Inside Baseball: Cubs mired in unbearable situation with Zambrano

Despite his impressive outing Saturday, Carlos Zambrano has not reacted well to the early April cessation of negotiations on a contract extension.

The Chicago Cubs, in the end, may determine that it is best to let him go after this season as they did earlier with Greg Maddux, as poorly as that worked out.

Zambrano has struggled out of the gate again this year — 5-4, 5.24 ERA —- and certainly does not have the track record that Maddux did when he tested the market and went to Atlanta in 1993.

It would take some fortitude to make the break, but it is not beyond the realm of possibility, despite the fact Zambrano has great stuff and is only 25, 26 on Friday.

The Cubs have questioned Zambrano’s concentration level early in the season, and the news that manager Lou Piniella considered returning erstwhile closer Kurt Dempster to the starting rotation may be a sign.

Chicago already has starters Rich Hilll , Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis under control for 2008, and with Dempster back in the rotation the Cubs could try to fill from within while spending the Zambrano money — he makes $12 million this season and will be due a raise — elsewhere.

The Cubs signed Notre Dame right-hander Jeff Samardzija to a five-year, $10 million package before this season. Donald Veal is a top prospect, and who knows how Mark Prior will recover from surgery.

Moreover, the Cubs remain a team without a center fielder after the Alfonso Soriano experiment went south (or west, to left field), and among the top free agents on the market this winter are Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter and Chinuchi Dragons star Kosuke Fukodome.

Or the Cubs could make another run at the Hiroshima Toyo Carp’s No. 1 starter, Hiroki Kuroda, whom they courted last winter before signing Marquis.

It is hard to give up on power starting pitching, and Zambrano can be close to unhittable when he is on.

One thing is certain: Chicago has options.

THE NEXT BRANDON WEBB

Cleveland right-hander Fausto Carmona has beaten John Sanatana twice this season, and his sinking fastball was so good May 17 it had Minnesota searching for words.

“It was so scary I thought I was hung over. I can’t explain to you how much the ball was moving,” Torii Hunter said. “His stuff today … in my years in baseball, I haven’t seen anything better,” Michael Cuddyer said after a 2-0 loss. It is quite a turnaround for Carmona, who was 1-10 last season and gave up three walkoff hits (two homers) in a three-game trial as a closer. Carmona’s sinker is routinely timed between 94-96 mph.

THE YOUNG AND THE STAGE FRIGHT-LESS

J.J. Hardy, Chris Capuano, Jeff Suppan and Bill Hall taped a scene for the hit CBS soap opera “The Young and the Restless” during Milwaukee’s series in Los Angeles last week.

Hardy, who is tied for the NL 15 home run lead with teammate Prince Fielder, said acting is more nerve-wracking.

“When those lights come on, your heart stops,” Hardy, a former Tucson Sabino High star, said.

The soap is set in Genoa City, Wis., a tiny village near Lake Geneva, making the four Brewers a natural.

“These guys followed direction perfectly and it worked out great,” said actor Peter Bergman, who plays Jack Abbott, who is running for the state senate in Wisconsin and meets the Brewers at a photo op.

The four Brewers made union scale, $367, for their appearances.

CHANGES BREWING IN BALTIMORE

Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo, one of the nicest men in the game, may be on his last legs, although he has a strong ally in owner Peter Angelos.

The Sun of Baltimore confirmed there have been serious discussions about replacing Perlozzo — the public face on those talks is that evaluations are always ongoing.

Angelos wanted Perlozzo in 2003, when the front office hired Lee Mazzilli before firing him and promoting Perlozzo in Aug. 2005. Angelos dislikes firing managers in the middle of a contract, and Perlozzo is signed through 2008. Mazzilli is the only manager he has canned in mid-deal.

At the same time, players have not rallied around Perlozzo during the swirl of possible change. Kevin Millar and Jay Gibbons have complained about playing time, and Miguel Tejada and Brian Roberts, once a big Perlozzo backer, have had no public comments.

Can’t touch him

Over the past two seasons, Mets left-hander Oliver Perez is 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA against Atlanta and 5-15 with a 5.96 ERA against everyone else. Perez has beaten Atlanta three times this season. “He’s turning into a monster,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said.

Land of 1,000 whiffs

C.C. Sabathia became the fifth pitcher in the past 25 years to strike out 1,000 batters before turning 27 as Ichiro Suzuki whiffed on Monday. The others? Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden, Pedro Martinez and Kerry Wood. Sabathia turns 27 on July 21.

Early starters

David Eckstein’s leadoff home run Wednesday was the third time St. Louis scored in the first inning in 43 games this season. When Jim Edmonds also homered Wednesday, it was the Cardinals’ first multihomer game since April 22, when they had help from an out-breeze at Wrigley.

Looking ahead

Cleveland continues its killer run with three games at Boston and four at home against Detroit, a reprise of this weekend’s series.