MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade set his opening rotation, and despite campaigning for his seventh consecutive Opening Day start, Carlos Zambrano will watch Ryan Dempster have that honor this season.

The first three slots in the Cubs' rotation will be filled by Dempster, Zambrano and newly acquired Matt Garza.

That means Zambrano will start the road opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 8 after the Cubs open the season with home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks.

"I can't get away from some of these performances in Milwaukee," Quade said. "If you're pitching Game 2 or 3, then you're pitching in Milwaukee.

"Also, to expose an important division rival out of the chute to Garza I thought was important."

Zambrano finished last season 8-0 in his final 11 starts, but he endured a tumultuous first half to the season that included a suspension and anger management therapy following a dugout confrontation with former teammate Derrek Lee.

Dempster has been the most consistent Cubs starter the last several seasons, but he was 0-3 against Pittsburgh last season.

"I think they all understand what I expect from them," Quade said when asked if Zambrano was good with the decision. "I respect the hell out of all of them. And after their response [to the decision], I respect them even more."

Quade had a sit-down meeting with all three starters.

The final two spots in the rotation still are open.

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Days until Zambrano meltdown?

Go.

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Team Cutler.

The only thing I do not like about it is going the direction of saying you want Z to pitch the opening game at the Brewers. Why not focus on the fact that Dempster deserves it?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I figured this needed its own thread.

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75 wins this year.

I am taking it upon myself this year to make sure Z is all good and understood

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Dempster is no staff "ace", but he is a solid pitcher. He's pretty consistently going to give his team a chance to win. Zambrano, is a guy who can be spectacular, but is somewhat inconsistent, with a history on opening day that leaves much to be desired. The move was spot on. Zambrano will not resent Dempster getting the nod, but may have had a problem with Garza getting it. Well done Quade!

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Go Cubs!!!!

absolutely a bully move

Z deserves to start since he has the streak...why not just give it to him for the sake of keeping the streak goin?

he was as good as Dempster overall last year

tie goes to the incumbent

fuck Quade for trying to send his little dumbass messages

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nd

Yeah keep doing something for the sake of doing it.

Also, if Z was named starter you would say Hendry bullied Quade into letting Z start again.

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i would set garza zambrano dumpster . in that order

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Seriously, Zambrano is the type of guy who I think is going to up and win 20 games some season... why not this one? I think he might be able to pull something like a 2.75 ERA out of his ass and go something like 20-9, but he'll lose the cy young to someone from Philadelphia.

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Opening Day starter is meaningless. Watch, Ozzie will name Buehrle the opening starter and everyone will know it is simply out of respect and not because he is the best pitcher on the staff.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

i would not say meaningless, you want to obviously win opening day.. why not use your best pitcher.. buerhle may get the nod, n he is maybe 3rd best on team. garza is cubs best then zam them dumpster

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They start in Cleveland, a team that Buehrle historically has owned. He has also pitched very well on Opening Day.

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Quade also wants to make sure Zambrano starts in Milwaukee,that was another reason he is #2. The #1 starter will go against Arizona at home just before they go to Milwaukee.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

i agree that "opening day starter" and who is your #1, #2 etc is over-hyped. who cares. the top 4 guys are going to start 30+ times potentially during the season, and after the first 10 days of the season it starts getting all jumbled up anyway. who cares what position in the rotation they are, until the playoffs. game number 1 of the season has no more importance than game number 132, or game 76, or game 111. they all add up the same at the end of the year. the playoffs are a different story naturally.

I'm gonna say that Z won't have many outbursts or breakdowns this year. Yeah, I'm sure he'll still wear his emotions on his sleeve, but no punching type stuff....we'll see.

I think Dempster as opening day starter is the right move.

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-"God is great. Beer is good. And People are crazy!"

In the big picture, the opening day starter is not really important.

But Big Z has been horrendous in his opening day starts, let Dempster get the nod.