[Lefty Noob]

Lou Piniella lifted Carlos Zambrano after just 6 innings and 85 pitches in yesterday's Chicago loss to Arizona. He apparently wants to bring Big Z back in Game 4 on three days rest. That said, the bullpen blew it and the Cubbies find themselves down a game right off the bat. Does this move make any sense to anyone? If the Cubs go on to lose, does this move alone make the Chicago skipper the next scapegoat, replacing Steve Bartman?

[bears9]

This is dumb. Zambrano is your best pitcher use your best pitchers until they can't go anymore in the game Zambrano could throw 130 pitches but would have held him 100 because I want to see him in Game 4 but this is just dumb.

[cwstech]

They were saying on TBS last night that he would be starting Game 4 if it went that far. But I think it was so stupid to pull him early. Yeah he gave up one run, but he struck out 8 and only walked one batter. He was pitching great. Stupid move!!!!

[azrael492]

It is a stupid move now, but if they would have won the game, he would be a genious for saving his ace for a deciding game. He was relying on his bullpen as he did all season. Marmol has been a great addition to the team. His stats were great this season. I think it was a good move, but it would have been better if he was pulled with a lead.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Stupid move...you play to win one game at a time...and you do it with your best guy in there...

[cwstech]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Stupid move...you play to win one game at a time...and you do it with your best guy in there...

Agreed Gotham!

Go Cubbies!!!

[Lefty Noob]

Yep, I agree with the majority. I was a stupid move, win or lose. You can't worry about a phantom Game 4 when Game 1's on the line. You play to win the game you're playing. One game at a time, as Gotham said. In all my years of watching baseball, this has to rank as one of the dumbest calls I've ever seen, easily. Heck, even had he stuck to the 100-110 pitch count he set before game, it would've been slightly better. Zambrano had thrown only 85 pitches!

[Lefty Noob]

I don't have any idea what Piniella's doing. I don't think he does either.

Check out this line from an Associated Press article discussing yesterday's Game 2 loss to Arizona.

The frustration is showing, too. After giving up the go-ahead homer to Young in the second inning, Chicago starter Ted Lilly spun around, wound up with his pitching arm and slammed his mitt to the ground.

"I've never seen a pitcher throw the glove like that on the mound," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said with a bemused smile. "He threw a high fastball and the kid put a good swing on it."

"With a bemused smile" - What the heck is all that about? You're down 0-2 in the series and you're smiling about your pitcher's reaction to giving up a big home run? Someone needs to give old Lou a reality check here. It's almost like he doesn't mind losing.

[bears9]

This Kind of dawned on me last night. If you going to pull put a pinch hitter in with the bases loaded that is what they pay Darrell Ward to do.

[EmpireWF]

Well Lou is use to these playoff defeats. All those Mariner teams with all that talent and they never got to the show. The Cubs now have their back against the wall and need great pitching to get out of it.

[ThePundit]

It's one of the dumbest things I've ever seen. And Piniella looks so ridculous in a uniform. He should wear something looser.

[legend]

Lou sure seems to be making things easy for the Goat. Baaaaaaaaad move to pull your starter while thinking ahead.