Exile in goatville

Steven Chaitman gets rowdy in the bleachers at the Friendly Confines

Study reveals cracked teeth don't affect pitchers

By Steven Chaitman | Aug 22, 10:30 AM

I've been light on the posting this week, but there isn't much to say during a home stand where you're playing the Reds and the Nationals. The Cubs need to win, preferably sweeping the Nationals because they are the basement of the basement that is the majority of the National League. No need to give the critics any ammunition by not at least winning the series at home against a team like that.

Of course I was prompted out of my blogging nap by none other than the focus placed on Carlos Zambrano's molar. Is this really what it has come to? I know that Lou Piniella has never heard of a pitcher complaining of a tooth problem when he's on the mound, but unless it's his "elbow tooth" or a "shoulder tooth" I don't care to hear about it this excessively.

Meanwhile, children all around Chicago are panicking that their parents will use that as ammunition for why chewing gum is bad, in addition to worrying how much time Carlos might have to spend on the DL with his cracked tooth. Thank goodness there's such a thing as sugarless gum.

The tooth of the matter is that when a team is coasting along in first place and Zambrano is the king of creating the quirky sports angle for reporters, stuff like this going to happen. I suppose I'd rather that be the focus then why the Cubs lost two of three at home to the Reds or why Zambrano had a third straight bad start. Gladly none of those were headlines.

Tagged: Zambrano, baseball, Cubs