Carlos Zambrano shows that he wants to be with Navengantes del Magallanes

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Carlos Zambrano again became the center of attention for Magallanes, after climbing the mound and throwing a bullpen session on the third day of the club's preseason in the PDVSA Vassa Complex. It was the first step for the official return of the Bull with the Navigators, after four years retired from the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.

"I felt good, a little tight. He had 25 days that he did not throw and, well, it's normal. One squeezes. The body is always like that, you stop doing things for a while and it gets stuck. I felt a little tight, more than all of the abdomen, "said the right, after completing 20 shipments and an additional five, which received César Hernández, bullpen catcher of the ship.

"The command was fine. What we are looking for is to throw the pitches in the strike zone and from there build the arm and put it in tune for the start of the league, "he added.

The exgrandeliga focused on its fast delivery, although it tried out a small sample of its repertoire.

"Straight. Straight and about four changes and four splits (straight of separated fingers) ", explained. "When you have so much time without throwing, you throw nothing more straight so that the arm takes the rhythm of the control of the strike zone, for that the bullpens are made, to control the zone, the corners".

Manager Omar Malave and coach Edwin Hurtado were pleased with Zambrano's first exercise on the mound, while celebrating the physical condition of the 37-year-old pitcher.

"Very good. Very happy with what I could see. Guao, Zambrano reported in terrible conditions. I was surprised that he kept the ball low, locating his pitches, he confronted some problems with the change, but it is just his first bullpen, something that, practically, does not affect anything. Very happy with his performance, "said Malavé, who next to Hurtado stood just behind the mound to have a privileged view of what the Bull was doing.
 

"We are watching a Carlos Zambrano in very good form and, despite the time without throwing, he left a good impression today. We will be able to count on him. We will do all the necessary work so that it is ready when the season begins. It was very positive, "added Hurtado.

Zambrano underwent a rigorous conditioning plan that led him to lose 13 kilograms of weight and now his picture resembles the one he wore years ago, when he was a figure of the Chicago Cubs, more than a decade ago.

"I feel good, more athletic. Yesterday when I was making the first run, throwing to the bases, I felt more comfortable, "he said.

Once he decided to return to the field, Zambrano traveled to Caracas at the end of January to prepare himself alongside his friend Greivis Vásquez, a former NBA player.

"I installed myself there with Greivis and with Mr. Wilmer Pineda (physical trainer with a long career with high performance athletes). I thank you both very much. We trained a group in several places, with routines similar to CrossFit (a system of varied exercises, with functional movements, executed at high intensity). I had never done that and I liked it. The rest had to do with taking care of what I ate, through a diet. "

AT THE RHYTHM THAT NEEDS MAGALLANES
Zambrano stressed that he is on the right path to place himself under Malavé's orders, from the Opening Day of the 2018-2019 season, but without hurry.

"I'm going to the rhythm of the music that the team puts on," he said.

The important thing is to "stay in the area" and keep practicing "to dominate the corners".

"Now we are working with groups of launchers and later we will emphasize in details with each of them, with a view to the campaign, once the role is defined, what and when will be their participation", warned Hurtado, bullpen coach and manager of pitchers until the arrival of pitching instructor Stu Cliburn. "The group on Tuesday will re-launch on Friday and today's group on Saturday. We will also be scheduled according to the additions we receive during the week. "

Zambrano expects to go win stamina or physical strength to be able to go long in the games, from the beginning.

"I think with a couple of bullpens more and from then on, I think, I'm going to launch one of the exhibition games that Magellan has. Then, I would be ready. That's what the preseason is all about to prepare and to have the best possible physical condition and arm. "

"In Mexico (with the Lions of Yucatan) I was surprised because the first start was scheduled for 50 shipments and I cast 4.1 innings. On the second start, there were 60 pitches, I pitched five innings and I left for the sixth. The last opening was six innings and I left for the seventh, "added Zambrano. "I was surprised because after so many years without launching, giving your team what it asks for and a little more, it is doing the job. I come here to do the work, help the Magellan, do the work God told me to do, but first I have to prepare for that. "

Of the seven starts he made in the Mexican Baseball League, only two did not complete at least five chapters, although he showed a 5.18 ERA.

As he was winning tickets with Yucatan, the speed of the straight increased from 85 miles per hour to a range of 91-92 mph. But at this moment of his preparation with the ship, the speed of his line is not the priority.

"We are talking about three bullpens before facing batters in a live practice. Depending on these results, we will establish which will be the openers of the preseason games to have them ready, "said Hurtado.

Magallanes will face the Cardinals of Lara in preseason games at the Julio Hernández Molina Bachiller Stadium of the Acarigua-Araure urban axis on October 6 and 7. Subsequently, Tigers 8 and 9 October will be measured.

According to the planning, Zambrano could be starting one of the challenges against Cardenales de Lara.