I hate to question Lou Piniella.
I thought the Cubs hired the wrong guy before the season (Joe Girardi would have been my choice), but he proved to be the right person for the job by leading the Cubs to the Central Division title.
Piniella made timely, key decisions during the season, kept his players motivated and orchestrated a tirade at an umpire that energized the team and swept it into the playoffs.
All that said, he was wrong to pull Carlos Zambrano after six innings last night against Arizona.
Look, I understand the logic behind it. Zambrano will pitch again on Sunday in Game 4 (if the series gets that far). Piniella wants to be sure he’s rested, and relied on a bullpen that had been steady the last two weeks.
But if you are Chicago and tied with Arizona 1-1 in Arizona with Brandon Webb pitching, that’s almost a must-win game.
Despite giving up a solo home run, Zambrano was absolutely filthy. Why take him out for essentially a rookie? Carlos Marmol had a great regular season, but he’s still young and without playoff experience.
I think you have to leave in your horse and ride him through about eight innings. Hey, Zambrano is a big-game pitcher too. Even on three-days rest, he’s be ready to go on Sunday.
A 1-0 lead in a best-of-five series is crucial — almost essential. When you have a real chance to get that done, you stick with your best players.
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4 comments:
My condolences on the Cubs demise. You are right--Pinella needed to concentrate on the game at hand and not worry about Sunday. Now he doesn't have to worry at all about who will pitch on Sunday. Well, there is always next year!.......
socalgangstur
Well, Well here we are again dreaming of next year and what might have been. The biggest mistake the Cubs have ever made was trading Dave Kingman to the Mets, ever since then they have been cursed. Follow a team that has more potential like N.O. Saints, nerc nerc
D. Kingman
Dave Kingman. I still hear stories about his home runs onto Waveland Avenue.
I think the Saints are back to being the Aints. As for the Panthers? That had the feeling of a turning-the-corner type of victory, but how many times have we said that the past two years?
Maybe Sweet Lou was saving Zambrano for the '08 season, Cubs will be stacked with talent.
Maybe they can get Kingman as a hitting coach.
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