Zambrano deals in rehab start
Chicago Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano pitched five shutout innings in a rehab start for the Class A Peoria Chiefs on Thursday, four days after admitting that he has been "lazy" about his abdominal exercises.
Zambrano struck out five, walked none and gave up four hits against the Clinton (Iowa) Lumber Kings. He threw 76 pitches, 54 for strikes, and appears ready to rejoin the Cubs when they face the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.
"I felt good," he said. "My slider was a little flat, but I have to settle back, do my rehab, work on my pitches and have some fun and get ready for my start on Tuesday."
The Cubs placed Zambrano on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 2 because of back spasms. Before the Cubs' game against the Pittsburgh Pirates was rained out Sunday, Zambrano admitted to being lackadaisical when it came to exercising his core. Despite making the admission, Zambrano took issue with a column criticizing him.
"I've been doing my rehab on my core, working hard," he said. "For that lady to say I was lazy, I want to see her on Tuesday. I want to be with no shirt so she can see my body, so she can see the body I have. Lazy people don't have this body, so I'm going to show her my guns."
He then flexed his biceps.
Zambrano also dismissed the notion that batting practice contributed to his injury problems.
"If this was about BP, every pitcher in the National League would be injured," he said. "I have to take BP, it's my job. But talking about that, a Venezuelan scout told me in the offseason that it looks like I was having more fun and smiling when I hit than when I pitch. I need to have more fun when I'm pitching, the same as when I'm hitting."
Zambrano is 7-4 with a 3.35 ERA this season.
