Zambrano apologizes to Cubs fans

It was a contrite Carlos Zambrano who apologized to Cubs fans Tuesday for his Monday comments critical of them for booing him following another poor pitching performance.

"There was a moment (Monday) when I was angry, and many human beings when they're angry they sometimes say a lot of things they shouldn't say," Zambrano said.

"I am human. I made a mistake. The good thing about myself is when I make a mistake I know that I have to apologize and I know that I have to do the correct thing.

"This comes from my heart. I love these fans. I love the Cub fans. I still think they're the greatest fans of baseball."

Zambrano met Tuesday afternoon with Cubs president John McDonough and general manager Jim Hendry but claimed nobody forced him to apologize.

"Even if they talked to me, I know that I made a mistake," Zambrano said. "I'm a grown man. I know when I make a mistake, I know when I do things wrong, and I know when I have to come to whoever I offended.

"I don't think somebody had to tell me what to do."

Hendry said the club would take no action against Zambrano in terms of a fine.

"Unfortunately he let his frustrations and lack of success yesterday get in the way of better judgment," Hendry said. "I don't think it has to be said how we really feel about our fan base, that it's the greatest in the world.

"Carlos just made a mistake. I don't think any of us believe he really feels that way. It's certainly not going to be condoned by John or myself or anyone that works here, and I think to a man people in that clubhouse love to play here.

"We're going to move forward," added Hendry. "I think Carlos is trying so hard to do well that he gets totally frustrated as soon as something goes wrong, and he's got to do a better job of that.

"He's good enough to succeed on just being good; he doesn't have to be great every pitch, and I think sometimes he's putting too much expectations on himself."

Zambrano said he feels fans have the right to boo players.

"They have the right to boo people because they've been waiting for 99 years and sometimes we don't go a good job and they get frustrated, too," Zambrano said. "I apologize to all those who read the paper today to all those who were offended with what I said today.

"I am really sorry of what I did yesterday and what I said. I think the next 4 starts I will do my best to be Carlos Zambrano."