Piniella: Nothing wrong with 'Big Z' showing emotions

PHILADELPHIA -- The TV cameras caught Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano rearranging a few things in the dugout during Friday night's 5-3 loss to the Phillies.

Zambrano's "emotions" have been a subject of discussion almost from the time he came to the big leagues.

Former manager Dusty Baker always said Zambrano needed emotion to pitch well. Current boss Lou Piniella also doesn't seem to have a problem with Zambrano blowing off a little steam now and then.

"There's nothing wrong with that," said Piniella, a fiery sort himself. "He may have flipped the bubble-gum thing over a little bit. I was a water-cooler guy. I enjoyed the water cooler more than the gum basket."

But seriously, Piniella wasn't upset with Zambrano.

"I like people who show their emotions, I really do," Piniella said. "You either care or you don't care. He shows he cares. There's nothing wrong with it. As long as it doesn't detract from his performance and as long as he doesn't get hurt, it doesn't bother me in the least."

Piniella then made an observation.

"You look at these major-league dugouts anymore, there are no more water coolers," he said. "Now, you've got to tussle with the Gatorade. I enjoyed the water cooler. I actually had to buy four or five of them. I used to have them sent to my house. If I paid for them, I wanted them in my garage."

Piniella said he got rid of the water coolers he broke and was told he should have sold them.

"I wish I had kept them; I'd be selling them on eBay," he said.

Rotation roulette: Lou Piniella said lefty Rich Hill would start Friday or Saturday against the Pirates at Wrigley Field. Hill lasted just 3 innings in his April 10 start at Pittsburgh, and the Cubs sent him to the bullpen this weekend. They hope to get him some work in today's series finale against the Phillies.

"More than an inning, yes," Piniella said. "I don't want to call it a mini-start because that means our starter is struggling. But he's going to be available for a mini-start. Hopefully we won't have to use him that way."

For the three-game series against Dusty Baker and the Cincinnati Reds beginning Tuesday at Wrigley Field, the Cubs will go with Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly.

New alignment: With Kosuke Fukudome getting a start off, Mark DeRosa played right field. Friday night, it was Daryle Ward, who had a rough time.

"I tried Ward out there yesterday, and I think the biggest thing is probably the run to the dugout," joked Lou Piniella. "It's a long run."

Piniella said Henry Blanco would catch today instead of Geovany Soto.