Cubs in Disarray, Z to pen

The Chicago Cubs today showed that the problems in the organization run deeper than any of us imagined. Rather than pulling an early season trade to move one of the extra arms (most likely Gorzelanny) or move a guy who has bullpen experience (Carlos Silva) to down the left-field line, the Chicago Cubs relegated their opening day starter, and highest paid arm, to 8th inning duties. The move, which may be a very short term ploy to fire up the big man, is confusing at best.

Zambrano averaged 192 innings over the first full 8 seasons of his career with an ERA of 3.50. His record in those years of 104-66, means the Cubs win 61% of the time Big Z factors into the decision. In Zambrano's worst season yet, 2009, he still slated 16 quality starts, pitching 6 innings or more with 3 earned runs or less.

The top tier 8th inning set-up man typically pitch between 80 and 100 innings per year, meaning the organizations highest paid pitcher, will lose out 100 innings to the likes of Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzellany. Think about that statement before I even couple it with the fact the Cubs highest paid player is likely to hit .240, ride the pine 1 day a week and 2 innings a game, and can't even catch a fly ball.

There are so many numbers (excluding this seasons slow start from Z) which may be quantified to show what a bad move this it. Consider the fact that Zambrano's worst inning in recent times is not his last of the game, but his first. He often comes in jittery and a little too fired up to find the strike zone or miss bats. Every game that Z comes into in a close ball game in the late innings, he will be pitching his first inning with the game on the line. There is no 5 innings after to settle in, its do or die. Z has also been the Cubs first bat off the bench in situations where Lou has to burn a pinch hitter early. He can handle the bat for a pitcher and is a big, intimidating switch hitting presence off the bench. This added bonus from Big Z is lost, because now he isnt available 4/5 days to hit as you need to save him for the 8th inning. Of course, thats just the cherry ontop of the huge mound of whipcream the Cubs have piled up here.

This moves shows the world the Cubs organization is not only in a drastic state of panic, but lacks anybody from top to bottom with logical decision making skills. Not that we didn't know this before with large contract tenders to Soriano, Bradley, etc.

The Cubs, seriously, would have been better suited going to a 6 man rotation. Really. The Cubs are in deep trouble if this move is as necessary as ownership and management make it seem. Soriano is locked up at huge rates until the age of 39. Aramis Ramirez is in the worst slump of his tenure. Derrek Lee is a free agent after the season, with CHAD TRACY or MICAH HOFFPAUIR lying in the wings to take off first base?? Now the pitcher you lock up to be your franchise opening day starter is in the bullpen and not even your closer?

I hate to say this Cub fans, but wait til next decade. A new ownership committed to winning? Sure they hung a few nice banners to hide the crumbling facade of Wrigley, and raised ticket prices to the highest regular ticket price in baseball, but again, what did they do to make this 80+ win team better? I will give them many props for saving fans from the Milton Bradley disaster they created, but that is it.

Kenny Williams was quoted today as saying he turns off the TV when the Sox are bad. Jim Hendry better turn off alot more than that in the laughable state the Cubs find themselves.