Marlins Make it Rain

Zambrano has the tools to be a great hitter. There are several reasons he's not playing everyday, the foremost of which being that he's an accomplished starting pitcher with tantalizing ability. He also is a very raw hitter who would have to return to the minors to really learn the art of hitting. Also, the only position I can imagine him playing on a regular basis is first base. He'd have to lose a lot of weight and really work on his running to be an outfielder, and even then he'd probably look a lot like Carlos Lee.

Whether Z is a "better" hitter than Miles or Neifi is up for debate. He certainly strikes out a lot and I have no idea how he would do if every pitcher pitched him as if he were a #3 hitter (of course, I don't know why every pitcher doesn't pitch him like he's a threat--maybe they try to). But he's a much more exciting hitter than Neifi or Miles. It's hard not to want to see him in their as a pinch hitter. I love that he pitches in the national league. I love having at least one pitcher who can do something with the bat when so many pitchers are helpless at the plate. But then I also find it amusing that the Cubs have to pitchers with pretty good speed (Samardzija and Harden).

You can pick virtually any 100 PA streak in Neifi's career if you want and my point would still stand, and you know it. Or, let's look at Bobby Scales' career MLB OPS? Oh wait, we can't, that's right.

Your entire point about what Lee will hit this year or what Z would hit over 600 PAs is moot. The question at hand is: who will have the most success in the particular pinch-hit at-bat. That's it. I could care less if Miles would out-hit Z over 4 million at-bats. Don't care. I care who has the best chance of getting a hit in a given at-bat. Lately - meaning this last week of games - given the high level of sucktitude of Gathright and Miles, etc. and the relatively hot bat that Z is swinging, I pick Z in most scenarios, especially given the short bench that forces Lou to save guys like Hoffpauir for later in the game. If you want to disagree, feel free.

The injury argument is dumb. The chances of Z getting injured hitting or running in an extra at-bat here or there are so minuscule as to make this argument ridiculous. If you want Lou and the Cubs to control or limit those types of situations for Z out of fear of injury, then there are a thousand other things the team should also control. For example, make him live within walking distance to the ballpark so he doesn't get injured in a car accident (a far likelier possibility) or hiring him someone to type for him so he doesn't strain his wrist chatting again like before, etc. These are also in the team's ability to limit, but they don't do it, so not pinch-hitting him 10-15 times a season out of this same fear is dumb.