Carlos Zambrano Doing the ‘Out for One Month’ Thing

May 13, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano (38) smiles between innings against the New York Mets at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

This Carlos Zambrano experiment is really going off the rails.

If Ruben Amaro were a mad scientist, his creation would have exploded in his face, become self-aware, and rampage through the city by now.  Thank goodness he’s used his talents to make a baseball team and not a horrible monster.

[jokes]

Carloz Zambrano left his last start for the IronPigs with shoulder soreness, which was spoken of with more than the usual “whatever.”  The not absent level of seriousness made the injury all the more noticeable.  The theory has long been that Zambrano exists on the minor league roster for the purpose of providing pitching depth at the starting position, should any of the regulars suffer an astounding injury that we’ve become so accustomed to.

But the dream is over, it seems, at least for a month.  Big Z, which we haven’t had a chance to call him professionally, got an MRI which revealed a Grade I right shoulder lat strain.  Nothing’s broken or ruined, just “normal wear and tear” according a doctor who felt safe enough to get that close to him.  He’s now out for a month.

Zambrano is only 32, weirdly, and his numbers weren’t god awful at Lehigh Valley.  His main goal had to be to reach the Major League level so his audition would really draw some attention from prospective buyers.  His 2.03 ERA during his venture through the Phillies’ minor league system was probably slightly intriguing, or whatever.