"The latest transgression by Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano "is a very bad and very sad situation,'' White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Saturday.

"I can talk from both ways, as a manager and his friend," Guillen said. "It's tough on how a manager would handle that because he's very intense about respect, loyalty. On the other side, this kid has a lot of pride. This kid's embarrassed. This kid wants to be good, and I think he feels like he's not doing his job.''

Venezuelans Guillen and Zambrano are close, and Guillen said the Cubs pitcher talked to his wife briefly Friday night after his unannounced departure from a game in Atlanta after being ejected. Guillen said he didn't speak to Zambrano, who was placed on a disqualified list Saturday without pay for at least 30 days.

"I don't take anything away from what people say [about Zambrano], but I don't think too many people know why or they don't know why he's acting that way,'' Guillen said. "Whatever people say I respect and he should respect. It's just a very, very tough situation because he's one of the best pitchers they have.''

Zambrano's last outburst last season happened at U.S. Cellular Field against the Sox, that being the dugout tirade against teammate Derrek Lee that led to Zambrano's suspension and mandated anger management counseling. That night, Zambrano kept a planned dinner with Guillen and his family."