Carlos Zambrano, the fiery Cubs ace, beat out a bunt single in the fifth inning on Sunday. Thanks to Derrek Lee's mammoth grand slam later that inning, he got a win. But because of his base running, he'll be on the disabled list for at least 15 days.
Zambrano pulled his hamstring running to first. He was removed for a pinch runner.
Issue Number One: Rich Harden pinch running? One pitcher gets hurt running so Lou Piniella uses another in his place on the base paths? And picks one that has a laundry list of injuries in his own past? Are you serious?
Issue Number Two: Zambrano is being put on the disabled list because, as ESPN's Bruce Levine worded it, he needs to be protected from himself. Zambrano is so competitive, he would overcompensate for his leg by eventually hurting his elbow or shoulder.
But should we really blame Zambrano? Earlier in the Marlins series, Piniella called on Zambrano off the bench in a batting role in a game in which he didn't pitch. He has been one of the better hitting pitchers during his career, which has been an asset.
In fact, even with the overpaid Milton Bradley occasionally patrolling the outfield, Zambrano has been the Cubs best switch-hitter this year.
But Monday the Cubs had to put their ace on the disabled list. He'll be out for at least two weeks, missing two or three starts minimum. What do the Cubs do now?
Rumors are that Jose Ascanio, who was moved from a bullpen role into the rotation in Iowa, is a name that's surfaced as a candidate. There are also whispers that Randy Wells could find his way east to Chicago in a few days.
Issue Number Three: if Jeff Samardzija was sent to Iowa out of spring training to work on becoming a starting pitcher at the major league level, why isn't his the first name the Cubs would think of now that they need a starting pitcher?
I know Samardzija has been in the bullpen for 18 days, and would need some time to get back to being able to pitch five to seven innings. And I am fully aware of this struggles in Arizona.
But this stinks of the same path Cubs fans have seen Felix Pie, the Patterson brothers, Ricky Nolasco, Dontrelle Willis and countless other prospects over the last decade go down.
And it further supports the school of belief that the Cubs continue to spend money on veterans because they simply have no idea how to develop talent.
The Cubs paid Samardzija, arguably the best wide receiver in Chicago, millions of dollars to never pick up a football again. He's got the stuff to be a dominant relief pitcher, but also has the mindset and work ethic to become a good starting pitcher. He has two plus pitches and could have four with more seasoning.
Which is precisely why he was sent to Iowa.
But the minute the Cubs needed a rental arm in the bullpen, they pulled up the crown jewel of the organization and stuck him back in the bullpen. Instead of the organization committing to Samardzija and nurturing him into a good major league starter, they showed no control or patience in bringing him back to Chicago.
Now, when they need a starter, they're seriously looking at two guys that are career relievers that the organization are considering moving to starters...two journeymen with a limited ceiling and questionable future with the team.
Instead of Samardzija, who most scouts and observers believe should be starting, the Cubs are going to look to a couple guys in the polar opposite position in their careers?
The Cubs will likely bring up Ascanio and he'll make a couple starts before heading back to Iowa, where he'll probably never be heard from again.
Meanwhile, Samardzija will continue to waste his rookie contract in the bullpen when, after Harden and Ted Lilly's contracts expire, the Cubs need a starter for longer than 15 days. Someday Samardzija is probably going to be a good starting pitcher in the major leagues. The way Jim Hendry is handling him, it will be somewhere other than Chicago's north side.
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