Chicago Cubs: What's Up with Big Z?

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Before the season began most, if not all, thought if the Cubs were to win their third consecutive Central Division title they would need Carlos Zambrano to step up and lead the starting staff. Zambrano did his part on Opening Day in Houston and pitched a very good game...and more than earned his first career victory on Opening Day.

With the question marks around Rich Harden's health and Ryan Dempster's ability to repeat his performance from a year ago, Lou Piniella and Jim Hendry need a big year from Zambrano. While Big Z has made only three starts, his performances have been inconsistent at best and very reminiscent of the second half he put together last season.

Carlos Zambrano's numbers since his first start after the break last year (July 19 in Houston) send up a huge red flag. Other than his no-hitter in Milwaukee, which came with more than it's fair share of controversy, Zambrano has pitched more like a number five in a big league rotation, not a number one.

Big Z was 4-3 in 12 starts with a 5.80 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP from July 19 of last season on. Zambrano posted only two wins in August and September combined, and one was the no-hitter against the Astros.

• August - 1-1 in 5 starts with a 7.43 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP, teams hit .284 against him
• September - 1-1 in 4 starts with a 7.08 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP, teams hit .192 against him

In five August starts (26 innings) Zambrano struck out 18 but walked 15 and served up seven home runs. The home runs allowed went down in September but his strikeout to walk ratio was very close again to 1:1. Zambrano struck out 16 in 20-1/3 innings but issued 11 walks.

After his eight-inning shutout gem in Milwaukee on July 29 against the Brewers, he completed seven innings just twice...and one was his no-hitter. Zambrano's other win in the final two months of the year came against the Reds at Wrigley.

With the latest drubbing by the Cardinals, it made this writer think that maybe Zambrano is tipping his pitches and the Redbirds are the only team that has figured out what he is doing. In his last three starts (including Friday

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