Carlos Zambrano’s tirades were so entertaining that after one memorable incident, serial trouble-maker Milton Bradley marveled: “It was on a Bradley level.”
With Zambrano’s Cubs career hanging in the balance, here are some of the best and worst of his antics:
July 2004:
Screams at Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds as he rounds bases after home run onto Sheffield Avenue, then ejected for hitting Edmonds a second time. Zambrano: “I don’t have to apologize to anybody. This is not a baby’s game. This is a man’s game.”
April 2005:
Taunts plate umpire Dale Scott after being ejected from Opening Day start in Arizona. Zambrano: “At that moment, you want to kill the umpire.”
June 2007:
Dugout fight with catcher Michael Barrett spills over into clubhouse. Barrett ends up in the hospital. Ends in lovefest, before Barrett gets traded.
May 2009:
After ejection, Zambrano impersonates umpire by giving him the thumb, then hurls a ball toward left field, attacks Gatorade cooler with a bat. Suspended six games and fined $3,000.
September 2009:
Rips Cubs fans for booing him after an erratic outing. Zambrano: “I thought these were the greatest fans in baseball. But they showed me today that they just care about them, and that’s not fair.”
September 2009:
Insists 2010 will be different: “Like Arnold Schwarzenegger said, ‘I’ll be back.’ Believe it. All new episodes — next year.”
March 2010:
Guarantees in a Tribune interview that he has changed. Zambrano: “For real. I am almost sure — 99.9 percent. When you’re sure of something, you go ahead and do it — and execute it. Seriously.”
June 2010:
Engages in heated shouting match with Derrek Lee in dugout at U.S. Cellular Field, leading to suspension and anger management counseling.
February 2011:
Announces in spring training “I’m cured” because of anger management counseling.
June 2011:
Calls out Cubs as “’embarrassing” and a “Triple-A team,” while throwing Carlos Marmol under the bus for giving up game-tying hit to Ryan Theriot on a slider.
August 2011:
Serves up five home runs in 10-4 loss to the Braves, ejected for throwing at Chipper Jones, cleans out locker and announces his “retirement.” Cubs subsequently place Zambrano on 30-day disqualified list, without pay.
