For my non-spanish speaking readers (okay, I don't know much spanish, either, but I took six years of French) my title is translated as "Zman woke up! Long live Zman!!"

Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs big, burly (no pun intended after my last post) right-hander, the man pegged as the Ace of the staff, has finally woken up and gotten into his groove. He has won his last two games commandingly after getting a slew of ND's and a few losses. For a while, I was starting to think that Zman had lost his focus. He was pitching with far less than his usual flair and power. Frankly, my Old Man, (known to the rest of you as Greg Maddux) was making him look like a hapless twit in comparison.

But now the Zman is back at full capacity. Last night, he pitched an incredible game and ran the bases in that lumbering manner that is so Carlos: I mean that in a good way. Zman shut out the Nationals with a final score of 4-0! I was bouncing up and down on my couch!

Thankfully, it now looks like we have three butt-kicking pitchers on our staff: Mad Dog (the ultimate), Zman (the big guy), and Marshall (the newbie with potential). 

We're supposed to get Kerry Wood back tomorrow, but he's a "wait and see" in my book. Long ago, I learned a simple but total truth: DTW (Don't Trust Wood). I don't think it would take much for him to get hurt once more... but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. We'll see what he has and if he can keep it hot for a few months, enough to help us.

Carlos, babe, it's GREAT to have you back once more! One thing though... please don't get so upset in a game you're pitching that Doggie has to jump up off of the bench and calm you down again... although it was awful cute when he had to do that a few times last year. Okay, I just like watching Doggie get all controlling... ROWRRRR!! ;-)