Big Z Headed South

Being unable to control his emotions has
really hurt the once bright career of
Zambrano.

The ongoing soap opera that is the career of Chicago Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano appears to have added yet another interesting chapter.

It has been reported that Zambrano has waived his full no-trade clause to join the recently renamed and revamped Miami Marlins. Chicago will receive pitcher Chris Volstad in return. With the deal excepted to get done within the next 24 hours, Zambrano must first pass a physical.

The agreement was contingent upon the Cubs paying $15 million of the $18 million owed to Venezuelan in 2012.

Zambrano, who signed a five-year $91.5 million contract extension in August of 2007, also has a vesting option worth $19 million for the 2013 season. That is in fact if he finishes in the top four of the National League Cy Young voting. Miami shouldn't worry too much as he has never finished higher than fifth.

Known lately more for his emotional outbursts and mind-boggling antics than his, at times dominating pitching, the volatile Zambrano still has a chance to salvage what has been, up to this point, a good, but yet roller coaster of a career.

A 3-time All-Star, the 30-year-old righty's best overall season came in 2006. That season Zambrano posted a league-best 16 wins, tossed 214 innings and struck out 210 hitters, finishing in the top five of the NL Cy Young voting. The following year, Zambrano set a career-high in wins with a 18-13 record.

Fresh off his contract extension, the 2008 season started out great for the Zambrano. The 6-foot-5 starter kicked off the year 12-4 with a 2.76 earned run average before suffering numerous arm injuries that caused him to miss multiple starts.

Zambrano returned to the mound on Sept. 18, 2008, tossing the first Cubs no-hitter in 36 years, shutting down the Houston Astros offense at Miller Park, 5-0. The game was moved to Milwaukee due to damages Minute Maid Park had suffered during Hurricane Ike, making Zambrano's no-no the first neutral site no-hitter in baseball history.

After that it was down hill.

Zambrano won 20 games combined in 2009 and '10 with 2011 maybe being his most disappointing season yet. Struggling to find his stride, Zambrano has faced multiple suspensions and last pitched for Chicago on Aug.12 in a game against the Atlanta Braves. In that game, he surrendered five home runs and was ejected after throwing inside to veteran Chipper Jones.

Post-game it was reported that Zambrano was set to retire. He was placed on the disqualified list and didn't pitch for the team the rest of the season, finishing the year 9-7 and a 4.82 ERA, only starting 24 games for the Cubs, his lowest total since his 2002 rookie campaign.

After recording more than 200 innings five times in his first seven years in the majors, Zambrano has yet to reach that mark each of the last four years, showing signs of deteriorating or lack of desire and control.

Although, a change of scenery might be just what the doctor order, Dr. Oz that is.

Zambrano and recently hired manager Ozzie Gullien have been friends for sometime and looks to be the main component as to why he decided to waive his no-trade clause and head to South Beach. Maybe Gullien, who is also know for being quite emotional and a native Venezuelan, could get the best out of the talented right-hander.

He comes to the Marlins owning a career record of 125-81 and a 3.60 ERA, not to mention his .241 career batting average, 23 home runs and 69 runs batted in, earning him three Silver Sluggers.

The acquisition of Zambrano would add to the many new faces that will occupy the New Marlins Ballpark in 2012. The Fish have already reeled in All-Stars Jose Reyes and Heath Bell this offseason, signed Mark Buehrle, who is the author of two no-hitters -- one being a perfect game -- and now have slugger Hanley Ramirez, who was originally opposed to switching positions, embracing his transition to the hot corner, making the Marlins a viable contender in the NL East.

It could be a match made in heaven or a disaster waiting to happen.

Just Like Old Times

Rodriguez felt it was in the best interest of
 the team to step down.

It was just three weeks ago that the young upstart Florida Marlins were 10 games over .500 and only 1 game back for first place in the National League East, my how things have changed. The Marlins have now lost ten straight and their manager, sinking to the bottom of the division standings. Edwin Rodriguez, who replaced current Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez as skipper almost a year ago to the day, resigned Sunday, claiming it was best for the future of the team.

In the Marlins final 92 games of the 2010 season, Rodriguez led them to a 46-46 record, finishing third in the division behind two postseason bound clubs. The Philadelphia Phillies captured their fourth straight division crown while the Braves earned a wild card berth.

The native of Puerto Rico finishes his tenure in Florida with a record of 78-85 in just over a full seasons load at 163 games.

Injuries to All-Stars Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson played a major role in the teams recent skid, losing 18 of their last 19 games. Ramirez, who despite his injury is only batting .201 on the year, had been sidelined since the 29th of May with back soreness that included a trip to the disabled list.

As for Johnson the news had not been good. The 6-foot-7 hard throwing right-hander was placed on the 15-day disabled list back on the 22nd of May with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Initially  Johnson was thought to miss a couple of weeks, but that will not be the case.

The two-time All-Star was recently transferred to the 60-day DL and will now be out until mid-July.

That being said it has not been all bad in Florida. Outfielder Mike Stanton has hit 16 home runs in 67 games for the Marlins after a solid rookie campaign. Although Stanton has struggled during the teams current losing streak, batting only .192 in his last 22 games.

That could be a product of the recent struggles of Ramirez and the absence of Dan Uggla. Uggla, who was the teams primary power source in recent years, was traded to Atlanta in the offseason, leaving a lot of responsibility of their young twenty-two-year-old right fielder.

With the recent resignation of Rodriguez a familiar face has decided to put the uniform one last time. Eight-year-old and Major League Baseball lifer Jack McKeon will manage the team the rest of the season and believes that the season is not lost.

He becomes the second-oldest manager in major league history behind only Connie Mack, who was eight-seven when he managing the Philadelphia Athletics in 1950.

Cigar and all McKeon is back at the
helm in Florida.

This will be McKeon's second stint as Marlins manager and it was a very similar situation his first go around. In May of 2003, a not so much younger McKeon took over a underachieving Florida team and help guide the team back to .500 and clinch their second wild card berth in franchise history.

That postseason the Marlins would make their mark yet again winning the National League Pennant and reaching the World Series for the first time since 1997. There they eventually beat the heavily favored New York Yankees in six games. It was the second World Series title for the Marlins, but the first for McKeon.

That was the last time the Marlins made the playoffs.

Eight years later McKeon will try and raise this team from the ashes once again and finally prove he's still got what it takes. His first order of business comes prior to tonight's game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with the benching of his embattled superstar shortstop. Will this be the fire that sparks Ramirez and the fish? Marlin fans sure hope so.