Zambrano Lashes Out at Cubs Fans

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Sep 4, 2007 1:34PM

Way to go, Cubs fans! Well, at least those of you at Wrigley Field on Monday. You really upset Carlos Zambrano, your $91 million man, by booing him off the mound in the fifth inning of an 11-3 loss to the Dodgers. He pointed to his head to let the fams know he could hear them.

And his postgame press conference, Zambrano let fans know what he thought of their gesture:

I don't accept that the fans were booing at me. I can't understand that. You know, I thought these were the greatest fans in baseball. But they showed me today that they just care about them, and that's not fair, because when you're struggling, you want to feel the support of the fans.

Over at the Trib, Mike Downey places the blame for the situation squarely on Z, saying that his comments were both disrespectful and reckless in light of his new deal and the team's impending sale.

At the Sun-Times, Jay Mariotti also shakes his finger at Zambrano, for lashing out at Cubs fans who simply want to see a World Series played in their park after a 99 year drought.

In his last five starts, Zambrano is 0-5 with an ERA of north of 9.00. Not exactly ace type stuff. Not even fifth starter type stuff. For a while, some thought his first couple sub par outings were caused by the distraction of negotiating his big new deal. But since placing his signature on the new deal he's pitched no better!

With the Cubs thick in the middle of a division race and their high-paid ace is melting down, do the Cubs fans have a right to be pissed? Chicagoist would certainly say so. If the Cubs do end up missing the playoffs this year, Zambrano could be in for a long five years.

Photo by AP Photo/Brian Kersey