Isn’t The Cubs Implosion Arriving a Bit Early This Year? [Maybe Carlos Zambrano to the Pen Isn't So Bad Edition]
Things are bad for the Cubs. Real bad. The starting pitching though? Not really a problem. In fact, somehow, the Cubs have too many starters that are pitching well. Now the bullpen, that’s a different story. With Ted Lilly returning to the rotation on Saturday after looking especially sharp in his latest rehab start, most people expected Lou to send Gorzelanny or Silva to the bullpen. Think again:
“I talked to Carlos today and told him we really needed him in the bullpen, and I felt he could do a really nice job there for us,” Piniella said. “He said he would do what’s best for the team. I’m very appreciative. You know, he talked about maturing. This proves it to me.”
Is it temporary?
“Temporary?” Zambrano said. “He told me that probably Randy (Bush) or Jim Hendry was looking for an eighth inning guy. And when they find a guy and trade (for a) guy and get that guy here, I will be back to the rotation. Right now they need somebody to step up in the eighth inning. I don’t like to be a reliever. I don’t want to be a reliever, but this team needs somebody to step up and help the bullpen.”
Piniella had a slightly different spin on the conversation.
“Temporary?” Piniella said. “We’re trying to stabliize things and win some baseball games. This will give Jim (Hendry) and the front office more opportunities to hopefully do something (via a trade). If not, this could be not temporary.”
Uh-oh. Besides the obvious communication breakdown, this is going to cause serious waves in Wrigleyville. As most people are complaining about already, putting an $18 million dollar a year starter in the bullpen is ridiculous. I’m not so strongly against it, however. How many times have teams in any sport kept a guy in the lineup way after they are effective just because they are “pot-committed” to that player in terms of sunken salary? Should Eddie Robinson have kept starting even though he was horribly ineffective just because he had a big contract? Did Eddy Curry deserve minutes because of his salary? Should Soriano still be allowed to take the field just because of his contract even though the Cubs have a number of better options? The answer to all those questions, in my opinion, is a resounding no.
Forget money. Let’s just think about wins. We have enough quality starters, but our bullpen has given up 18 runs in 14 8th innings. That is insanely bad. If Zambrano as a setup man leads to more wins, why not move him to the bullpen? I mean I can still hate the guy for being such a bust, but I don’t think we should just leave him in the rotation because he’s making so much money. Only time will tell if this is the right move, but I don’t think Lou is all that crazy. I think he wants to win.
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