In one of the more bizarre moves you'll read about, the Cubs announced today that Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano will be moved to the bullpen.
Zambrano, 1-2 with a 7.45 ERA so far in 2010, figures to be the primary set-up man for closer Carlos Marmol.
The Cubs' bullpen has been atrocious this season, and there is no question that a move had to be made.
You can't fault manager Lou Piniella for trying to shake things up, but taking away a three-time all-star from your starting rotation is not the answer.
It's too early in the season to push the panic button in significantly weakening your starting rotation.
Granted, the Cubs expect Ted Lilly back this weekend, and the starting rotation has been very solid, but this is still a desperate move by a befuddled manager.
Yes, the Cubs can't hit.
Yes, the Cubs' bullpen is disgusting.
But now you're looking at a starting rotation consisting of Ryan Dempster, a rehabbed and rusty Ted Lilly, a second-year man in Randy Wells, Carlos Silva (owner of a 6.46 ERA in 2008 and an 8.60 ERA in 2009), and Tom Gorzelanny.
That is not what a playoff rotation looks like—that rotation barely puts the Cubs in the middle-of-the-pack among National League clubs.
What's more confusing about this, is the fact that Zambrano makes over $18 million a season—that's a lot of money to be paying a setup-man, folks.
If the Cubs are willing to look past the enormous amount of money being "earned" by Zambrano and give him a new job, then why not do something about the ineffectiveness of Alfonso Soriano?
He, too, is an overpaid, inconsistent Cub, yet there's no talk about his job being in jeopardy.
Clearly, there's something wrong with the level of pay and performance of some of the Cubs' supposed superstars.
This move could also backfire for Lou Piniella if Zambrano is not ready for the setup role.
Zambrano hasn't pitched out of the bullpen since 2002, when he was an unheard-of 21-year-old.
If Piniella was so confident in moving a starting pitcher to the bullpen, then why not go with Ryan Dempster?
Dempster, although too valuable to move out of the Cubs' rotation, at least has experience (as recently as 2007) working out of a bullpen.
Or move Silva back there and hope that his hot hand continues for the Cubs' beleaguered relief corps.
With options in the farm system and out-of-work major league veterans, it makes no sense to try something so drastic so soon in the year.
This move could cripple the Cubs' starting rotation, which up until this point, has been the team's one and only strength.
I'd love to give Lou Piniella the benefit of the doubt but I just don't see this move panning out for a team already struggling to stay in ball games.
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