BIG "Z": FRAGILE, VOLATILE BUT ALWAYS INTERESTING

It is a complete contradiction in terms that the Cubs' most reliable starter over the last four years has been their most erratic personality. Kerry Wood is flamboyant and brittle. Prior is Stoic and brittle. Maddux has to be perfect to win. Carlos Zambrano takes the ball every five days. He bounces his 250 pound body around the infield like a rubber ball. He pouts. He gives umpires grief. He hits. He bunts. He runs the bases like a raging bull. He wastes energy in every imaginable way. He can walk three guys in a row in one start and be Hershiser perfect in the next. He can be endearing to his teammates and he can treat them like the bottom of a bird cage. He's a big baby and he's a solid soldier. He competes like mad and he just flat quits while still on the mound at other times. Watching him pitch is like watching Van Gogh drive in a demolition derby.

He's the John Daly of big league pitchers. Huge talent and ample human frailty. As he demonstrated @ Ken Lay Park last night, he's always compelling viewing.

When you cut through the style points, though, you find that he's a better than average MLB pitcher and that he takes the ball every five days. If he stays healthy, his career could still be pretty special.