It looks like the pot — finally — is about to boil over on Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who threw quite the temper tantrum after being yanked from his start in Friday night’s game against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
Big Z, a notorious hothead prone to outburst, surrendered four runs in the first inning and decided — in his infinite wisdom — that the fault lay not with him but with teammate Derrek Lee and an evil Gatorade cooler. Zambrano, particularly peeved at a play Lee didn’t make on a double by Juan Pierre, started screaming as he entered the dugout, knocked over the unsuspecting cooler and teed off on Lee before manager Lou Piniella sent him into the locker room.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry suspended Zambrano, who had been making his fifth start since being recalled from the bullpen June 4. Piniella said Zambrano will be back in the bullpen when the suspension is lifted. For his sanity — and ours — we hope Piniella locks Zambrano in there and swallows the key.
