Zambrano pitches in with more bullpen duty

DENVER - To no one's surprise, Carlos Zambrano expressed his willingness, if not outright desire, to go back into the Cubs' starting rotation.

Acting manager Alan Trammell deferred that decision to his boss, Lou Piniella, who will rejoin the team Tuesday after attending a family funeral.

For now, moving Zambrano back to the rotation is not in the plans for the immediate future.

However Trammell gave credit to Zambrano for volunteering to pick up innings after starter Carlos Silva left Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Rockies with an abnormal heartbeat.

Zambrano wound up throwing 53 pitches in 2 innings; he was the third Cubs pitcher to enter the game.

"After that happened, I went to the bullpen because I said they may need me for 3 or 4 innings," said Zambrano, who appeared in Saturday's and Sunday's games, fresh off a monthlong hiatus that included anger-management treatment. "I'm prepared to do anything here."

Zambrano deferred to Piniella about when he could start. It may not be out of the realm of possibility that he could take Silva's next turn over the weekend if Silva is still ailing.

"I think it just goes to show you what the comment was yesterday about him feeling better about himself, being part of the team," Trammell said. "And that's a good sign. I know where his heart is, and how can you fault him for that? That's what he's done. But again, we're trying to help this team. But who's to say what might happen with the way things have now taken place here. We'll see what's best for the team."

Ramirez hurting: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez did not start because his chronically sore left thumb acted up again. Jeff Baker played third base, with Blake DeWitt making his Cubs debut at second base.

Ramirez has been bothered by the thumb all year, and it seems to hurt him most when he swings and misses.

I think if you've seen the last couple games, I've seen the little wincing with some of the swings and misses," Alan Trammell said. "And I think, again, we have to tell him, don't swing and miss."

Growing pains: All of the Cubs' rookie relievers have struggled at times this year, including Andrew Cashner, who had given up 8 hits and 12 runs over his previous 2 outings, totaling 11/3 innings. He pitched 1 scoreless inning Sunday, walking two and giving up no hits.

"We need to continue to try to develop the second pitch with him," Larry Rothschild said. "That's going to be important. It's just getting through some of this without losing confidence. That's the hard part. You try to give him a game plan to follow and let him follow that and keep it simple. A couple good outings, and he gets through it. But you've got to get those good outings in."