The Stupid Call of the Week: Carlos Zambrano to the Bullpen

I don't even have to wait until the end of the week. Lou Pinella and the Chicago Cubs have taken the cake for the stupid move of the week. Why? They moved their ace starter, Carlos Zambrano, to the bullpen. Seriously. Lou Pinella said the move "makes all the sense in the world." Oh boy. This is the same team that won't bench Alfonso Soriano...but they decide to basically do the same thing to Carlos Zambrano. I feel like Lou Pinella is trying to get fired. I don't even need to explain the stupidity of this move...I'll let others do it:

Let's let ESPN's Rob Neyer bat leadoff:

Carlos Zambrano is heading to the bullpen? So Carlos Silva can remain in the rotation? Has there been a weirder story this spring? Or a sillier story?

Yahoo! Roto Arcade's Andy Behrens:

You didn't ask for my opinion, but here it is: This decision isn't merely stupid, it's weapons-grade stupid. Total organizational failure. Even if Zambrano is successful in the setup role, this is an atrocious use of resources. This is neither bold nor innovative. It's just insane. One of the all-time panic moves. In fact, it's in the panic move hall of fame. 

HardballTalk's Matthew Pouliot:

Sticking Zambrano in the bullpen is really the most boneheaded move the Cubs could have made. Sticking him in left field would have made as much sense. Zambrano, after all, has 16 homers in 314 at-bats since the beginning of 2006. Alfonso Soriano has eight homers in his past 314 at-bats.

Baseball Musings' David Pinto:

This isn’t moving Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, this is the team’s ace. Remember when CC Sabathia got off to a horrible start in 2008? No one thought about moving him to the bullpen. With management like that, no wonder the Cubs haven’t been to the World Series in 65 years.

Jordan Campbell of Cubbies Crib:

I honestly can not believe that I am saying this, but the Cubs are moving Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen. Yes, the same Carlos Zambrano that no more than two weeks ago, was the opening day starter for the Chicago Cubs

FanGraphs' Jack Moore:

Carlos Zambrano is simply a better pitcher than Carlos Silva. Carlos Zambrano is simply a more durable pitcher than Carlos Silva. Instead of getting 180-200 innings out of one of his top pitchers, Lou Piniella is instead opting for about 40 to 50 innings from him and then 100 to 150 out of a pitcher who projected as average at best coming into the season. The Cubs’ chances at the division were low coming into the season. If Piniella’s rash and irrational decision stays in place, they become virtually nil.

And according to Chicago Breaking Sports, Zambrano is drinking the Kool-Aid too:

I can be the ace in the eighth inning. Mariano Rivera is the ace on (the Yankees). In that category, he's the ace....

Nice work, Cubbies. You may have outdone Jerry Manuel.

Picture from the AP