Let's hope the Gatorade coolers at Coors Field have been reinforced with steel because the Chicago Cubs announced on Friday that Carlos Zambrano has been reinstated from the restricted list, and will join the team for their series in Colorado. Zambrano had been suspended by the Cubs following the latest in a long line of outbursts, as he got into a heated argument with Derrek Lee in a game against the White Sox on June 25.Zambrano will not be returning to the team as a starter, however, as he once again has been placed in the team's bullpen. To make room for Zambrano the Cubs released pitcher Bob Howry.
Zambrano is expected to apologize to his teammates before Friday night's game as it appears his interview with Pedro Gomez wasn't enough to satisfy his teammates.
As for what the Cubs can expect from their mercurial pitcher, he has once again reclaimed his throne as the highest-paid middle reliever in baseball. The first time Zambrano pitched out of the Cubs pen in late May he pitched a total of 4 1/3 innings and gave up only one hit against 13 opposing batters.
Zambrano also made four appearances with the Iowa Cubs while he was suspended, and allowed three runs in five innings, though all three of those runs came in his last appearance on Tuesday.




