Zambrano has up and down start to spring

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Carlos Zambrano's first Grapefruit League start with the Marlins Thursday turned out to be a bit like his days with the Cubs -- a bit of an up and down ride. 

Zambrano, whom the Marlins acquired in a trade for Chris Volstad, lasted just 1 1/3 innings, but left with four strikeouts. That was the good. The bad: three walks, three hits, three earned runs and just 27 strikes on 51 pitches.

Zambrano started his day by striking out the first two Mets he faced, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Justin Turner, both swinging. But Zambrano started to lose a bit of his control after that as he tried working on his slider.

He walked Jason Bay on four pitches and then walked Ike Davis on a 3-2 count. Catcher Lucas May then doubled both of those runners home when he crushed a 2-2 pitch into the gap in left center-field. Mike Baxter then gave the Mets a 3-2 lead when he stroked a single back up the middle. Zambrano finally got out of the inning when he struckout Adam Loewen, the next hitter, looking on a 3-2 fastball.

In all, Zambrano threw 39 pitches, 20 for strikes in the first inning.

He started the second by walking Ronny Cedeno and giving up a line drive single to center to Omar Quintanilla. But he ended the outing by striking out Nieuwenhuis looking, bringing his Grapefruit League ERA down to 20.25.

Comments

[d]

where are the Marlins' starters?

[Stan M]

I read something the other day that struck a cord. You other long time fans might also find this interesting. Guess what AL player led the league in hitting from August 3rd to the end of the year? I was surprised and puzzled to learn it was ex Marlin CFer De Aza. He was traded for a nobody. Never understood why the team gave up on him so quickly. Remember how he won the CF job one Spring only to get hurt in one of the first games. Wish him well, but he could run like the wind and would sure look good with our other jackrabbits.

There was an excellent article comparing our new and old ballparks and this new one has an even bigger outfield. And we have just the players to hit triples all over the place. Still most exciting offensive play in baseball. Reyes has a chance to surpass Stan Musial as player with must lifetime triples since start of WWII.

[thejuandiggler]

Good point stan
Wonder if Marlins built the dimensions with the knowledge they would be highest bidders for Reyes.
These three should cause chaos atop the lineup
And Stanton can homer out of any park !

[Flav C]

Stan, good info. Yes, i do remember De Aza but how funny we lose track of those guys once they are traded. Talking about ex_Marlins, Cubs fans seem to be excited about Volstad. He pitched very well in his first outing on ST. 3 scoreless innings and 3 strikeouts. Wish him the best.