"The dismissal of general manager Jim Hendry changes nothing in the ongoing Cubs vs. Carlos Zambrano-Players Association mess.

Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said Friday that he backed Hendry's decision to place Zambrano on the disqualified list, the legality of which the union is challenging via a grievance.

"Obviously, that was Jim's decision but we were in close communication throughout," Ricketts said of the move that followed Zambrano's on-field blowup in Atlanta and subsequent threat to retire. "And I think he handled it properly.

"It's a really unfortunate situation. … Suffice it to say I 100 percent support Jim and our decision … and I feel really strongly that behavior was unacceptable.""