This would certainly stir the masses ..
From Sahadev:
Big Z just pulled into Wrigley players parking lot. No joke. I'm assuming he's just visiting… or looking for a job. #zambranoforcloser
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) April 17, 2013
Nearly 100% sure that Zambrano is just visiting. But then again, I was nearly 100% sure Kevin Gregg was just signed for organizational depth
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) April 17, 2013
A visit – as in, just to say hello – certainly makes the most sense. At last check, Zambrano was still holding out for a starting job somewhere, and was also not so good at pitching. There are also probably some hard feelings, even if the new front office merely traded Zambrano (whereas it was the old regime that actually saw him implode).
Paul Sullivan didn’t get much from the Cubs:
Cubs don't know anything about report Big Z is at the ballpark. @sahadevsharma tweeted he's here.
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) April 17, 2013
The possible explanations there? Well, Sahadev could be wrong about Z’s presence, but I doubt he’d make that mistake. It’s also possible that Z visited, unannounced, and the Cubs are all, “whaaa?”
It’s also possible that the Z visit was planned, but the precise person with whom Sullivan spoke wasn’t aware of it.
That all said, it’s also possible that Z is at the ballpark to meet with the Cubs about, you know, pitching for the Cubs. If true, or if – holy crap – a roster move is coming, I could see why the Cubs wouldn’t want to confirm his presence at the park just yet.
I guess we’ll keep an eye on this, but it’s probably nothing more than a visit and an ensuing media firestorm.