This week for MCM, I’m going with a pitcher. Specifically, Carlos Zambrano of 2008. Heck, choose most any year and you’ll get a good hitting card for Zambrano (though 2010 was a down year with the bat for the Big Z).
While a lot of pitchers get some juicy APBA cards based on a few at-bats, 2008 Zambrano deserves this yummy card. He put a good amount of time in 2008 as pitchers go, coming to the plate a total of 85 times.
Like the actual man or not, you have to admit Carlos Zambrano has some talent. Put aside the fact that he already has over 120 wins and 1500 strikeouts in 11 years. More to the point of this article, Carlos Zambrano always seems to want to help the team with his bat. Those who are Cub fans know what I mean. He already has 23 offensive homeruns and 69 rbis in his career. He’s won the Silver Slugger Award three times (2006, 2008 and 2009).
In our league, Zambrano was the last man drafted in the 2003 rookie draft by our commissioner. A solid pick in anyone’s eyes. Interestingly, the Commish was assembling a pitching staff of offensive performers. Besides switch hitting Zambrano, he had Livan Hernandez and Jason Marquis in his rotation, all pitchers quick with the bat. To say that it changed his offensive strategy was an understatement. Would YOU pinch hit for any of them if you had those bats up? I don’t think any of us harbored any resentment, though. Again, Zambrano and Co. were legit offensive threats not some flash in the pan lucky hitters.
Zambrano’s 2008 card certainly isn’t perfect. True to his actual stats, he has no 14s. Big Z also grounded into four DPs in 2008 so you’ll find five 24s on his card. And with 24 actual Ks in 85 PA, you’ll find some 13s in some odd spots like 32 and 52. But that’s nothing too unusual for a pitcher.
| Split | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Totals | 37 | 83 | 9 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 24 | .337 | .337 | .554 | .892 |
As for the fun numbers, Z has power numbers you would expect from any cleanup hitter. His 1-4-5-5 begs for a good on-base hitter in the #8 spot. If not, his 15-7 will at least keep the rally going.
See other Monster Card Monday selections
I can relate having Yovani Gallardo these past few years. I batted him sixth in our league this year when he started and belted five home runs. Plus one in the playoffs. A couple of times when he went deep it put the team ahead so was it the smart thing to do? APBA Ball at it’s best! I tried my best to get him at least two AB’s before yanking him unless I had a big lead or he was pitching a shutout. It saved me on having to use a pinch hitter.
heh, my team was a victim of a Yovani Gallardo blast just two weeks ago.
Yovani Gallardo hit 2 home runs and drove in 6 runs against me in an October start.
In our league, a guy is not allowed to bat the starting pitcher anywhere other than 9th.
I have Zambrano. His hitting card will be good next year. Better than his pitching grade, for sure.
DonS.
In the TBL, I often batted that Zambrano card 5th in the order, and gave David Ortiz the day off. Z hit .203 for me (.617 OPS) with 4 HR and 9 RBI in 80 plate appearances. Definitely underperformed that card. He was also 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA; 203 innings in 30 starts.