Cubs need Dr. Jekyll, not Mr. Hyde version of Zambrano

Oct 2, 2008 - 5:23 AM By Brian Fitzsimmons PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Carlos Zambrano will try to keep the Chicago Cubs from the brink of elimination in Game Two of the National League Division Series against the surging Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Which version of their ace will appear for the Cubs?

It's easy to see why the burly righthander can be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, considering his blazing fastball, darting splitter and competitive edge.

Then, there's the chronic concern as to what is going on in his head. He can be crazy, maddening, an exhibit of the absolute extremes of Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde.

And lately, he's been the latter.

"It's in the past," Zambrano said. "This is a new age, new stage for the Cubs, new ballgame, new team. And I just have to go out there and try to do my job and have fun."

By doing that, he can tie the series at 1-1 and make the pain of past blunders all but evaporate.

The 27-year-old has started four postseason games without recording a victory.

Since his September 14 no-hitter against the Houston Astros, he's given up 13 runs and allowed seven walks in 6 1/3 innings - a major reason why his ERA has more than doubled since the All-Star break (2.84 in the first half; 5.80 after the break).

Still, he insists he is fine.

"Yeah, I am," said Zambrano, who failed to notch at least 200 innings for the first time in six seasons. "I've been playing catch and I've been feeling good. Everything is good for me. Just the fact that I wasn't able to throw strikes in the situation that I have to throw strikes, that's it."

Then why did he decline to throw one or two innings as a tuneup in the regular season finale as manager Lou Piniella suggested?

"Because I think I thought that I don't need two innings," Zambrano said. "I'm the kind of pitcher that when I'm going to the mound and the bullpen, I throw a lot of pitches to be ready.

"I think I need myself and this ballclub needs me to be fresh. So, that's why I didn't pitch on Sunday. Plus, we were in the playoffs already, so we didn't need that game. So why take some risk in that game?"

Obviously, Piniella's team is rolling the dice enough already by giving the nod to Zambrano instead of Rich Harden in a must-win tilt.

It could pay off, too. After all, Zambrano has established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball. A simple formula could remind everyone why.

"Strike, first pitch, strike, and challenge the hitters," Zambrano said. "Sinker. If my sinker is working, everything will be different."

Big-Z better not show up as Mr. Hyde, or else any fragment of hope that the Cubs can end their 99-year World Series title drought will shatter.

Los Angeles displayed patience at the plate, further exposing Ryan Dempster's inability to throw strikes in Game One. The righthander, who won 17 games and posted a 2.96 ERA over 33 starts, walked seven and worked himself in and out of trouble all night - until James Loney silenced a buzzing Wrigley Field crowd with a fifth-inning grand slam.

Dempster was nothing short of pedestrian, while his counterpart, Derek Lowe, seemed too overwhelming.

The righthander yielded just two runs and seven hits over six solid innings, giving Game Two starter Chad Billingsley something to follow up on.

"I mean, Carlos, he's having an unbelievable career, not just his pitching," Billingsley said. "He's hit about .300. I mean, it could be that way. You never know. I mean, he's a great pitcher and he's thrown well against us this year.

"I mean, it could be 1-0 or it could be a five-, seven-run game. You just never know. It's the postseason. It's whoever has the better day almost."

Take your pick: Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde or Billingsley?

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the chilling tale, "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," about a man dealing with split personalities in 1886.

Zambrano will put the pen to the paper on Thursday.