<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Carlos Zambrano is moving out of his set-up role and into a long relief role, manager Lou Piniella announced after Monday's 4-2 win over Colorado.
Will Big Z eventually rejoin the rotation?
"Down the road, if need be," manager Lou Piniella said.
There's no timetable on the move to the rotation, but the Cubs have basically acknowledged that 'Big Z to the bullpen' was a big flop. He's 0-1 with a 6.23 earned-run average in eight appearances since moving to the bullpen on April 21.
"Look, we thought the outcome would be a little different, and he's not as comfortable in the bullpen pitching short," Piniella said. "So we're going to use him in a different role, give him some stamina, build up his arm."
Zambrano has virtually no trade value as a reliever, and very little value as a starter because of his $18 million salary and alarmingly mediocre numbers.
"It's their choice," Zambrano said. "If they want to send me to the minor league to work, I will work in the minor league."
Piniella didn't care to elaborate, but said he's comfortable with two lefty set-up men in Marshall and Grabow.
"We're staying as left-handed as we can, if you've seen how we've been doing this," he said. "Marshall has done just a really superb job. Grabow, tonight, it was his (lack of) command. It wasn't the fact they hit him. We're staying left-handed in those roles, but we are changing Zambrano's role."
Zambrano said he just "wants to help the team." The decision was made on Monday morning, and Zambrano took batting practice with the starters on Monday afternoon.
"We'll see how everything works in the next few outings for me," he said. "(Tuesday) will be a big day in the bullpen for me."
The move of Zambrano was one of the most controversial moves Piniella has made in his four years as Cubs manager. He said the move was made out of necessity since the Cubs had no right-hander who was succeeding in the seventh or eighth innings.
Now that Marshall has begun to dominate, Piniella will trust him with the role that Zambrano couldn't hold.
Zambrano insisted he did a "pretty decent job" in the role, despite the poor numbers.
"I can't complain," he said.
He said he's only doing what he's told to do.
"This is a business and they're the boss," he said. "If the boss wants me to go close games, I go close games. If they want me to close games, I close games. if the boss wants me to start again, I start again. It's up to them. It's their choice."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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