We're slowly starting to awake from our winter slumber here at BLT as all the usual signs of spring are here. Pitchers and catchers have already reported, regular season tickets go on sale today, and there are already pointless articles about Carlos Zambrano.
Today's article in question comes courtesy of Dan McNeil in today's Chicago Tribune. I don't really care if he chooses to be pessimistic about this Cubs team, he and others can probably find some very valid reasons to not be too excited about this upcoming season. But, if he's going to be pessimistic he better bring something better to the table than this garbage:
It's a good thing Zambrano found a gym and learned to push himself away from the table this winter, but Lilly has been the only bulldog on the Cubs' staff in each of the last three seasons. Even if Zambrano fit comfortably in 34-waist pants, I wouldn't trust him. The Cubs didn't in 2006 when they settled on a one-year deal to avoid arbitration with him before they caved and signed him to a long-term $91.5 million deal in August of 2007
Uh, teams don't cave and spend 91.5 million on a player they don't want. The Cubs did want him and they paid him to stay. You don't like him and want him to go. Point taken, but let's not rewrite history here.
In the last three seasons, Lilly has won 44 games to Zambrano's 41, while both posted 26 losses. You can trust Lilly to pass on craving oohs and aahs from on-lookers with tape measure home runs in batting practice at Coors Field when he's nursing a bad back. He's compliant when he needs treatment.
Ted Lilly = Trustworthy
Carlos Zambrano = Not Trustworthy
Trustworthy = 44 wins in 3 years
Not Trustworthy = 41 wins in 3 years
The difference between trustworthy and not trustworthy is 1 win per year?
You trust Lilly to throw strikes. The lefty walked only 36 in 177 innings last year while Zambrano walked 78 and plunked nine others — in fewer innings. While Zambrano was crawling to his nine victories last year — at almost $2 million per victory — opposing hitters batted .230 against Lilly
If you are going to use a useless stat such as wins for your barometer of what makes a good pitcher, it would probably be fair to mention that while Zambrano crawled to his 9 wins, Ted Lilly sprinted to 12. Maybe it also would have been fair to point out that last year's team didn't hit all that well in Zambrano's starts? Of course, that wouldn't help McNeil's slanted take.
Put me down for the first week in May for not-so-Big Z's first implosion. Not sure if it will be getting tossed for undressing an umpire or pulling up lame trying to stretch a double, but an eruption is a certainty. Until the man-child proves he's as right between the ears as he is in the hips, I'm betting against the Cubs getting this cat's potential actualized.
Hello, kettle? It's me, pot. McNeil pointing out other people that can't control their tempers and chastising them for it is a little ironic considering this, this, and this.
And the pressure is on Zambrano now more than ever. The staff is missing its most-prized asset until at least May. Tom Gorzelanny, Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardzija (who's still learning on the job) and maybe the reborn Carlos Silva are vying for spots in Lou Piniella's rotation. That leaves Randy Wells, with one year of major-league success on his resume, as the Cubs steadiest starter.
Look, I love me some Ted Lilly and I would never want to anger the esteemed Ted Lilly Fan Club, but I can probably make a case that Ted Lilly isn't the "most-prized asset." Does losing him until May hurt? Absofuckinlutely. But I'd rather lose Lilly, who plays once every five games, until May than someone like Ramirez again. Oh, and the steadiest starter is Randy Wells? Must be because he had 12 wins last year which is 3 more than Zambrano. Ryan Dempster only had 11 wins so he obviously gets passed over in favor of Wells because 12 is steadier than 11. Is everyone following along?
Did I mention Carlos Marmol still is an enormous question mark? Or how much of a suspect the high-priced Alfonso Soriano remains? No worries. Sam Fuld was in camp several days before he was required. And he will be among all of those Cubs on the top step of the dugout when the scrimmages commence. It's all for one and one for all. Boy, how nothing changes even after Tribune Co. yielded to the Ricketts family.
He's right, nothing changed after the Trib yielded to the Ricketts family. White Sox fans like McNeil are still assholes.
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