You Cannot Pen El Toro!

Various news outlets are reporting (or decrying) the Chicago Cubs' announcement that they have sent bombastic starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen. Carlos, who often refers to himself as "El Toro," (Spanish for "the bull") did not seem to appreciate the irony.

The Cubs official website says this move, "makes all the sense in the world," while, Andy Dolan over at Cubs blog desipio.com jokingly noted that the Cubs had "bolstered their bullpen by not putting Tom Gorzelanny in it," and continued his tirade over at Fisted Foul.

Even players on other teams are baffled by the Cubs' decision. Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski told ESPN, "I'm shocked. With a guy with his stuff, you can't believe that would happen. ... It just surprises me they would make that move."

Some observers were less "political" in their comments. For instance, Yahoo! Sports' Andy Behrens had this to say:

This decision isn't merely stupid, it's weapons-grade stupid. Total organizational failure.

Behrens also points out that the Cubs will pay Zambrano $17.9 million this year and next and another $18 million in 2012. If he averages 70 relief innings annually over that span, you're talking roughly $250,000 per inning or $85,000 per out. Not bad work if you can stink enough as a starter to get it.

The real problem is that Carlos hasn't been all that bad this season. He also has a track record of being fairly good - certainly decent enough to warrant more than 3 starts before being thrown into the bullpen.

In any event, I think this could be a fun chapter for the Cubs. Whenever they need to shut down the opposition - maybe bases loaded, no outs - they crank up Rage Against The Machine's Bulls on Parade over the stadium PA and El Toro comes charging out of the 'pen to take the ball. He'll be so amped up he's liable to throw his first pitch through the batter's ear-hole.

Between a raging, adrenalized Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs' erratic closer Carlos Marmol, who's never quite sure exactly where the ball is going, you won't find too many guys willing step into the batter's box without first donning some goalie gear.