Zambrano Goes Nuts, Gets Ejected, Smashes Dugout Cooler

CHICAGO -- At this rate, the Gatorade dispenser in the Cubs dugout will not last the entire season.

Carlos Zambrano attacked it with a bat on Wednesday after he was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing a close play at the plate with home-plate umpire Mark Carlson in the Cubs' 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"That was pretty impressive," Chicago's Milton Bradley said of Zambrano's animated antics. "That was on a Bradley level."

Trailing, 2-1, in the Pittsburgh seventh, the Pirates' Nyjer Morgan reached third base after he singled and advanced on an error by left fielder Alfonso Soriano. One out later, during Nate McLouth's at-bat, Zambrano threw a wild pitch on an 0-1 count, and Morgan scampered home.

Cubs catcher Geovany Soto flipped the ball to Zambrano, covering at the plate, but Morgan appeared to sneak his left hand in. Carlson called Morgan safe, but Zambrano disagreed. The pitcher and umpire went nose to nose, and they briefly bumped. Carlson tossed Zambrano, and Zambrano did the same, signaling that the umpire was ejected.

Watch the video HERE on MLB

Cubs-Inspired Cemetery Opens Wednesday on Chicago's North Side

From CNBC

Two years ago, when Dennis Mascari went to visit his father at a cemetery, he came up with an idea: Build an area for deceased Cubs fans.

Mascari, who said he was broke at the time, made this his mission, and tomorrow his company Fans Forever will open Beyond the Vines, an internment area modeled after Wrigley Field's centerfield wall.

"The goal was to try and take away some of the gloominess and depression from a cemetery visit," Mascari told me.

Mascari bought plots at the Bohemian National Cemetery on Chicago's North side. He then built a red-brick wall modeled after the one that stands in centerfield at Wrigley Field. The structure includes a stained glass scoreboard.

Complete CNBC Story

Beyond the Vines Website

At Wrigley for the Cubs v Cards!

Umpire says he was bumped by Cubs' Bradley during ejection

An umpire working Thursday's St, Louis Cardinals-Chicago Cubs said he will file a report after there was physical contact involved in Milton Bradley's ejection, meaning Bradley could be subject to a suspension, according to MLB.com.

The Chicago Tribune reported late Thursday night that second-base umpire Larry Iassogna said a report would be filed because it was a "contact" incident.

Bradley was ejected in the sixth inning by home-plate umpire Larry Vanover after a called third strike and a brief but heated verbal exchange. Iassogna declined comment when asked how Bradley made contact with Vanover, the Tribune reported.

Bradley was making his first appearance with the Cubs at Wrigley Field when Adam Wainwright struck him out on a full-count pitch.

Source: MLB.com

Cubs - Cactus League Update

Cubs win over Sox 13-0 today.
The Cubs won over the White Sox today to move to 4-0 in Cactus league play. Aaron Heilman, making his first Cactus League appearance, struck out four of the seven batters he faced and gave up one hit in two innings.

Brad Snyder hit a grand slam to spark a nine-run seventh, his first spring homer. Koyie Hill hit a two-run double with two outs in the fourth for the Cubs, the only National League team to begin spring unbeaten.

My new favorite, Micah Hoffpauir hit an RBI single to raise his spring total to eight RBIs. Hoffpauir has played in every game but will get Sunday off. "It's my birthday," said the infielder, who turns 29.

Kevin Gregg, who is competing with Carlos Marmol for the closer's job, gave up one hit and struck out one in one inning. New of note, today Marmol reversed his decision on WBC - stating that he will now play for the Dominican Republic in the WBC.

Today's game was played at the Cubs Spring Training Park, a HoHoKam Park, in Mesa, AZ before a record crowd of 13,010 - more than double than the 6,000 that were at HoHoKam to see the Cubs vs the Brewers on Thursday.

Take Me Out to the Ball game -Live from Mesa, Az

Frozen Friendly Confines

Would you pay $10 to skate at the Friendly Confines?

If you're a neighbor of the Cubs, you're about to get that opportunity.

The Cubs sent e-mails to neighbors and neighborhood groups last week announcing a community skate on the hockey rink soon to be installed at Wrigley Field for the Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Detroit on Jan. 1.

The skate will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 4, just before the temporary rink is to be dismantled. Cubs neighbors will be given a chance to skate in one-hour shifts for $10 apiece, with proceeds benefiting Cubs Care.

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