This was mentioned in a bullet yesterday morning, but, as the gravity of the injury has appeared to increase, it now merits its own post.
On Friday night, Chicago Cubs’ starter Carlos Zambrano, who is pitching in Venezuela in the hopes of getting back into pitching form and rehabilitating his value (to the Cubs or another team), was hit in the face by a line drive. It was actually second liner that hit him in the face in the game, and Zambrano managed to pick up the ball and throw to first for the out.
Zambrano was taken to the hospital “as a precaution,” or so the early reports said, and got a few stitches.
Well, a “few” stitches turned out to be 16, and Ozzie Guillen just tweeted: “just saw big z scar wow its bigger then I thought. If he makes next start. #allmanteam.”
I’ve also ready in various places that, for now, Z is on an all-liquid diet, and, after seeing a video of the injury (thanks to BNer Cliffy for passing it along), I can see why. Zambrano takes a direct shot line drive to his face, just below his mouth, and starts bleeding immediately.
The Cubs have been in contact with Zambrano, who reportedly says he’s fine and wants to make his next start. Zambrano’s boss in Venezuela, Caribes GM Sam Moscatel, says the same. “He’s a bull,” Moscatel said. “He’s OK. We spoke [Friday] night after he had the surgery, and he said he wants to make his next start on Friday.
Hopefully he can do so, and doesn’t suffer any setbacks – in terms of his pitching re-development – because of the injury. Zambrano had his best outing yet – 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K – in Friday’s start.