Zambrano placed on disabled list; out 2 to 3 weeks

Going on the disabled list means never having to say you're sorry, at least when it comes to the Cubs and Carlos Zambrano.

The Cubs put their ace pitcher on the DL Monday with a strained left hamstring, an injury the club informally termed a "Grade 2" strain, with 3 being the worst.

"It feels better today," Zambrano said. "The MRI said there was some damage in the hamstring. We have to take it easy."

Zambrano, who prides himself on being a complete player, suffered the injury beating out a bunt in the fifth inning of Sunday's 6-4 victory over the Florida Marlins. The leadoff hit sparked a 4-run rally.

"It was a normal run, and three steps before I got to the bag I felt a pop in my hamstring," he said. "I tried to hustle, with my 'flat tire' at that moment, trying to get to the base. Then when I crossed the base and was safe, I felt more and more pain."

No one with the Cubs was doing any self-second-guessing about Zambrano bunting. Manager Lou Piniella has used Zambrano to pinch hit three times this season.

"Look, we had no choices," Piniella said. "We're trying to win baseball games, and he's a good hitter. That had nothing to do with him getting hurt yesterday. He laid down a good bunt. It was a 2-2 ballgame.

"I know a lot of people say, 'Why did he bunt?' Well, how about if he had hit a ball off the wall and hurt it trying to go into second with a double? He shouldn't have hit a double? I don't get the reasoning."

Zambrano will be eligible to come off the DL on May 19. Piniella said Zambrano will pitch sometime that week. The Cubs say it's possible Zambrano will need up to 2½ weeks to heal.

"There's no reason to push it, and it would be foolish on our part to push it and then have it get worse," general manager Jim Hendry said.

The Cubs called up infielder Bobby Scales from Class AAA Iowa to fill the roster spot. On Friday, they'll call up pitcher Randy Wells from Iowa to start in Zambrano's spot.

Zambrano was on the DL last year for a strained right shoulder. He said he won't change his approach.

"If my legs feel 100 percent, I'll be the same," he said. "I have to work on my game, and I have to hustle. That's the way I know how to play.

"If I have to put (down) a bunt for my team to win a game, if they leave something (a pitch) hanging in the middle and I can crush it, I take everything to win a ballgame, pinch run, whatever it takes."