Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has had a tempestuous first half of the baseball season, struggling to stay healthy and pitch to his previously established levels. On Friday, Zambrano went on an animated tirade directed at his teammates, in the dugout and in full view of television cameras. Zambrano has since been suspended by the team and his future with the organization is in doubt.
Fellow Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster joined ESPN Radio in Chicago with Waddle and Silvy to talk about Zambrano’s outburst. To listen to the interview, go to Sports Radio Interviews. Questions and responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster says he expects his suspended teammate, Carlos Zambrano, to return to the club this season.
Was Zambrano speaking in Spanish or English? What did he say?
Dempster: Both. He was upset. He was upset, he was mad, and he said something I’m sure he wished he didn’t say. We’ve moved past it and it’s been a couple days.
I know everybody in Chicago wants to keep rehashing, keep talking about it, but us as players we have just moved on. We’ll deal with whatever hurdles come next with Z coming back and we’ll move forward. You know, it was cool, we came out Saturday and played a good game, and then we came out yesterday and won a game. So we’re just focused on what we can do on the field and not let all that stuff get in the way of what we are trying to accomplish.
Is there a chance the other players won’t accept Zambrano if he comes back?
Dempster: You have to move on with those things. It would be a miserable year if you sit there and outcast one of your teammates like that. Like Ted Lilly said, we’ve all done things we have probably regretted and been forgiven for. We will handle it if and when it comes, and just go out there and make the best of the situation. We have to move forward; you can’t sit there and walk around with negative things hanging over your head. Unfortunately, it was kind of a black mark on what went on during the weekend. We just have to figure out the best way to move past it, and win ball games, and have fun, and rally around each other.
Does Dempster think Zambrano will regain the trust of his teammates?
Dempster: I think that’s up to him, right? When you do those things and react the way he did, you have to be the one to stand up and accept responsibility. I think he’s willing to do that, but we’ll wait and see. Like I said, I can’t make speculations because I don’t know what’s going to happen. Whatever happens happens, and we are just going to go out there and try to win the ball game tonight, and that’s really the only thing on our minds.
Did Dempster have a problem with Zambrano having dinner with Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen the night of the incident, after the game?
Dempster: No. If it was me, would I do it? No. But when you are away from the field, you can go hang out with whoever you want to go hang out with, and have dinner with whoever you want to eat with. I know they are very good friends away from the field and they talk a lot. They see each other a lot during the off season, so he is free to do whatever he wants. Those are judgments you have to make on your own, and you have to decide whether they are right.
I said if it was me I wouldn’t have done it, but that’s his choice. He did it, and it doesn’t bother me.
Does Dempster expect Zambrano to return to the Cubs this season?
Dempster: Yeah, for sure. I think that’s inevitable, right? I think that he’ll be back and I think he has to handle it in a certain way. I think that everybody would be crazy not to assume that he owes everybody an apology, and once we go from there I think you owe it to yourself to forgive your teammate and move past that. Just keep trying to plug forward and try to get to the playoffs is what we are trying to do here.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has had a tempestuous first half of the baseball season, struggling to stay healthy and pitch to his previously established levels. On Friday, Zambrano went on an animated tirade directed at his teammates, in the dugout and in full view of television cameras. Zambrano has since been suspended by the team and his future with the organization is in doubt.
Fellow Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster joined ESPN Radio in Chicago with Waddle and Silvy to talk about Zambrano’s outburst. To listen to the interview, go to Sports Radio Interviews. Questions and responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster says he expects his suspended teammate, Carlos Zambrano, to return to the club this season.
Was Zambrano speaking in Spanish or English? What did he say?
Dempster: Both. He was upset. He was upset, he was mad, and he said something I’m sure he wished he didn’t say. We’ve moved past it and it’s been a couple days.
I know everybody in Chicago wants to keep rehashing, keep talking about it, but us as players we have just moved on. We’ll deal with whatever hurdles come next with Z coming back and we’ll move forward. You know, it was cool, we came out Saturday and played a good game, and then we came out yesterday and won a game. So we’re just focused on what we can do on the field and not let all that stuff get in the way of what we are trying to accomplish.
Is there a chance the other players won’t accept Zambrano if he comes back?
Dempster: You have to move on with those things. It would be a miserable year if you sit there and outcast one of your teammates like that. Like Ted Lilly said, we’ve all done things we have probably regretted and been forgiven for. We will handle it if and when it comes, and just go out there and make the best of the situation. We have to move forward; you can’t sit there and walk around with negative things hanging over your head. Unfortunately, it was kind of a black mark on what went on during the weekend. We just have to figure out the best way to move past it, and win ball games, and have fun, and rally around each other.
Does Dempster think Zambrano will regain the trust of his teammates?
Dempster: I think that’s up to him, right? When you do those things and react the way he did, you have to be the one to stand up and accept responsibility. I think he’s willing to do that, but we’ll wait and see. Like I said, I can’t make speculations because I don’t know what’s going to happen. Whatever happens happens, and we are just going to go out there and try to win the ball game tonight, and that’s really the only thing on our minds.
Did Dempster have a problem with Zambrano having dinner with Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen the night of the incident, after the game?
Dempster: No. If it was me, would I do it? No. But when you are away from the field, you can go hang out with whoever you want to go hang out with, and have dinner with whoever you want to eat with. I know they are very good friends away from the field and they talk a lot. They see each other a lot during the off season, so he is free to do whatever he wants. Those are judgments you have to make on your own, and you have to decide whether they are right.
I said if it was me I wouldn’t have done it, but that’s his choice. He did it, and it doesn’t bother me.
Does Dempster expect Zambrano to return to the Cubs this season?
Dempster: Yeah, for sure. I think that’s inevitable, right? I think that he’ll be back and I think he has to handle it in a certain way. I think that everybody would be crazy not to assume that he owes everybody an apology, and once we go from there I think you owe it to yourself to forgive your teammate and move past that. Just keep trying to plug forward and try to get to the playoffs is what we are trying to do here.
The Mariners will trade left-hander Cliff Lee only for high-level prospects who can contribute to the big club in 2011 or 2012, AOL FanHouse’s John Hickey reports.
Hickey speculates that, given the M’s organizational strengths, potential trade partners would need to offer primarily top-flight outfielders and pitchers, in particular left-handed starters. Seattle has a strong set of infielders and right-handers between Double-A West Tennessee and Triple-A Tacoma.
Some teams, including the Mets, reportedly are reluctant to part with top minor league talent for Lee, especially if they can’t first negotiate a contract extension with him. Lee can become a free agent after this season.
The Yankees likewise seem determined to hold on to their prospects and wait until Lee becomes a free agent in the offseason. They’ll get a chance to scout Lee tonight when he pitches against the Bombers at Yankee Stadium.
Sporting News staff reports
The Mariners will trade left-hander Cliff Lee only for high-level prospects who can contribute to the big club in 2011 or 2012, AOL FanHouse’s John Hickey reports.
Hickey speculates that, given the M’s organizational strengths, potential trade partners would need to offer primarily top-flight outfielders and pitchers, in particular left-handed starters. Seattle has a strong set of infielders and right-handers between Double-A West Tennessee and Triple-A Tacoma.
Some teams, including the Mets, reportedly are reluctant to part with top minor league talent for Lee, especially if they can’t first negotiate a contract extension with him. Lee can become a free agent after this season.
The Yankees likewise seem determined to hold on to their prospects and wait until Lee becomes a free agent in the offseason. They’ll get a chance to scout Lee tonight when he pitches against the Bombers at Yankee Stadium.
Mark Prior will work out for teams Wednesday as he tries to return to the majors, FoxSports.com’s Tracy Ringolsby reports.
The 29-year-old right-hander is schedule to throw at the University of Southern California, in front of scouts for "most major league teams," according to Ringolsby. The former Trojans star last pitched in the big leagues in 2006.
Prior’s career has become a cautionary tale for pitchers, most recently Nationals rookie Stephen Strasburg, who are expected to be stars at a young age. An 18-6 season in 2003 with the Cubs proved to be Prior’s pinnacle; a series of injuries soon forced him out of the game.
Sporting News staff reports
Mark Prior will work out for teams Wednesday as he tries to return to the majors, FoxSports.com’s Tracy Ringolsby reports.
The 29-year-old right-hander is schedule to throw at the University of Southern California, in front of scouts for "most major league teams," according to Ringolsby. The former Trojans star last pitched in the big leagues in 2006.
Prior’s career has become a cautionary tale for pitchers, most recently Nationals rookie Stephen Strasburg, who are expected to be stars at a young age. An 18-6 season in 2003 with the Cubs proved to be Prior’s pinnacle; a series of injuries soon forced him out of the game.
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Dodgers manager Joe Torre called a truce in their cold war Sunday night.
The two had what Rodriguez called a "nice exchange" behind the batting cage prior to the new York-L.A. series finale at Dodger Stadium. They spoke briefly as cameras rolled and reporters watched intently.
"You don’t want to let things linger," Rodriguez told the media afterward. "You don’t know when’s the next time Joe and I are going to see each other. And at the end of the day, I just wanted to be a gentleman and do the right thing."
Rodriguez seemed to shun Torre the first two days of the weekend series, apparently still upset over Torre’s portrayal of him in the former Bombers skipper’s book "The Yankee Years."
As for why he waited until Sunday, A-Rod replied: "It was a big zoo on Friday," referring to the parade of other Yankees who greeted Torre prior to the series opener. "I didn’t want to be caught up in that. It took me a couple of days to get my thoughts and I did that today."
So, what did the two talk about? "I won’t share what we said," Rodriguez answered.
Sporting News staff reports
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Dodgers manager Joe Torre called a truce in their cold war Sunday night.
The two had what Rodriguez called a "nice exchange" behind the batting cage prior to the new York-L.A. series finale at Dodger Stadium. They spoke briefly as cameras rolled and reporters watched intently.
"You don’t want to let things linger," Rodriguez told the media afterward. "You don’t know when’s the next time Joe and I are going to see each other. And at the end of the day, I just wanted to be a gentleman and do the right thing."
Rodriguez seemed to shun Torre the first two days of the weekend series, apparently still upset over Torre’s portrayal of him in the former Bombers skipper’s book "The Yankee Years."
As for why he waited until Sunday, A-Rod replied: "It was a big zoo on Friday," referring to the parade of other Yankees who greeted Torre prior to the series opener. "I didn’t want to be caught up in that. It took me a couple of days to get my thoughts and I did that today."
So, what did the two talk about? "I won’t share what we said," Rodriguez answered.
Zambrano’s teammates, in particular left fielder Alfonso Soriano, aren’t buying that explanation. "That’s not the way we see it." Soriano tells Wittenmeyer.
Adds another, unnamed Cub, "Anybody who believes [Zambrano’s version] must be smoking something."
The source close to Zambrano tells Wittenmeyer that all the pitcher wanted to do "was pump the team up. It was completely misunderstood," According to the source, Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee made the situation worse by taking things personally and telling Zambrano to "shut the (expletive) up."
Soriano planned to call Zambrano on Saturday to discuss the matter. "If he explains, maybe we can see it the way his friend sees it. But what he said wasn’t right," Soriano tells Wittenmeyer.
Lee appeared to be a target of Zambrano’s ire after Lee failed to stop a leadoff double by the White Sox’s Juan Pierre in the first inning Friday. Zambrano eventually allowed four runs in the inning.
Cubs sources tell Wittenmeyer that Zambrano yelled, among other things, "This team is horse(expletive)" during the bilingual (Spanish and English) outburst. That’s when Lee intervened.
Zambrano’s teammates, in particular left fielder Alfonso Soriano, aren’t buying that explanation. "That’s not the way we see it." Soriano tells Wittenmeyer.
Adds another, unnamed Cub, "Anybody who believes [Zambrano’s version] must be smoking something."
The source close to Zambrano tells Wittenmeyer that all the pitcher wanted to do "was pump the team up. It was completely misunderstood," According to the source, Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee made the situation worse by taking things personally and telling Zambrano to "shut the (expletive) up."
Soriano planned to call Zambrano on Saturday to discuss the matter. "If he explains, maybe we can see it the way his friend sees it. But what he said wasn’t right," Soriano tells Wittenmeyer.
Lee appeared to be a target of Zambrano’s ire after Lee failed to stop a leadoff double by the White Sox’s Juan Pierre in the first inning Friday. Zambrano eventually allowed four runs in the inning.
Cubs sources tell Wittenmeyer that Zambrano yelled, among other things, "This team is horse(expletive)" during the bilingual (Spanish and English) outburst. That’s when Lee intervened.
Buck Showalter grudgingly confirmed Sunday he is interested in becoming the Orioles’ full-time manager.
He told ESPN’s Karl Ravech during "Baseball Tonight" that he has spoken with the club about the job, twice answering "Yes" to specific questions about having contact with the O’s his interest in the position. Showalter is an analyst for the show.
Asked by Ravech whether he wanted to get back into managing, Showalter replied:
"Karl, you know, from that standpoint, right situation’s presented … Out of respect for the people that currently have a job, (interim manager) Juan Samuel has worked very hard to get an opportunity, and I don’t it’s ethical to be talking about this and that. … It’s an honor to have your name in that mix. Where life takes you, we’ll see."
Showalter, who managed the Yankees in the early 1990s, later was asked if he thought the O’s could compete in the AL East. "Sure they can," he replied. "They may have to do it a little differently than somebody else, but sooner or later you’re going to have to figure out a way to be better than the Yankees and Red Sox anyway, so a lot of people that maybe in the running for that job would say, ‘Bring it on.’"
The Orioles are seeking a permanent replacement for Dave Trembley, who was fired June 4. Samuel has guided the O’s to an 8-13 record, including a three-game weekend sweep of the Nationals.
Sporting News staff reports
Buck Showalter grudgingly confirmed Sunday he is interested in becoming the Orioles’ full-time manager.
He told ESPN’s Karl Ravech during "Baseball Tonight" that he has spoken with the club about the job, twice answering "Yes" to specific questions about having contact with the O’s his interest in the position. Showalter is an analyst for the show.
Asked by Ravech whether he wanted to get back into managing, Showalter replied:
"Karl, you know, from that standpoint, right situation’s presented … Out of respect for the people that currently have a job, (interim manager) Juan Samuel has worked very hard to get an opportunity, and I don’t it’s ethical to be talking about this and that. … It’s an honor to have your name in that mix. Where life takes you, we’ll see."
Showalter, who managed the Yankees in the early 1990s, later was asked if he thought the O’s could compete in the AL East. "Sure they can," he replied. "They may have to do it a little differently than somebody else, but sooner or later you’re going to have to figure out a way to be better than the Yankees and Red Sox anyway, so a lot of people that maybe in the running for that job would say, ‘Bring it on.’"
The Orioles are seeking a permanent replacement for Dave Trembley, who was fired June 4. Samuel has guided the O’s to an 8-13 record, including a three-game weekend sweep of the Nationals.
Rosenthal reports talks broke down because of philosophical differences between Valentine and the Marlins. Valentine and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria are longtime friends, so Rosenthal speculates that the two could still get together and hammer out an agreement.
Earlier Sunday, Valentine told ESPN’s Karl Ravech on "Baseball Tonight" (where Valentine is a studio analyst) that he was still in the mix. "This managerial hiring is a process," he said. "People need to be interviewed, decisions need to be made. I think they’re right in the middle of this process.
"It’s a terrific situation where they have a new stadium coming up in a couple of years and an owner (Loria) who really wants to win and a front office who never makes mistakes."
Valentine demurred when asked by Ravech to put a percentage on his chances of managing the Marlins sometime this season. "I can’t even mention that chance, that percentage … because I’m in the middle of the process," he said.
Valentine was thought to be the prohibitive favorite to succeed the fired Fredi Gonzalez, and there were reports several days ago the sides had reached a tentative agreement. But a Friday meeting with Loria was later postponed, with Valentine telling the Miami Herald that the "process needs a little more time."
Edwin Rodriguez is the Marlins’ interim manager. He interviewed with team executives on Saturday. Loria told MLB.com Rodriguez will be the manager for the club’s series with the Mets this week in Rodriguez’s native Puerto Rico.
Rosenthal reports talks broke down because of philosophical differences between Valentine and the Marlins. Valentine and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria are longtime friends, so Rosenthal speculates that the two could still get together and hammer out an agreement.
Earlier Sunday, Valentine told ESPN’s Karl Ravech on "Baseball Tonight" (where Valentine is a studio analyst) that he was still in the mix. "This managerial hiring is a process," he said. "People need to be interviewed, decisions need to be made. I think they’re right in the middle of this process.
"It’s a terrific situation where they have a new stadium coming up in a couple of years and an owner (Loria) who really wants to win and a front office who never makes mistakes."
Valentine demurred when asked by Ravech to put a percentage on his chances of managing the Marlins sometime this season. "I can’t even mention that chance, that percentage … because I’m in the middle of the process," he said.
Valentine was thought to be the prohibitive favorite to succeed the fired Fredi Gonzalez, and there were reports several days ago the sides had reached a tentative agreement. But a Friday meeting with Loria was later postponed, with Valentine telling the Miami Herald that the "process needs a little more time."
Edwin Rodriguez is the Marlins’ interim manager. He interviewed with team executives on Saturday. Loria told MLB.com Rodriguez will be the manager for the club’s series with the Mets this week in Rodriguez’s native Puerto Rico.
Teammates Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton engaged in a heated exchange in the Tampa Bay dugout on Sunday, after Upton appeared to give a less-than-best effort to field a Rusty Ryal hit to centerfield in the fifth inning of the Diamondbacks-Rays game.
Ryal recorded a triple on the play and scored when Gerard Parra homered during the next at-bat.
Teammates Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton engaged in a heated exchange in the Tampa Bay dugout on Sunday, after Upton appeared to give a less-than-best effort to field a Rusty Ryal hit to centerfield in the fifth inning of the Diamondbacks-Rays game.
Ryal recorded a triple on the play and scored when Gerard Parra homered during the next at-bat.
The Mariners acquired the slugging first baseman from the Cleveland Indians on Saturday for minor leaguers Ezequiel Carrera and Juan Diaz.
MLB.com reports Cleveland will also pick up the remainder of Branyan’s $2 million salary or send Seattle a player to be named.
Branyan, 34, hit 31 home runs for Seattle last season but was not re-signed in the offseason. He hooked on with Cleveland during spring training but missed the start of the season with a back injury. He batted .263 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs for the Indians this season.
MLB.com reports the trade allows the Indians to recall Matt LaPorta from the minors and make him the club’s everyday first baseman. LaPorta was playing the outfield prior to his demotion.
Sporting News staff reports
Russell Branyan is returning to Seattle.
The Mariners acquired the slugging first baseman from the Cleveland Indians on Saturday for minor leaguers Ezequiel Carrera and Juan Diaz.
MLB.com reports Cleveland will also pick up the remainder of Branyan’s $2 million salary or send Seattle a player to be named.
Branyan, 34, hit 31 home runs for Seattle last season but was not re-signed in the offseason. He hooked on with Cleveland during spring training but missed the start of the season with a back injury. He batted .263 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs for the Indians this season.
MLB.com reports the trade allows the Indians to recall Matt LaPorta from the minors and make him the club’s everyday first baseman. LaPorta was playing the outfield prior to his demotion.
The Marlins are expected to offer Bobby Valentine a four-year contract to be their new manager, ESPN reports.
Valentine, an ESPN analyst who has managed the Rangers and Mets, confirmed to the network he will fly to Florida on Friday night to meet with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and other executives.
"Valentine has known Loria for 20 years, and has had informal discussions with Loria over the last eight months about Valentine’s interest in someday managing the Marlins," the ESPN report says.
The Marlins fired manager Fredi Gonzalez on Wednesday, replacing him with interim manager Edwin Rodriguez. Later that day, Valentine withdrew his name for consideration as manager of the Orioles.
Sporting News staff reports
The Marlins are expected to offer Bobby Valentine a four-year contract to be their new manager, ESPN reports.
Valentine, an ESPN analyst who has managed the Rangers and Mets, confirmed to the network he will fly to Florida on Friday night to meet with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and other executives.
"Valentine has known Loria for 20 years, and has had informal discussions with Loria over the last eight months about Valentine’s interest in someday managing the Marlins," the ESPN report says.
The Marlins fired manager Fredi Gonzalez on Wednesday, replacing him with interim manager Edwin Rodriguez. Later that day, Valentine withdrew his name for consideration as manager of the Orioles.
