrano went 13-11 with a 3.11 earned-run average in his first full season as a starter but struggled after August. He had a 4.41 ERA the final month and was inconsistent in the postseason.
He blew a 4-0 first-inning lead to Florida in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, serving up three home runs in a span of four batters in the third inning. The Cubs eventually lost 9-8 in 11 innings, and general manager Jim Hendry agonized over this winter.
“We scored four off [Josh] Beckett in the first, and if we win that game, we sweep them,” Hendry said. “Everybody talks about Games 6 and 7, but Game 1 bothers me as much as Game 6. If we would have won that one, it would’ve been a different story.”
Zambrano admitted he wasn’t in great shape, so he hired a trainer in the off-season and lost 15 pounds.
“His upside is huge,” Baker said. “Everybody talks about Mark [Prior] and Kerry [Wood], but I don’t see how they can leave this guy out. He’s as young as Mark and younger than Kerry. . . .
“I think Maddux is going to help him probably as much as anybody. He’s pretty smart. He pays attention.”
