Zambrano reports to Mesa

Pitcher Carlos Zambrano arrived Thursday at the Cubs' spring-training facility in Mesa, Ariz., and threw 25 pitches on the side, according to general manager Jim Hendry.

Zambrano will be given a plan by pitching coach Larry Rothschild and trainer Mark O'Neal, and once he completes that he can head out on a minor-league rehab stint, perhaps by next week. Zambrano is on the restricted list after being suspended for a dugout tirade at U.S. Cellular Field on June 25.

"He needs to get work in with our pitching people down there and communicate with Larry, and if it's time to get in some games, and we'll send him somewhere," Hendry said. "He seemed to be good. I didn't speak to him. He showed up at camp and got his work done and seemed to be ready to go."

Hendry and manager Lou Piniella reiterated that Zambrano would go to the bullpen upon his return to the Cubs.

No big deal: Marlon Byrd laughed off comments made by the Reds' Joey Votto after the All-Star Game. Votto was quoted as saying: "I don't like the Cubs. And I'm not going to pat anybody with a Cubs uniform on the back."

Byrd said he probably talked with Votto during the all-star festivities more than with anybody else.

"That's just the competitiveness in Joey Votto," Byrd said. "He's an MVP candidate right now. He's going to say what he believes. At the same time, I don't think any Cub is going to be patting anybody on the Cincinnati Reds on the back.

"He's a great guy, a real laid-back guy. But when it comes to baseball, he's like I am on the field: go get 'em. I can smile at the opposing player, but at the same time, I don't wish them well when I'm playing against them."

Slow go for Grabow: Lefty reliever John Grabow is progressing slowly from the sprained left knee that landed him on the disabled list for a second time. Jim Hendry said not to expect Grabow on a big-league mound until the end of July.

Remembering George: Lou Piniella said he had fond memories of former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who died earlier this week. Piniella had his ups and downs with Steinbrenner as a player, manager and GM.

"I was there a long time," Piniella said of the Yankees. "He lived in Tampa. I'd see him more than most players, not baseball involved all the time. Believe it or not, I had a little landscape business, and I landscaped his home."