CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano apologized for his dugout tirade last month.
Zambrano went off after allowing four runs in the first inning against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on June 25 and had to be separated from teammate Derrek Lee. He was suspended for three games and placed on the restricted list June 29 with a mandate that he seek anger management counseling.
Zambrano said Monday on ESPN he apologizes “from the bottom of my heart” and that the confrontation “was my fault.”
“It’s hard to think right when you’re mad,” he said. “Thank God the Cubs sent me to this doctor. I’ve been seeing this doctor for anger management, and hopefully, good things will come out of the treatment.”
Cubs Manager Lou Piniella said he believes Zambrano is “contrite” and “looking forward to coming back,” but reiterated he needs to address his teammates when he returns this weekend at Colorado. He had no comment “one way or another” on Zambrano apologizing first on national TV.
The Cubs’ former ace has been on an assignment with Class AAA Iowa and is expected to pitch out of the bullpen when he rejoins the major league club.
Zambrano, who has a history of outbursts, called his latest “a moment of frustration” in which he was “trying to do something for my team.”
The blowup was the low point of a season in which Zambrano got banished to the bullpen after a slow start and continued to struggle when he returned to the rotation. He’s 3-6 with a 5.66 ERA
Sports, Pages 16 on 07/27/2010