Carlos Zambrano

Here we are just a few days away from the month of July where the sun isn't the only thing that will be burning hot.

We've talked about a lot of rumors over the last few weeks but there could be a few new names added to the fire.

On Monday afternoon, Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry announced that starting/relief/not-really pitcher Carlos Zambrano would enter some form of treatment program and would be placed on baseball's "restricted list" until after the All-Star break.

Restricted? Does he have to trade his boxers for briefs for the next three weeks?

As a result of Carlos Zambrano’s tirade on Friday, the Chicago Cubs have placed Zambrano on the restricted list. So what exactly does that mean?

The restricted list is a list of players to whom certain teams have contractual obligations, but are currently not a part of the team and may not play in an MLB game. Players on the restricted list do not count towards a team’s 25-man or 40-man roster.

Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry announced on Monday that pitcher Carlos Zambrano was placed on MLB's restricted list, and will not rejoin the team until the All-Star break is over.

According to Hendry, the negotiations were very amicable, with both Zambrano's agent Barry Praver and Hendry working with the player's union to come to a resolution without rancor.

Mount Zambrano erupted again yesterday during the Chicago Cub-Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic because of his perception of a lack of effort by some of his teammates in the first inning where he gave up four runs.

Everyone is saying the Cubs should get rid of him because of his emotional outburst in the dugout.

I say it's about time somebody on this team showed some life and that they cared about what's happening on the field.

"It was unacceptable," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella of pitcher Carlos Zambrano's dugout fireworks after the first inning of Friday's 6-0 loss to the crosstown rival White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

"His conduct was not acceptable," said general manager Jim Hendry, echoing Piniella's sentiments while announcing Zambrano's indefinite suspension from the team.

The Chicago Cubs have suspended pitcher Carlos Zambrano indefinitely after a dugout tirade during Friday's 6-0 loss to the cross-town White Sox.

Zambrano had to be restrained and separated from teammate Derrek Lee after he gave up four runs in the bottom half of the first inning at US Cellular Field.

Presumably, the issue was that Lee let a ground ball get by him at first base prior to Zambrano giving up a three-run home run.

Carlos Zambrano couldn't even make it to the second inning of his start against the crosstown rival White Sox before throwing yet another tantrum, even being sent home by manager Lou Pinella and eventually suspended indefinitely by Jim Hendry. 

Zambrano gave up four runs in the first inning, but as usual found someone else to blame.

This article is also available on The Daily Cub and The Chicago Perspective .

After taking two out of three games in their first series against the Cubs, the White Sox were able to rattle Carlos Zambrano's cage enough to give him a mental breakdown and get him taken out after one inning. Zambrano was also involved in an altercation with Derek Lee in the dugout.

If you are a true Chicago Cubs fan, then by now you know that this team is quickly heading nowhere.

Although they are still within 10 games in the division, the chances of them making up any ground is highly unlikely.

So what are the next steps this franchise needs to take?

It is simply to try and move veterans with the high salaries, and to build from the minor league system.