By Paul SullivanKevin Millar was Carlos Zambrano's teammate for only seven weeks in spring training.
But while Zambrano wouldn't pick up the phone to answer Alfonso Soriano's call, he apparently did when Millar called him Saturday night.
Millar, now an analyst for MLB Network, said Zambrano's rave-out on Friday has been misinterpreted, at least according to Zambrano.
"The main thing he wanted to get across was that at times guys like Carlos, they don't know how to handle or how to fire up a team," Millar said on "MLB Tonight." "There wasn't one play that made him mad, it was just the whole team and the way they've been playing made him mad and then he was frustrated, he said, after his inning and came in and was basically trying to pump all the guys up."
Photo: Carlos Zambrano lets loose in the dugout. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty)
Millar said he told Zambrano: "Straight up, I said... 'You can't say the team's playing like girls ... You can't say that this whole team that's not clicking for some reason' or 'We're not playing hard' because he's a big part of that problem.
"He understood that ... and that's what he was trying to get across. It wasn't a personal thing with Derrek Lee -- obviously Derrek Lee took it personal, and (Zambrano) felt terrible and we obviously see what happened in the dugout. We see the way he's reacted and this is the second time. He went out and fought Michael Barrett (in '07) and beat up Michael Barrett.
"Well, then they end up trading Michael Barrett thinking that, 'OK, we'll get rid of him but something has to be done.' Now him (Zambrano's) going to anger management counseling...I think this is the new fad that we're trying to show that at least there's an effort there."
Millar said Zambrano knew "that he shouldn't have done it, he wasn't the right guy to do it," and that "it wasn't the Derrek Lee play that caused this whole scene. He ran in the dugout and was yelling at the whole group."
Does Zambrano want to stay with the Cubs?
"I think he wants to heal the situation, whether he remains a Chicago Cub or not," Millar said. "Who knows if the wounds are too deep? Who knows? That's Jim Hendry's job.
"But see this is the problem: We give huge contracts to players and now we think 'Oh, that equals leadership,' or, "If a guy's doing well, that equals leadership.' That's not the case. You create these monsters through organizations and Carlos Zambrano's Carlos Zambrano.
"I think they knew this was an intense guy. I think they knew this guy who dances to a different beat at times, but he's not a bad human being by any means."
Fat Z felt so bad, he had to go out for dinner that same night! He felt so bad, he can't return a teammates phone call! As a Cardinals fan, I LOVE IT! Look at the list of STUPID contracts given to Cub players, and what the end result is. This team is paralyzed, financially paralyzed! Sure the Cubs will want to trade Fat Z, but who is going to assume that monster contract? NOBODY! Soriano? NOBODY! Ramierez... NOBODY! And the stupid fans that support Fat Z's immature tirade are just nuts! Baseball is a TEAM sport, that's what the Cubs don't get. Want to see a real team, jump on I-55 and drive four hours south! GO CARDINALS!
HEY BIG Z------------- The more things change; the more they stay the same !!! The bottom line is that you got a pass for the MICHAEL BARRETT incident and various several other behavioral issue incidents as well. IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE OF SCENERY AND FOR THE CUB FANS TO MOVE ON PLAIN AND SIMPLE !!! As I posted yesterday, I can see you playing 1st BASE for the ASTROS, and having those short porches in LF and RF to aim at every time you bat, some 3-5 times in every game. It has worked for RICK ANKIEL, and my guesses are, that it'll work for you as well. When you are making $18.5 mill. per season, you need to produce as such, and for too many years, you've been producing like a $3 mill. player !!! CASE CLOSED !!!
I agree with Big Z...The Team needs a shake up.,Jim Hendry and Lou should have stepped up to the plate...If Lou can not motivate the team Hendry needs someone that can...They are not hustling.....When you have as many errors as the Cubs and you are not diving for the ball there is something wrong...
All you people out there who are condoning Zambrano's actions are so blind. All of Zambrano's talk was after the fact of what happened. Sure sounds good to say all this, fire up club, get them going, etc but it all after the fact. Just trying to make himself look better. That is all it is, just a big child trying to make excuses. Probably something Guillen told him to do, isn't he mentoring Zambrano. I agree the Cubs need changes but no matter how they are playing they don't need meltdowns like this from over paid morons.
I love all this talk about Zambrano trying to fire up the team because they are not playing well, yet at the same time hes throwing BP fastballs and hanging breaking balls right down the middle of the plate. Its funny how knowbody noticed in that inning Zambrano was putting the ball right there and the Sox players where just nailing them. Unless Lee is stretch armstrong there is no way he could have got that ball, not even close. This is a pure example yet again of Zambrano pointing the blame as everyone but himself. He pitches terrible and he cant admit it, he blames other people. Hes right up there with Milton Bradley as the biggest babys in the MLB, always point the finger at other people, and when theres no one else to blame, move to fans. The Cubs need to make a statement and release Z if they cant find a trade partner. If they have to eat his entire contract, so be it.
Maybe we could kill to birds with one stone -- retire Lou and make Carlos the fiery manager!
No matter what...Big Z, Sammy "Slammin" Sosa and M. Bradley are my hommies 4 ever!
Was I the only one who found that article incredible difficult to read and undersatnd who was saying what?? I gave up half-way through
would have been easier to throw a stick of dynamite into the dugout if he wanted to get the team going........ what a dirtbag, he is going to counseling for what? He can not even accept that he was wrong for his tirade. The guy is a loser and should be released for insubbordination and the cubs can go find a AAA pitcher who deserves a shot in the big leagues. Pay this guy is asinine while he is in rehab.
Sullivan! What is wrong with you? Millar is "Nothing" on a good day!
Millar is a "ROID" Sox cheater! We don't care what roid users have to say abouit anything.
Wake UP!
Wow. All these classic excuses for bad behavior, falling just short of taking responsiblity for acting like a douche. "Just trying to pump the guys up." The team deserved it because of the way 'they've been playing.' Here's a thought Carlos, why don't you start pitching like you are being paid to do. How about if you forfeit your MILLIONS while you are 'getting treatment.' And good luck with that. As far as I know, there is no cure for being a jerk.
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. remember, he started yelling, than Lee told him to "shut the F.. up". that's when Z went after Lee.
when Z was pitching good he did the same thing with Barrett, then beat him up. short time later they traded Barrett and rewarded Z with a stupid contract extension.
now his record hasn't been good, he goes off and gets suspended.
then they lie to the public by saying his record has nothing to do with their decision.
in 2009 they blamed Bradley and oh how the atmosphere was better once he was sent home. this year with a worse team lou needed an excuse besides his "i don't know what else to do" comments, than Z gives it to him. next day lou and some players said how better the vibes were in the clubhouse.
some even said Z always berated Marmol. the bully picking on a kid. if true, where was lou? where was lee?
Z deserves to be suspended, long ago and now, but he's not the only problem on this Hendry/lou team.
Something needs to be done to this team of walking zombies...They are a group of Pro Ball Players, not winners, "Big" difference.
STU..pid, you really are STUPID!! I am not a CUBS fan. You need to read the post. I'll give ya hint.....u lost last night to them!!! Dont think about that too much STUpid, dont want ya frying too many of them brain cells you have left. I can care less about bartman, or the other people you mentioned. Your back to playing A.L. teams and the SUX SUCK!! Keep on dreaming boyyyyy.
1985
This all comes down to leadership, which the Cubs have very little of. Like Brenly said, this team has been a dead a** team for the last 2 months." At least Big Z recognized this and tried to do something about it. He would be the first to tell people that he hasn't been playing well, which is why according to Millar, that he wanted Silva to do something.
Again I think it comes back to leadership and that usually needs to come from a position player. D Lee??? I think not. This is why I thought it was a mistake to not keep Millar out of Spring Training. He proved in the spring he could hit enough to still play and his presents in the dugout would have really helped. Instead we kept Tracy, how'd that work out?
What worries me the most is that Colvin and Castro are learning how to be a big leaguer from the likes of Soriano, A Ram, and D Lee. By all accounts these guys are fine people, but they show the enthusiasm of a pile of rocks.
"The main thing he wanted to get across was that at times guys like Carlos, they don't know how to handle or how to fire up a team," Millar said. "There wasn't one play that made him mad, it was just the whole team and the way they've been playing made him mad and then he was frustrated, he said, after his inning and came in and was basically trying to pump all the guys up." -
Assuming these are the facts: Then Zambrano was not only RIGHT; but, he was just doing what should be the manager's job!!! (That is except for the managers like Baker and Lou that come here and are told how to manage and how to act by Hendry and the Tribune Board!)
Definitely this team of high paid "business people" need to get their a__es chewed but good!! On a GOOD team, the would have been out the door a long time ago for their attitude and lack of fire!!!!
With the Tribune: That's how they are taught to be!!
G_d I hope Ricketts changes this BS!!
Carlos is about as intelligent as George Bush
Zambrano may be trying to pump up the team, but he did it wrong and will now pay for it. The sad part is that there is no leader on this team. Lee is too soft, Dempster is too comical. Byrd is the new guy, and A-Ram cant lead his bat across the plate right now let alone the team. Lou has lost this team and I cannot foresee a fix that will keep this team competitive this year. Its time to blow it up, give the veterans new environments to play in and let the youth get playing time.
Please delete the spam posted by "sara." I wish the Trib could figure out a way to block her; she just keeps creating new accounts and posting that dreck.
The Pirates are far from the worst team in baseball history, they're 5 World Series trophies puts them as the 6th most successful team in baseball history.
What does any of this have to do with the fact that the Cubs can't beat the Pirates, the worst team in baseball history.
Barack ONONO on June 29, 2010 8:22 AM
Hey STU.....PID, I agree Carlos cuts the grass and that drunken poor english manager on the south side cleans the restrooms. Whatcha think buddy?
GO ROYALS!!!!
ROFLMAO!
More like Stu Paddaso! Work on that for a while.
I won all my bets with cub fans once again this year. I love winning. I love watching my teams win.
05!
Blame BARTMAN, blame Milton, blame D-Lee and keep on looking for a scapegoat. PUN intended in case you are a bit slow.
Hey STU.....PID, I agree Carlos cuts the grass and that drunken poor english manager on the south side cleans the restrooms. Whatcha think buddy?
GO ROYALS!!!!
Jeff says Ramirez and D Lee are playing terrible and should be called out. Perhaps. Ramirez is playing hurt as as D Lee.
But then Zambrano has an ERA approaching 6 and for the $18 million a year he is getting paid, he is just as bad, if not worse, than either D Lee or Ramirez. So, whom should be calling out whom for bad play?
AGREED!
robert on June 29, 2010 12:10 AM
They should make him mow the lawn for the rest of his contract.
Jeff, wake up. YOU NEVER CALL OUT YOUR TEAMMATES ON THE FIELD. You have no class or have never played a team sport. Don't justify zambrano's actions because the team is doing poorly.
I think that if every team in pro sports would have one person like zambrano act like he did when their team is doing poorly this would be great. Great for ratings, for attendance and beer sales.
Then all sports would eventually turn into the WWF. I mean it already is, this is no longer sport but entertainment.
And what entertainment this is.
GO SOX!
For all you fools who think this is appropriate behavior, try acting out like this on a softball team, volleyball team etc etc. Or teach your kid to fire up their little league team by yelling at everyone and getting sent home.
Great message your sending jeff.
This is nothing but "bs"! He is going to try and wiggle out of this temper tantrum.
he was just trying to pump them up!! right!! anyone buying that. id like him gone but, if hendry would go, he could stay. and does ricketts seem disconnected? i think this is the start of years, literally years, of last place or close to it nonsense. this team needs an aggressive owner to rip it apart and start new--as much as wed hate to go through that again--and this guy doesnt even seem interested. the whole organization and its culture needs to be changed. which is why a guy like cuban would be so refreshing.
n
Jeff,
I'd rather Carlos "step up" by stringing together a few games with an ERA under 5.00, but maybe that's just me.
Oh..second thought..why dont Carlos explain himself to the TEAM, instead of Kevin Millar...and that dizzy drunken manager on the south side!!! Go figure..Carlos!
Carlos is a lose cannon with little brain and great talent!
Cubs need to be kicked in the rear ... real good. But a foreign presidential candidate is the wrong person to do it. Where is "Lou"? following the tirade up and down the dugout...Billy M would have tackled the big elephant and shut him up...course Lou has let it go on for far too long...look at the pathetic attempt to win last night..1st and 3rd. 1 out and TheRiot swings instead of squeezes!!! This whole group is BAD..this comes from a long time Cub Fan loser..but it is getting worse!
And then Kevin Millar.."You create these monsters through organizations"!!!Come on Kevin, you and the union are just as much problem, as management has to go to them to ask what the penalty should be ??? A dumbing down of America..kick his butt out and get someone else..
I may be the minority here but Zambrano is right. The Cubs are playing like garbage and nobody is stepping up but him. Our hitting is terrible and our starting pitching isn't getting anymore help. D-Lee and A-ram are playing awful and should be called out.
They should make him mow the lawn for the rest of his contract.
Yeah - i agree he's not a bad guy.
He's just a child with immense god given talent that's been given way too much money for playing a game every four days.
A ungrateful, spoiled brat is what he is.