Epstein to give Zambrano chance to earn his way back

[Crusader]

MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein met face-to-face with Carlos Zambrano on Monday afternoon and said the starter will get a chance to return to the team in 2012.

It was the first meeting between the new Cubs executive and the volatile pitcher since Epstein was hired on Oct. 21.

"We met today at his request," Epstein said. "It went well. He expressed a strong desire to be a Cub (again) and an even stronger desire to have a strong 2012 season. He's in great shape. He's working out twice a day, pitching down in Venezuela. I told him that we'd let him earn his right back to being a Cub.

"We said he'd have to work hard and that we aren't welcoming him back unconditionally. We said he'd have to earn his way back."

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7236368/theo-epstein-give-carlos-zambrano-chance-earn-way-back-chicago-cubs

[Firehawk]

Wow...first BIG mistake by Theo....really??  this guy has already been given chance, after chance, after chance...sooner or later you have to say enough!

Come on Theo 

[Crusader]

What this really means is:

"You have no trade value right now, so I'll give you a chance to pretend to be a good teammate so that maybe I can get something back when I eventually ship you out."

[Firehawk]

What this really means is:

"You have no trade value right now, so I'll give you a chance to pretend to be a good teammate so that maybe I can get something back when I eventually ship you out."

yeah that's what im hoping it is....but he liable to snap way before he can gain value

[bwbp3]

The way Theo said it, I almost took it as "try as hard as you want, we'll give you a chance, but you'll have to be damn near perfect".  Basically I think he's raising the bar pretty high for him.

[BYS]

Teams wont trade for him if they think he is going to be released.

[Satsuma Illini]

I'm shocked I tell you. Shocked.

Even the great Epstein doesn't know what to do with Zambrano. 

[ErvinSmallFanClub]

I'm shocked I tell you. Shocked.

Even the great Epstein doesn't know what to do with Zambrano. 

No, he knows exactly what to do - try to build up his trade value.  Unlike our previous GM, who did everything he could to reduce the perceived value of our players before selling them at the lowest possible value, like he did with Corey Patterson, Felix Pie, and Milton Bradley.

[Satsuma Illini]

mm hmmm 

[Musson]

I dont mind this much at all.  What's the worse that could happen?  He could suck and throw temper tantrums?

Make the POS WORK for his job, and maybe he wakes up.

And then, never pull him from a game unless the bases are empty, that way he can't call everyone else out when they gas can willy all his runners in.