Come to Think of it..."Cy" of Relief: No Structural Damage Found in Zambrano MRI

An MRI taken Thursday has confirmed that Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano has right rotator cuff tendinitis and inflammation.

You knew something was wrong when the normally workhorse-like Zambrano asked to be removed from the game on Tuesday after only five innings.  The Cubs had been describing the problem as a "tired arm," but the way he had been pitching it was clear that he was dealing with something more painful.

Lou Piniella also confirmed after Wednesday night's game that Rich Harden has been experiencing "soreness."  So, I guess the original plan to rest him was not just precautionary, as the Cubs would have us believe.  He is not expected to start until the ninth, at the earliest.

The Cubs were forced to expose this lie only after the Zambrano injury became known.  Otherwise, they knew they would be asked why not start Harden and skip the precautionary plan so that you wouldn't be losing two pitchers at the same time. Therefore, they had to come clean and admit the mini-vacation was done because of shoulder pain and not just to rest him.

Apparently, Harden has had bursitis, a very painful problem, since his days with Oakland. You have more than 150 bursae in your body. These small, fluid-filled sacs lubricate and cushion pressure points between your bones and the tendons and muscles near your joints. They help your joints move with ease. Bursitis occurs when a bursa becomes inflamed. When inflammation occurs, movement or pressure is painful.

As for Big Z, because of the dye used and the shot he received, Zambrano cannot even pick up a ball for six days.  He likely won't pitch again until the Houston series, at the earliest.

That means Sean Marshall and who-knows-who (Jon Lieber? Angel Guzman? Jeff Samardzija?) are entering the rotation for now. Hopefully, the Brewers can continue to help us by losing.

Maybe this is a blessing in disguise, as both Zambrano and Harden should be refreshed and ready for the playoffs. That's assuming, of course, that they come back healthy.

The Cubs just need a win right now, more than anything. It won't happen today, as they have an off-day. But if they can't beat the Reds, then we're in more trouble than we realize.

After that, the schedule gets difficult. Three at St. Louis, followed by three at Houston, before coming home to face the Brewers and Cardinals. They close with seven consecutive on the road, four against the Mets and the final three versus Milwaukee.

But at least we know that Zambrano won't have to be shut down for the rest of the year and the playoffs. Come to think of it, even a silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud is good news to the Cubs these days.