Trammell keeps his distance from managing speculation
Not wishing to take anything away from Lou Piniella's retirement announcement on Tuesday, Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell waited one day before taking about the possibility of succeeding Piniella as Cubs manager.
Trammell added little to what could become a feeding frenzy of speculation between now and the end of October, when general manager Jim Hendry is expected to name a new skipper.
"At this point, I'm not even thinking about it," Trammell said. "Really, I am not. I know yesterday I downplayed it because I thought it was Lou's day, out of respect. That's the way I was brought up, the way I am, the way Sparky (former manager Anderson) taught us. There's a certain way of doing things. I'm really appreciative of the fact that my name was even considered. Down the road is the time to talk about it.
"I'd love to be in the dugout, whether it's coaching. I'm a baseball guy. I love being on the field, whether it's managing, coaching of some sort."
Trammell, 52, who gets Hall of Fame consideration each year because of his days as a standout shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, managed that club from 2003-05, compiling a record of 186-300. Included was a resolve-testing '03 season, in which the Tigers went 43-119.
"You lose 119 games and you're almost part of baseball history in a negative way," he said. "That certainly tests you in a lot ways. The three years there, I enjoyed it. And I enjoyed coaching. Looking back, it was good experience."
Trammell joined the Cubs staff in 2007, and he works with infielders and coordinates spring training workouts.
"It's been a great four years with Lou," Trammell said. "I can't express enough how much I appreciate the opportunity working with Lou and being with him. That being said, we still have over two months to go. There's an appropriate time. There's a time and a place for things. Jim's going to go through the process, and we'll see what happens down the road here."
TV analyst Bob Brenly reiterated Wednesday that he is not campaigning for the job but that he has interest, just as he did in the fall of 2006, when he interviewed for the Cubs' job, which went to Piniella.
More time for Silva: The Cubs will give right-hander Carlos Silva an extra day of rest, skipping him for Sunday night's game against the Cardinals and holding him off until Monday at Houston.
Ryan Dempster, who worked 5 innings Tuesday night, will come back on regular rest to pitch Sunday. Silva has been bothered by various aches and pains, including a sore knee, but Lou Piniella said that's not the problem but that the extra day will give Silva chance to work more with pitching coach Larry Rothschild.
Big Z in Iowa: Carlos Zambrano is expected to pitch in relief Thursday for Class AAA Iowa as he makes his comeback from an anger-management related suspension. He was expected to meet the media Wednesday in Des Moines, but he did not immediately do so.
"I just told him to have fun,'' Iowa first baseman Micah Hoffpauir told the Des Moines Register. Hoffpauir has played in the major leagues with Zambrano. "That's what my dad told me when I was little. He said, 'If you're not enjoying it, don't do it.'''
Zambrano likely will rejoin the Cubs on the next road trip.