Carlos Zambrano Needs Miami More Than Miami Needs Zambrano
It’s a good thing Carlos Zambrano and Ozzie Guillen have such a close relationship. Zambrano has been on a destructive path that could have easily seen him out of the game, struggling to even find work overseas. But the fact is, Ozzie Guillen loves Zambrano. They have been close since Zambrano first came to Chicago, albeit with the Cubs, not Guillen’s White Sox. They share cultural ties and a similar passion and fury. However, Zambrano may not be the best solution for Miami.
The Marlins already have problems looming between Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez. They have a gluttony of personalities they are trying to mesh together. Any resemblance to last season’s Marlins would only be coincidental. They are almost an expansion draft team at this point – a really, really, talented expansion draft team. Adding Zambrano to the mix could be the spark that blows the powder keg. But it also may have been necessary to get him back on the right path.
Managers mean so much more than people give them credit. They are the leaders, they are the instructors, the father figures, and confidants. They are the disciplinarians, the jokesters, the cheerleaders, and the psychiatrists. Ozzie Guillen will have to be all that and more to Zambrano. The list of Zambrano’s explosions is long and far from distinguished.
June 2007 – Zambrano gets into a dugout altercation with teammate Michael Barrett.
June 2008 – After being yanked from a game, Zambrano goes nuts in the dugout.
June 2010 – Zambrano blows up at All-Star first baseman Derek Lee when Lee failed to make a play.
August 2011 – After being ejected from a game, Zambrano cleaned out his locker and told team officials he was retiring.
There are more examples, but that’s not the point of this article. I simply wanted to make it clear, Zambrano has a temper/passion/ego/fury/excitement (you pick your own definition). If Zambrano is ever to return to his early form and maintain it, someone is going to need to reel him in. Someone is going to need to break through to him. Guillen has the chance to do so.
The Marlins are getting a successful pitcher. One who has a 125-81 record, a career 3.60 ERA, 1,542 strikeouts, and 31.8 WAR. However, they are also getting a volatile player who could explode at any moment. They’re getting someone who could ruin any semblance of clubhouse continuity the team may have developed. It’s an interesting situation, but seems to favor Zambrano more than it favors the Marlins.
If Guillen can get through to Zambrano, the Marlins may have their one-two punch all set. If he can’t, the Marlins may go down in flames. In a career full of second chances, this may be Zambrano’s last.