Chicago Cubs

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.

Friday afternoon at Cellular Field in Chicago, Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano erupted after allowing the White Sox to score four runs in the first. Apparently, Big "Z" was upset with Derrek Lee's effort on Juan Pierre's leadoff double.

I am not sure whether Lee could have gotten to the ball or not, but with Zambrano and the team struggling as much they are, it is not the time to show a lack of effort.

Lee needs to step up and take some accountability for the Cubs' poor start. He is supposed to be their leader, but he is just not getting the job done.

"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 2010 season has been a disaster for the Chicago Cubs so far.  They are eight games back from first place, and only have a 3.2 percent chance of making the playoffs at the moment.  Unless Lee, Ramirez, Zambrano, and Dempster can get their confidence back, I don't think the Cubs can make it.  

Putting this season aside, the Cubs' future is looking pretty swell.  I'd say that they have about seven prospects who will help in the immediate future, including Starlin Castro and Andrew Cashner.

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.

Friday is Aramis Ramirez's 32nd birthday. It's also the day that he will be activated off of the disabled list.

In order to make room for the embattled third baseman, somebody needs to move off the 25-man roster. Since the team has only just started a stretch of 20 days without an off day, they can't afford to go with fewer than 12 pitchers.

That means, while Ramirez might have a very happy birthday tomorrow, one of the club's position players will be less than thrilled.