Come To Think of It: Putting Carlos Zambrano's "Sox" Talk in Perspective

So I wake up this morning and turn on the local sports radio station here in the Chicagoland area. And one of the main topics of conversation is an article in the Chicago Sun-Times by writer Chris DeLuca.

Apparently, some people either didn't read the article or are just trying to stir up trouble, because some Cubs fans are angry with Carlos Zambrano over comments that, on the surface, might indicate that he would prefer playing for the cross-town rivals.

Now, first of all, I've never liked DeLuca as a writer. He's a White Sox fan who purports to care about the Cubs, when in reality he often takes subtle digs at us.

In this case, however, the blame should probably go to the Sun-Times' headline writers, who chose to splash the back page of the newspaper with a screaming headline about Zambrano being a Sox fan. 

But that was only a portion of what was a fairly in-depth interview with the Cubs big right-hander.

Alright, so Big Z likes the White Sox. Big deal. Of course, there is such a rivalry in this town between the North and South Side fans that it becomes a big deal if you let it.

My advice: Don't let it.

Read the article, because it is a well-written piece. But Cubs fans, don't waste this beautiful, sunny St. Patrick's Day getting worked up over this stuff. And Sox fans, don't gloat.

The main premise of the article is the fact that it is surprising that Zambrano has  become the Cubs "elder statesman" in terms of longevity now that Kerry Wood is gone. So, DeLuca used this angle to give us a well done story on a guy who the Cubs are counting heavily on again this season.

But where DeLuca gets off the track in my opinion (and this is an example of why I dislike him at times), is when he asks Zambrano if he wants to pitch anywhere else.

''No,'' he said, tapping his hand on that big ''C'' logo over his heart.

Then without much hesitation...

''Well, if I do,'' Zambrano added in a hushed voice, ''I want it to be in a White Sox uniform.''

The "without much hesitation" was an unnecessary element that implies something more sinister than what Carlos intended, I'm sure. But Zambrano goes even further.

''I grew up as a White Sox fan. That was my favorite team,'' Zambrano said. ''I apologize to the Cubs fans for saying this, but you don't have control when you are 6, 7 years old of your feelings. Your feelings are with the team you see as a child. For me, it was the White Sox.''

Look, that should be fine with Cubs fans. If he pitches well, we'll be glad he has that 'C' on his chest. If he has a meltdown, we'll be wishing he was pitching on the South Side perhaps.

I'm sure that part of the reason that Carlos still likes the Sox is that his family is close with Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen, a fellow Venezuelan.

For some reason, DeLuca also threw in a statement of his own that is perplexing to me:

"One of the craziest rumors at the winter meetings in December centered on the Cubs—after completing a Jake Peavy trade—sending Zambrano to the Sox."

Now, I follow Cubs baseball as closely as anyone. I read MLBTradeRumors religiously. I could not find a single reference to such a rumor.

Well, no matter, because the Sox couldn't afford him. And, come to think of it, the whole thing is being overblown anyway.

''I love the Cubs,'' Zambrano said. ''Now, I like the Cubs more than the White Sox. Well, just a little bit of a feeling for the White Sox -- maybe 2 percent. But 98 percent of my feeling is for the Cubs.''