Piniella applauds Zambrano deal
Cubs manager Lou Piniella was understandably happy with the news ace starter Carlos Zambrano would be around at least another five years.
"As a manager, I've got to be really pleased because he goes out there and competes and wins," Piniella said. "The fans here in Chicago enjoy him and he's a competitor. It's a win-win situation for both sides."
The Cubs now have their top two starters locked up long-term in Zambrano and Ted Lilly.
"We've got veteran pitchers here now signed up for a few years in (Jason) Marquis, Lilly and now the ace of the staff, Zambrano," Piniella said.
It will be with a clear mind that Zambrano makes his next start on Sunday night against the Cardinals.
With his agent and the Cubs closing in on a deal that turned out to be worth $91.5 million over five years, Zambrano admitted the contract was on his mind in last Tuesday's start against Cincinnati when he allowed 13 hits without a strikeout in 7 innings in a 6-5 loss.
"I say no, but I think something was on my mind," Zambrano said. "I was thinking about it, but now I have a fresh mind and I'm ready to go."
More relaxed or not, Piniella knows what he wants to see from Zambrano.
"Carlos certainly can relax, there's a lot of security there," Piniella said. "But at the same time he can concentrate on winning some baseball games and helping us win a division for the rest of the year."
Closer Ryan Dempster was happy for his teammate.
"I've never had to deal with those kind of numbers before, so I'm sure it's a huge burden off his shoulders," Dempster said.
Lee slumping: After going 4-for-27 on the last road trip, Derrek Lee is 3-for-16 on the homestand. He was 0-for-3 with 3 strikeouts and a walk in Friday's 2-1 win over the Cardinals.
That makes Lee 7-for-43 (.163) since Aug. 6.
"He'll be fine," Lou Piniella said of his first baseman whose average has dipped to .310.
At least those batting ahead of Lee in the No. 2 hole still are getting good pitches to see. Jacques Jones had a 2-run homer Friday, and Mark DeRosa went 5-for-5 in that spot on Thursday.
"DeRosa liked it yesterday, (Jason) Kendall liked it the day before, Jones likes it -- yeah, it's a nice spot," Piniella said.
Getting a taste: Josh Vitters, the Cubs' first-round draft pick who signed Wednesday, was on the field for batting practice Friday.
"I just kind of hung out in the clubhouse a little bit -- they gave me clothes and Cliff Floyd's cleats," said Vitters, who turns 18 on Aug. 27. "This is definitely a surreal experience to be around the big-leaguers, be on a big-league playing field and being treated like a big-leaguer by the players. It's just amazing."
Vitters, a third baseman, reports next week to the Mesa Cubs in the Arizona (Rookie) League.
"They said that by the end of the season that I'm probably going to make it to (Class A) Boise for a few weeks," Vitters said.
Something different: For the 13th straight game Cardinals manager Tony La Russa batted his pitcher eighth, hitting Braden Looper ahead of second baseman Brendan Ryan.