Zambrano's second Sox meltdown inferior to first

In the process of extending their winning streak to 10 games for the first time since 1976, the White Sox may have played a part in ending Carlos Zambrano’s Cubs career on Friday afternoon.

"YOOOOU DID THIS TO MEEEEEE!"
But as entertaining as it was to see Zambrano making an incredibly ridiculous “GRRRRRRRRR ANGRY” face in the dugout, I feel a little bit sad that it’s going to overshadow the other time he melted down against the White Sox.
It was only 362 days ago when Zambrano threw wide on a pitchout that would’ve busted a suicide squeeze.  Instead, Zambrano threw it way too wide and Chris Getz stole home.
Zambrano then threw a different kind of tantrum, hitting Dewayne Wise intentionally (“IT’S YOUR FAULT I DID THIS NNNNNGH!”), and then throwing over to first waaaay too often (“BE. OUT. ALREADY. AUUUUUGH!”), only to see Wise steal second on him anyway.
The cherry on top — he walked Scott Podsednik, and after Lou Piniella pulled him from the game, he gave a point to God on the way to the dugout. I’m sure God appreciated being dragged into that display.
Don’t get me wrong, I laughed at Friday’s tantrum.  I liked that face so much I just made it my Twitter avatar.  I just thought his one from last year had a few more layers, a little more nuance, to his destructive lunacy. Your mileage may vary.
Fittingly enough, that was also a 6-0 shutout.

****************************
Minor league roundup:

  • Charlotte 5, Buffalo 2
    • Daniel Hudson, solid: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.
    • Brent Morel went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
    • Jordan Danks went 1-for-3 with a sac bunt and an RBI, striking out once.
    • Tyler Flowers went 0-for-3 with a sac fly and two strikeouts.
  • Birmingham 3, Chattanooga 2
    • Brandon Hynick struck out nine over seven innings, allowing a solo homer and five other hits with zero walks.
    • Christian Marrero went 0-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
    • C.J. Retherford struck out twice in three at-bats with a sac bunt.
  • Frederick 11, Winston-Salem 2
    • Jon Gilmore hit his fourth homer, a two-run shot. He also added a single.
    • Eduardo Escobar also had a two-hit night.
    • Brandon Short went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
    • Charles Leesman allowed six runs on six hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out three.
    • Kyle Bellamy struck out two over 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. He allowed two hits and one of two inherited runners to score.
  • Augusta 9, Kannapolis 3
    • Justin Collop allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits and a walk over five innings, striking out three.
    • Miguel Gonzalez went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
    • Brady Shoemaker singled and struck out over four at-bats.
  • Bristol 5, Princeton 2
    • Jose Martinez, still a .500 hitter: 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
    • Josh Phegley singled, walked and was hit by a pitch.
    • Tyler Saladino walked, bunted and struck out twice; Rangel Ravelo went 0-for-4.
    • Darwin Matos struck out six over six quality innings; he allowed two runs on six hits and a walk.
Take a second to support Sox Machine on Patreon
10 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
moroots

That was hilarious. You are a true afficianado of Big Z tirades.

soxexile

Just noticed how much this photo of Zambrano resembles the drawing of Ozzie on the cover of your book. Maybe it’s something in the water at whatever restaurant they go to after the games?

knoxfire30

Watching every single cub fan eventually lose their two all time biggest debates in my lifetime has been very fulfilling, first was who is the better hitter Thomas or Sosa, second one was who was the better ace zambrano or mb.
I was at the game and reports were zambrano had attacked, punched, and even “jersey shored” derek lee in the dugout so I was kind of upset to come home and see that it was only a little pushing and a lot of yelling. Oh well, sox continue to roll and if quentin has turned the page and gone back to 2008 its gonna be a hell of a season.

cushinglee

How about the reactions of Stone and Brenley: Stone once again points out the stupidity of Z, whereas Brenley actually compliments Z for showing emotion. The Cubs deserve whatever they get.

iowaoaks

You are probably right… on field meltdown-wise, but what I couldn’t and still can’t understand is exactly who is he REALLY mad with?
I get it D. Lee and the hit and the toss… but he was wandering around like the Hulk looking to smash someone and when Mikey Barrett didn’t pop his head out he had a weak ass swipe at the water cooler and was done.
Now, I’m no chub fan, but D. Lee is a pretty good guy. “Dude, you are being very undude right now.”
pretty funny stuff.

larry

obviously he’s mad at himself. it’s called projection.

eddystankysghost

Serving up an 0-2 three-run gopher ball in the first inning can do that, I guess.

soxfan1

I was at the game yesterday sitting in the upperdeck first base line, so I couldn’t see the tirade. But there was a guy with a Cubs jersey that was enscribed: World Chumps ’05.
That says it all about “Z” and this year’s Cubbies.

ricksch

I’ve never flat-out hated the Cubs like a lot of Sox fans. How can you hate a team that’s so pathetic? But they are paying Zambrano and Soriano a grand total of $37m a year! This suspension may be the best thing that’s happened to the team all year if they don’t have to pay Z while he’s sitting.
The Cubs overpay talent more than the Yankees, but with not quite the same end results. They are a joke organization that need new owners, front office and management. Lou is a doddering old fool. Have you ever heard him in the booth? He sounds brain dead.
Sox need to END these shitheels this weekend. The Flubs are in disarray and ready to be taken down. As Lee Marvin once said in DELTA FORCE — “Send ’em to Hell!”