Three's company
PHOENIX - About that three-man rotation ...
On Tuesday, manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs would go with a three-man rotation in the National League Division Series, with Carlos Zambrano starting Wednesday, Ted Lilly today and Rich Hill on Saturday. Piniella planned on Zambrano pitching Game 4 (if necessary) on Sunday on three days' rest and putting Jason Marquis in the bullpen. He even planned on having Zambrano goes as high as 105 pitches or so in Game 1 in anticipation for Sunday.
But when probed on it further Wednesday, Piniella switched gears a little. He said the first option is the three-man rotation but it's not set in stone.
"Let's see how things work out," Piniella said. "Our plans are the three-man rotation. It gives us a chance to pitch our top two starters two times. Jason's been struggling."
Marquis is in the first year of a $21 million deal. A move like that could be a blow to his ego. But Piniella said to wait and see.
"We haven't played the fourth game yet, so let's see what happens," Piniella said. "The door might be open."
Angel's wounded wing
The Cubs revealed that Angel Guzman, who pitched briefly in the rotation this year, had reconstructive surgery on his right (pitching) elbow and could be out nine or 10 months.
Guzman has been a top pitching prospect who has had plenty of arm troubles over the years.
Cubs farm director Oneri Fleita said his dream is to see Guzman healthy.
"He worked hard and he's got the stuff," Fleita said. "I would like to see him healthy for one full year. I know you're tired of hearing that. But you have to be patient. He's a good kid. It's worth waiting on him."
Odds are ...
Favorites?
Underdogs?
Who cares?
Arizona won a National League-best 90 games this season, which, in some circles, makes it a favorite in the series against the Cubs. The Cubs were hot at the end of the season and have more big-name talent, which makes them a favorite in other circles.
In the end, what happens on the field will decide the series.
"Geez, I've been the favorite and the underdog in Atlanta," Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa said. "We lost both ways, and we won both ways, too. So I don't think it matters. You have to go out there and play. Our pitching is strong and we have some guys in the lineup who can pop the ball out of the ballpark. And they (Arizona) will say the same thing. They have the best closer in the National League. We don't want to go into the ninth inning losing a ballgame.
"There are a lot of different ways we can think about this. The bottom line is to go out there and step our game up. One thing I would like to see us do that we haven't done most of the year is to play fundamentally sound. If a guy needs to get a bunt down and move the runners, if that's what it's going to take."
Wednesday's starter, Carlos Zambrano, apparently would rather be considered the underdog.
"Every year, there are a lot of teams that are the favorite and they don't go anywhere," he said.
"We don't think about who is the favorite. Have fun. It's not about who is the favorite."
DeRosa smiled when someone suggested the Cubs are the favorite.
"I don't know how we can be the favorite - we have the worst record of all the teams that are in," DeRosa said. "That being said, it doesn't matter. I view us as a dangerous team - a team that I would think the other three wouldn't want to play right now."
Money talk
While the Cubs spent close to $100 million on players' salaries for this year's playoff team, the Diamondbacks got into the playoffs with a payroll of close to $53 million, according to the Arizona Republic.
That is close to half of what the team spent in 2002.
Arizona battled through injuries and has relied on some rookies to get into the playoffs. The 25 men on its playoff roster made an estimated $35 million this season.