Big Z: 'I've been lazy'
Carlos Zambrano acknowledged Sunday that he had not adhered to a strict workout regimen to keep his abdominal muscles in shape.
Zambrano, 28, spoke with the media before Sunday's game. He vowed to work out harder after doctors told him that weak abdominal muscles helped to cause his back spasms, which forced him to the disabled list earlier this month.
Zambrano, who is 7-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 20 starts, will earn $17.75 million this season.
Here is a transcript of part of Zambrano's pregame interview with media members.
Q: How did the back pain start?
Zambrano: The day in Colorado, I was fine. I was doing all the exercises for my arm and rubbing my arm and my back. And after that, when I kind of did a move, like to stretch my back, I felt something. I didn’t want to say anything. I wanted to pitch. I kept going, it kept getting worse and worse. While I was dressing, it kept getting worse.
I went outside to play catch and I told Larry [Rothschild], 'I have to say something because I don’t want something to happen like in Miami. I don’t want to get worse.' I told Larry that I wasn’t feeling good and he better bring in somebody ready. I threw three pitches and it was over. I couldn’t pitch. It was like somebody was grabbing me from the back, tight.
Q: Could this be something that bothers you all season?
Zambrano: No. I’ve got to be honest with me and with you guys and with the fans. I’m 28 years old. I’m not 16 anymore. I’m a big guy. I work out every day hard with [strength coach Tim Buss]. One of the things that I’m going to have to do is my abs, my core. I have to do a lot of things like that because, you know, like the doctors say, I’m a strong man and I’m a big man. That’s what big men do. Wherever they are weak, they get that part stronger. My problem is that I need to do more abs. Have this strong, and my back will be strong. If I keep doing abs every day and doing my job and being serious on my job about abs, I’ll be OK.
Q: Will you need to cut down on batting practice?
Zambrano: I don’t think so. Like I said, my back is right now is depending on my abs. I don’t have a big belly. You all know that I have a flat stomach, a little fat here and there. But I don’t have a big belly like Ray King. I think I’m in pretty good shape. But my problem is that I’ve been lazy. I don’t like [to do abs workouts], but I have to. There are things in life that you don’t like but you have to do it. I don’t like to do abs, but we have to start doing my abs every day and being serious about my abs.
Q: Is the back pain totally gone?
Zambrano: Yeah. Completely gone. I feel 100 percent, 95 to 100 percent right now. So I’m ready to go. I think I’m going to throw on the side on Tuesday and Thursday I will be pitching in [Single-A Peoria]. I’ll pitch next Tuesday [Aug. 25] here, first game at home.
Q: Did you throw all your pitches during a side session Sunday?
Zambrano: Yeah, all my pitches, every pitch, hard. I was throwing them like I was pitching in a game, to test my back. Nothing happened. Everything was fine.
Q: Have you started your abs work already?
Zambrano: Yeah. Since I had the shot Monday, on Tuesday, I started doing it. You know, human beings, they are used to things. When you are familiar with things and you keep your routine, you make things easier. Like I said, I don’t like abs. But if I put it as a part of my routine and I get used to that, it will be easy for me to do it every day. I would not have a problem to do it. I know that I have to do that, and I will do it.
-Tom Musick
