Come to Think of it...Good Z, Bad Z - Which Z will Cubs See in October?

If the opposite of a no-hitter is an all-hitter, Carlos Zambrano came much closer to the latter than the former in Friday's start against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

Big Z didn't even resemble the pitcher that we last saw dominating the Astros. In fact, the first three batters all got hits, the fourth batter walked and the fifth batter hit a grand slam.

Before you even settled into your seat, it was 5-0 St. Louis.  I guess the champagne will have to stay on ice one more day.

So how can a pitcher be so masterful one day and the very next start look as lost as a sheep in a fox den?

As usual, we all jumped the gun, as Cubs fans are known to do, when we thought all of Zambrano's troubles were behind him. He pitched a no-hitter and threw 99 mph so he's 100 percent healthy and back on track. Well, maybe. But not so fast.

You could chalk it up to one bad game. Except if that one bad game occurs in the playoffs, we won't be so tolerant.

So I ask the question again. Which Zambrano will show up when the rubber meets the road?  It's a bit unsettling that we aren't sure.

Maybe he partied too much following his no-hitter. Maybe he had too many photo-ops or celebration dinners. Heck, no one could blame him for a little overconfidence if that was what it was.  Anything except a sore shoulder.

Look, I realize we're going to win the division, so this one game is no big deal. But Z's performance lately, disregarding the no-hitter of course, is worrisome.

He was out of the game Friday before he could even come to bat once.

Let's look at his pitching line from his August and September starts:

7 runs in 1 2/3 

0 runs in 9 (no hitter!)

3 runs in 5

6 runs in 4 1/3

1 run in 7

5 runs in 6

9 runs in 4 1/3

2 runs in 5

If it seems I'm making a big deal out of this, it's because I am. Zambrano is our ace. As such, he's vital to any success we expect to have in the postseason. Especially since Harden hasn't looked good his past two outings.

But he's only given up one run in each of his last two starts, you say? True, but: 1) he was only able to go five innings in each start; 2) his velocity was down; and, 3) he walked six batters and threw an astronomical 115 pitches in only five innings the other day. 

Look, all of this will mean nothing if they pitch lights out in the playoffs and, hopefully, the World Series. But until that happens, all we have to go on is what's happening now.

Hey, we don't need the no-hit Zambrano to show up in the postseason, the "average" Zambrano will do just fine. Today's Big Z, not so much, come to think of it. 

I guess we'll have to wait and 'Z'.