Carlos Zambrano threw five innings last night for A ball Peoria, and things went well. Not only in result, but in how he felt.
Pitching against the Clinton LumberKings, Zambrano tossed 5 uneventful innings, giving up 4 hits and no runs. He walked none, struck out five and uncorked 1 wild pitch. Zambrano threw 76 pitches, 54 for strikes.
“It felt good today,” said Zambrano, who has been on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 2. “I like what I see today. It’s different when you pitch against A-ball guys than the big leagues. I think everything is back to normal.” Daily Herald.
Zambrano took batting practice before the game, and was as vigorous as ever: he hit six homers in his BP set.
But he had more to say.
“I want to say something, and I’ll get in trouble with this,” he said. “Sometimes I’m like (Sox manager) Ozzie Guillen. I say some things that people don’t agree with. But every time I go to the DL, I don’t want to go to the DL. Believe me, I hate to be on the DL.
“When I have to go to the DL, sometimes you have to protect your career, and the Cubs are trying to protect my career and do what’s best for me.”
The only part of the quote that could get Zambrano in any trouble is the part where he compared himself in a complimentary way to Ozzie Guillen.