NP: Pandora

I saw our local ABC affiliate doing a "man on the street" interview as I was on my way to lunch that seemed to be about last night's Cubs game, and if Lou Piniella screwed up by replacing Carlos Zambrano with Carlos Marmol in the seventh inning of a tied ballgame.

Duh. Of course we all know this was the wrong move. We know this because Marmol gave up two runs in the bottom of the seventh that were the difference in the game, but that's the only reason we know this. We also know that, if Zambrano had to be replaced, it clearly should have been Bob Howry in relief, who we know would have been the better choice because he pitched such a good 8th inning.

On principle, Lou took a chance, based on the fact that he didn't want to overwork Zambrano in case he needs him for Game 4, and that Marmol has been as consistent a pitcher out of the bullpen as the Cubs have had. He gambled -- and you can argue he gambled with the odds in his favor -- and lost. It happens. If he had left Z in the game, and the Cubs had won, what would everyone be saying if Zambrano started Game 4 with the series on the line and got shellacked?

The notion that Piniella should have somehow known better in making the pitching change just strikes me as the height of intellectual laziness, but I realize that speaking of sports analysis and intellectual laziness makes me look like a big nerd. Putting aside the notion that I am, in fact, a big nerd.