Abbatacola: It's All About The Pitching
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Starlin Castro had three hits and Carlos Zambrano survived six choppy innings as the Chicago Cubs beat the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 on Monday night to spoil slugger Derrek Lee's two-homer debut with his new team.
If the Cubs trade Zambrano and still have to pay the majority of his freight – as was rumored in the proposed deal with the Yankees – then how does that help the Cubs?
Prince Fielder hit his 23rd home run and Rickie Weeks needed to be helped off the field when he injured his left ankle running out a throw to first in the Milwaukee Brewers' 2-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.
The Cubs needed some help to win at home against Houston and thankfully, the Astros were happy to provide it. Zambrano earned his 7th win on the season as the Cubs defeated Houston 4-2.
The Cubs used a four-run fifth inning to erase a two run deficit and beat the Houston Astros 4-2 at Wrigley Field Friday afternoon.
The Florida Marlins had no interest in another nail-biter. Mike Stanton hit two home runs, Javier Vazquez struck out 10 and the Marlins routed the Chicago Cubs 13-3 Saturday.
Carlos Zambrano will make a rehab start Friday in Peoria and is expected to rejoin the Cubs after the All-Star break.
On Wednesday, Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry went on record saying that despite the team having one of the worst records in baseball, there wouldn't be a "fire sale."
Cubs' GM, Jim Hendry, spoke to reporters before game one of the Crosstown Classic at Wrigley Field. "We're going to put Z on the DL," Hendry said.
Carlos Zambrano left Thursday's game in the second inning with lower back soreness.
"The bantering that goes on about how many people will be out of here is foolish." - Jim Hendry
The White Sox really missed an opportunity to pile on Carlos Zambrano. It's been a trend for the Sox lately that they're falling behind with first pitch fastballs.
The story before the game was how would Carlos Zambrano react to his welcome at U.S. Cellular Field. Turns out, it wasn't a problem at all.
Carlos Zambrano's 10 seasons for the Cubs have been a roller coaster: He's helped lead the team to division titles. He's been suspended by the team for getting into fights with teammates. He threw a no-hitter, and he's gone on rants criticizing the team.
Carlos Zambrano has been the center of several Cubs storylines this season, unfortunately they haven't been because of stellar pitching performacnes.
Tonight we start our biannual ritual of the White Sox versus the Cubs. Some say the novelty has faded after all these years and there probably is something to that. But the ballparks will be filled (maybe?) for a few days to make the beer distributors happy.
Disappointing seasons for the White Sox and Cubs fans can gain some excitement as the two teams square off six times against each other in the next two weeks.
Carlos Zambrano wants to remain a member of the Chicago Cubs, but he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause if the team decides to trade him.
With Carlos Zambrano on the mound, the Cubs fail once again to win three games in a row as they fall to Milwaukee 9-5.
Rickie Weeks homered and doubled twice as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 9-5 to take sole possession of the NL Central lead.
The Cubs reactivated Alfonso Soriano Wednesday after placing Darwin Barney on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained knee.
The Chicago Cubs are 4-9 in June, a record that hardly encourages optimism for the team that has the third worst record in baseball. But if the last two games are any indication, the rest the season could be an improvement.
After losing to the St. Louis Cardinals on June 5, starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano went on a postgame rant where he called the team's performance this season "embarrassing" and compared them to a Triple-A team.
In his first start since criticizing his team and second-guessing closer Carlos Marmol, Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano got rocked by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Ravinia Festival announced its 2026 season lineup Thursday morning.
Communities across Kankakee County, Illinois, are waking up to another day of cleanup after an EF-3 ripped through the area, leaving major damage.
Two separate child abuse cases in Lake County, Illinois, are prompting questions about the roles schools play in identifying warning signs and alerting authorities.
It was alleged that the woman and five coworkers returned from Turkey to O'Hare and were held for 30 hours. Since then, DHS, along with the Cook County and Dodge County sheriff's offices, said that didn't happen.
Police said the two men, 32 and 33, were shot by an unknown person inside an apartment in South Austin on Wednesday evening.
A new Iowa law bans local nondiscrimination protections on the basis of gender identity after the state became the first in the U.S. to roll back its civil rights code last year.
Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) announced Wednesday that he has introduced legislation to rename part of Chicago's Dan Ryan Expressway in honor of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson.
A former Illinois mayor who is the subject of a federal investigation has taken her political aspirations to the metro Atlanta area.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has called off – for now – a bid to impose new polling place protections in Chicago in an attempt to prohibit federal immigration agents from entering so-called "democracy zones" while voters are at the polls.
About 30 U.S. service members remained hospitalized Tuesday after an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait.
For Cook County residents hoping to lower their property tax bills, applications are open for exemptions.
Officials in the north Chicago suburb of Wilmette issued a warning Tuesday about scammers who are impersonating representatives of village departments.
The war with Iran is causing gas prices to surge, with motorists in Chicago and around the country guaranteed to feel the impact at the pump Monday morning.
There's no relief in sight for drivers at the pump as the war in Iran is directly driving up the cost of gas. Analysts expect more of the same unless something changes soon.
Drivers in the Chicago area can expect to start paying more at the pump this week, as oil prices have spiked amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
A new Iowa law bans local nondiscrimination protections on the basis of gender identity after the state became the first in the U.S. to roll back its civil rights code last year.
Food containing norovirus may smell and taste normal but still cause serious illness if consumed, FDA warns.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced a $1.5 billion investment from biotherapeutics company CSL for a new plasma therapy manufacturing plant in Kanakee.
When a doctor was told there was no cure for his daughter's condition, he was motivated to transform not only her health, but the lives of thousands of others.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital announced this week that it is planning to open a new pediatric hospital in the west Chicago suburb of Downers Grove.
Despite a rash of restaurant closures, veterans of the plant-based food business pushed back against prophecies of doom — and in one case argued that such closures notwithstanding, plant-based eating is only growing.
Two popular Chicago craft breweries – Half Acre Beer Co. and Maplewood Brewery & Distillery – announced on Tuesday they are merging to create a new "premier Chicago beverage company."
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced a $1.5 billion investment from biotherapeutics company CSL for a new plasma therapy manufacturing plant in Kanakee.
Capital One is laying off more than 1,100 workers at the former Discover headquarters in north suburban Riverwoods.
A new development at the southeast corner of Chicago's East Lakeview community would clear away a medical office building and replace it with a residential high-rise.
A play inspired by the story of Emmett Till has now been extended twice past its initial run at Collaboraction Theatre in Humboldt Park.
Jennifer Runyon, a Chicago native who became famous as an actress appearing in "Ghostbusters" and "Charles in Charge," died last week.
A woman was arrested on Sunday for firing multiple shots at the Beverly Hills home of Rihanna, Los Angeles Police Department officials say.
Actor and filmmaker Bruce Campbell told fans that he is in treatment for cancer and will cancel some upcoming public appearances.
Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, known for his hits like "Laughter in the Rain," "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" and "Calendar Girl," has died.
Communities across Kankakee County, Illinois, are waking up to another day of cleanup after a confirmed EF-3 ripped through the area, leaving major damage.
Police are investigating a deadly shooting on Chicago's West Side.
Meteorologist Laura Bannon has the extended forecast.
The dogs arrived in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon to receive care and support following the devastating storms that impacted Kankakee County Tuesday night.
According to the study published in Nature Medicine, researchers found older adults who took a daily vitamin biologically aged about four months slower than people who did not.
Communities across Kankakee County, Illinois, are waking up to another day of cleanup after an EF-3 ripped through the area, leaving major damage.
Ravinia Festival announced its 2026 season lineup Thursday morning.
The family said Tuesday night's tornado leveled the couple's home.
It was alleged that the woman and five coworkers returned from Turkey to O'Hare and were held for 30 hours. Since then, DHS, along with the Cook County and Dodge County sheriff's offices, said that didn't happen.
Two separate child abuse cases in Lake County, Illinois, are prompting questions about the roles schools play in identifying warning signs and alerting authorities.
Two separate child abuse cases in Lake County, Illinois, are prompting questions about the roles schools play in identifying warning signs and alerting authorities.
A Chicago senior citizen said his phone has been ringing off the hook with hundreds of unwanted spam calls that have made his beloved landline virtually unusable. New efforts in Springfield could bring real relief.
A proposed Illinois law hopes to create more oversight on private companies to protect consumers from skyrocketing utility prices.
The three women said they are working to make their way back home, but without any help from the U.S. State Department.
If you feel like you're drowning in a sea of text alerts and desperate email pleas for "just $5" this election season, you are far from alone.
Northwestern now has a seven-game winning streak against the Hoosiers.
Chicago's Jalen Smith converted two free throws with 1.4 seconds left in regulation to send the game into OT, and Tre Jones contributed 22 points for the Bulls
The Detroit Lions are losing another player, this time it's wide receiver Kalif Raymond, who is reportedly heading to the Chicago Bears.
Chicago, which had lost three in a row, including a 4-3 setback to Dallas on Sunday night, has now won all three meetings with Utah this season, with the teams' fourth and final game of the season scheduled for Thursday night.
The Chicago Bears have been busy bolstering their defense on the first day of free agency, signing linebacker Devin Bush Jr., safety Coby Bryant, and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, according to reports.
A man was shot and killed on the street in the midday hours Wednesday in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood.
Park rangers cited the four visitors, all from Illinois, for collecting and defacing park resources.
A woman has been charged in a road rage shooting that left someone injured this past weekend on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
A Lake County judge ordered a Fox Lake woman to remain behind bars on Tuesday, following her arrest on charges accusing her of abusing her 11-year-old son for years.
A 75-year-old man was due for a detention hearing Tuesday in a shooting that killed two women, ages 68 and 71, on Chicago's Far South Side this past weekend.
