02-18-2010, 12:48 PM
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Cubs' Zambrano has new look, new attitude
February 18, 2010 10:35 AM | No Comments
By Paul Sullivan
MESA, Ariz. -- Carlos Zambrano went on a nutritional program that helped him lose 15 pounds over the winter.
He came to camp early to get prepared for the season, hoping to prove that his 2009 season was a fluke.
"I'm a proud guy," he said. "Obviously I wasn't proud of the season I had last year...I feel like a new guy. I feel like a rookie again. That's why I've got this haircut."
Zambrano pulled off his cap to reveal a shortly cropped hairstyle.
"I got this haircut in December or January, and someone said to me, 'Hey, you look like when you were a rookie when you came up to pitch against Milwaukee,' "he said.
Besides the new look, Zambrano also said he plans to ditch the cut fastball from his repertoire this year. Zambrano said he didn't have enough control of the cutter to keep throwing it.
"It's good to have that pitch, but it wasn't the pitch that made me successful," he said. "The sinker was what made me good earlier in my career. I want to stay with the sinker. No more cutter. Just sinker, slider, split and high fastball."
As for the offseason rumors that the New York Yankees were trying to acquire him, Zambrano labeled it "speculation by you guys." But there is no question the Yankees called general manager Jim Hendry to inquire about Zambrano. Hendry didn't bother to ask Zambrano if he would give up his no-trade clause.
"Even if I have a bad season this year again, I want to finish my career here," he said. "I will say 'no."
But Zambrano said he did have to explain to his 9-year-old daughter that there was a possibility he'd be gone.
"I told my daugther we may move, with all the rumors," he said. "She started crying, saying she loved Chicago. It's hard to see your kids crying. That was a moment of frustration. Everyone was talking about trading, trading, trading. I thought it was coming for sure. But thank God Jim never mentioned anything to me. It was all speculation by you guys, or somebody in the media.
"When people say some thing so many times, sometimes you believe it."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
February 18, 2010 10:35 AM | No Comments
By Paul Sullivan
MESA, Ariz. -- Carlos Zambrano went on a nutritional program that helped him lose 15 pounds over the winter.
He came to camp early to get prepared for the season, hoping to prove that his 2009 season was a fluke.
"I'm a proud guy," he said. "Obviously I wasn't proud of the season I had last year...I feel like a new guy. I feel like a rookie again. That's why I've got this haircut."
Zambrano pulled off his cap to reveal a shortly cropped hairstyle.
"I got this haircut in December or January, and someone said to me, 'Hey, you look like when you were a rookie when you came up to pitch against Milwaukee,' "he said.
Besides the new look, Zambrano also said he plans to ditch the cut fastball from his repertoire this year. Zambrano said he didn't have enough control of the cutter to keep throwing it.
"It's good to have that pitch, but it wasn't the pitch that made me successful," he said. "The sinker was what made me good earlier in my career. I want to stay with the sinker. No more cutter. Just sinker, slider, split and high fastball."
As for the offseason rumors that the New York Yankees were trying to acquire him, Zambrano labeled it "speculation by you guys." But there is no question the Yankees called general manager Jim Hendry to inquire about Zambrano. Hendry didn't bother to ask Zambrano if he would give up his no-trade clause.
"Even if I have a bad season this year again, I want to finish my career here," he said. "I will say 'no."
But Zambrano said he did have to explain to his 9-year-old daughter that there was a possibility he'd be gone.
"I told my daugther we may move, with all the rumors," he said. "She started crying, saying she loved Chicago. It's hard to see your kids crying. That was a moment of frustration. Everyone was talking about trading, trading, trading. I thought it was coming for sure. But thank God Jim never mentioned anything to me. It was all speculation by you guys, or somebody in the media.
"When people say some thing so many times, sometimes you believe it."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->