Chicago Cubs: What's Up with Big Z?

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

• August 9 (Wrigley Field) - 4-1/3 innings, nine runs on 10 hits, with a walk, three strikeouts and four home runs allowed - Cubs lost 12-3
• September 19 (Wrigley Field) - 1-2/3 innings, eight runs on six hits, with three walks, a strikeout and a home run - Cubs lost 12-6
• April 17 (Wrigley Field) - Seven innings, seven runs on nine hits, with three walks, seven strikeouts and three home runs allowed - Cubs won 8-7

• Total - 0-2 in three starts, 13 innings, 24 runs on 25 hits, with seven walks, 11 strikeouts and eight home runs allowed (16.61 ERA and a 2.46 WHIP)

With that said, common sense took over and surely one Zambrano's newest teammates, Aaron Miles, would have let him in on what the Cardinals know.

Since July 19 of 2008, Zambrano's line:

5-3 in 14 starts with a 5.69 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP (87 1/3 innings, 83 hits, 56 runs, 56 earned runs, 14 home runs, 43 walks and 72 strikeouts)

But the most important stat line...the Cubs record in Zambrano's last 14 regular season starts, 10-4.

Carlos Zambrano may be getting paid like an ace but he is not performing like one...and his gloving slamming episode on Friday was just further proof that he still needs to grow up.

The Cubs need Carlos Zambrano to pitch more consistently. Will he have bad starts from time to time? Of course he will...but he needs to string together more positive than negative outings.

Lou Piniella needs to know he can count on his number one starter and since Piniella has been in Chicago, Zambrano has been consistent at only two things...inconsistency and immaturity.

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