Change nonexistent for Dempster

CHICAGO – Ryan Dempster was all set to go from closer to starter. The switch was a short one. He remains a reliever.

After telling reporters Sunday how excited he was to join the Cubs’ rotation, he was called in for a meeting with manager Lou Piniella. Thirty minutes later, Dempster returned to his locker with fresher news – now he was staying in the bullpen.

“It’s not like I went and started. Obviously, it seems weird,” Dempster said.

Piniella had approached Dempster last week after the reliever gave up five runs in the ninth inning in a 6-5 loss to the Mets and asked him if he’d like to start again.

With Florida and Cincinnati from 1998-2003, Dempster was primarily a starter and was in the Cubs rotation for six games in 2005.

He saved 33 games that season in 35 chances and was 24 of 33 a year ago. He is 9 for 10 this season.

The Cubs apparently want Dempster’s experience as a reliever – at least for now.