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Monday, November 09, 2009

MLB: Mom of former pitcher Zambrano kidnapped

The mother of former Major Leaguer Victor Zambrano was kidnapped in Venezuela, The Associated Press reported Sunday.

Zambrano’s agent, Peter Greenberg, told the AP that Elizabeth Mendez Zambrano was abducted early Sunday from her son’s farm, which is located near Maracay in central Venezuela.

Victor Zambrano, who pitched for four teams in his seven-year Major League career, is currently pitching with Magallanes in the Venezuelan League. Zambrano last appeared in the Majors in 2007, when he played for the Orioles, before being released in October of that year. Zambrano pitched for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic in 2009.

In seven seasons with the Rays, Mets, Blue Jays and Orioles, the right-hander was 45-44 with a 4.64 ERA in 187 career appearances, including 100 starts. In 2004, he was traded from the Rays to the Mets in an infamous deal that sent future All-Star Scott Kazmir to Tampa Bay.

Repoz Posted: November 09, 2009 at 01:42 PM | 25 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. AJM Posted: November 09, 2009 at 01:59 PM (#3382768)

Rick Peterson will find her in 10 minutes.

2. Gamingboy Posted: November 09, 2009 at 02:13 PM (#3382774)

That sucks.

3. Foster Posted: November 09, 2009 at 02:21 PM (#3382780)

The Mets will trade Kazmir's mom for her.

4. Jeff K. Posted: November 09, 2009 at 02:28 PM (#3382783)

Wow, really? I was honestly thinking this would be the one where nobody would crack wise.

I have to wonder, at some point, I know you love your country and all, but if you are a current or former athlete how can you not be terrified of being in Venezuela? I can't fathom it would be difficult in the slightest for those guys to get their families here, too, given the circumstances.

5. Foster Posted: November 09, 2009 at 02:40 PM (#3382788)

In real life, I feel for the family.

6. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: November 09, 2009 at 02:47 PM (#3382795)

They promised to release her if Zambrano agreed never to "pitch" again.

Foster beat me to the joke in #3, except it should have been Jim Duquette, not the Mets.

7. AJM Posted: November 09, 2009 at 03:25 PM (#3382822)

Wow, really? I was honestly thinking this would be the one where nobody would crack wise.

I kind of felt bad after submitting the comment.

8. RJ in TO Posted: November 09, 2009 at 03:36 PM (#3382829)

Wow, really? I was honestly thinking this would be the one where nobody would crack wise.

Are you not familiar with this site? As a group, we'll crack wise about anything.

Of course, in this case, it doesn't help that Zambrano's name is so tightly connected to a specific source of mockery.

9. Guapo Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:13 PM (#3382868)

I kind of felt bad after submitting the comment.

I laughed out loud at it, so you should feel bad about that too.

10. SteveM. Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:52 PM (#3382909)

But Venezuela is a socialist paradise according to Oliver Stone. It must be part of a CIA plot.

11. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:56 PM (#3382917)

"I kind of felt bad after submitting the comment."

If you hadn't done it, I would have.

Jokes aside, I'm sure we all hope that she's safely returned.

12. retro-shiite Posted: November 09, 2009 at 04:59 PM (#3382919)

Rick Peterson will find her in 10 minutes.

Awful, but funny.

EDIT: The Mets will trade Kazmir's mom for her.

Even awfuller, yet even funnier.

I'm going to hell.

13. retro-shiite Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:01 PM (#3382923)

In all seriousness, you get the feeling the most dangerous celebrity life one can lead is as a professional athlete from Venezuela. Yikes.

14. retro-shiite Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:03 PM (#3382925)

Jokes aside, I'm sure we all hope that she's safely returned.

Joey B won't assume that of anyone else unless they say so specifically. And until they do, he'll consider them objectively pro-kidnapping.

15. Hack Wilson Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:09 PM (#3382935)

It must be part of a CIA plot.

Clearly, as proof they got the wrong Zambrano's mother.

16. esseff Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:10 PM (#3382937)

Some nice inviting American targets down there right now playing winter ball. I don't know if they get added security, but I'm sure they get plenty of advice before they go. I'd like to read a magazine piece on the experience if one of those guys is up to it.

17. retro-shiite Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:13 PM (#3382939)

Clearly, as proof they got the wrong Zambrano's mother.

OK, I won't laugh at that one. Though something similar did occur to me, in a non-snarky sort of way.

18. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: November 09, 2009 at 05:13 PM (#3382940)

19. J. Michael Neal Posted: November 09, 2009 at 06:02 PM (#3383020)

Just don't let Victor be a part of any rescue squad. He won't hit anything he aims at.

20. John DiFool2 Posted: November 09, 2009 at 06:14 PM (#3383039)

I thought Carlos and Victor were brothers.

21. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: November 09, 2009 at 06:31 PM (#3383059)

I know you love your country and all, but if you are a current or former athlete how can you not be terrified of being in Venezuela?

This can't be true. Oliver Stone told me that this is all fascist American propaganda, and Hugo Chavez has created a utopia down there.

22. Juan V Posted: November 09, 2009 at 09:36 PM (#3383351)

Isn't my country awesome?

23. PreservedFish Posted: November 09, 2009 at 09:42 PM (#3383354)

I knew that #1 and #3 were coming, but I still laughed at both

24. Harvey Berkman Posted: November 10, 2009 at 03:06 AM (#3383662)

Why wouldn't they just play in Puerto Rico?

The money's actually far better in Venezuela right now. I read that El Duque's gonna pitch down there for about $20K a month, as opposed to about $6K he was offered in Puerto Rico. Hijacking's just something that happens to other people I guess.

25. esseff Posted: November 11, 2009 at 07:45 PM (#3385139)

Mother Z. rescued

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MLB: Mom of former pitcher Zambrano kidnapped

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