Why Zambrano's Move to the Pen Could be a Good Thing

Picture this scenario: it's the bottom of the 7th inning. The bases are loaded and the Cubs are tied with the Cardinals with just one out. Pujols is at the plate and Dempster, who has pitched masterfully (again) has already thrown 117 pitches.

He's gassed and this is the most crucial moment in the game. The Cubs are two games back of the Cardinals and they need to take this game.

Lou Piniella waddles out to the mound and touches his right arm: he wants the righty. And in from the bullpen area comes none other than Carlos Zambrano—the best pitcher in the pen whose name isn't Carlos Marmol.

If anything positive is going to come from moving Zambrano to the pen, this is it. The Cubs will be one of the very few teams who get to experiment with the theory of using your best reliever in the toughest spot—not just in the ninth inning to get the save. It's the reason why your best reliever shouldn't be your closer.

Teams have experimented with this in the past—the Red Sox a few years ago, the Twins were gonna try it until they decided on Rauch replacing Nathan rather than having a closer by committee. MLB teams just don't have the balls to try it.

The Cubs won't really be "trying it" but it's as close as we'll get. We'll see how long it takes before Z goes back into the rotation though...but I'd love to see him come out when the toughest situations come up before the ninth inning.