Bradley suspension reduced

Milton Bradley reacted with resignation Thursday to the news his two-game suspension had been reduced to one by Major League Baseball.

"Figures," he said of the reaction. "I never get treated fairly. It's just me. This is exactly what I expected."

Bradley was ejected from an April 16 game at Wrigley Field for arguing a called third strike by umpire Larry Vanover. During the argument, Bradley's helmet may have touched that of Vanover, but the contact looked to be incidental, and Bradley said he never cursed or threatened Vanover.

Bradley has had run-ins with umpires in the past and has served two suspensions. He said he feels that's why the suspension wasn't wiped out entirely after last week's appeal.

"I'm Milton Bradley, you know what I'm saying?" he said. "You expect me to get crazy and throw stuff and do whatever. Everything's thought out. I don't do anything spur of the moment, although it may seem like that."

Bradley expressed appreciation that the Cubs and general manager Jim Hendry stood behind him. Hendry said he got word of Bradley suspension late in Thursday's game. Bradley had the day off, and the Cubs weren't happy that MLB didn't call earlier in the day. Instead, Bradley will sit out Friday's series opener against the Astros.

"I don't think his actions warranted any suspension at the time, and as weeks have gone by, I still feel that way," Hendry said.

Bradley and the Cubs felt Vanover missed more than one pitch.

"I wouldn't want somebody on our ballclub that wasn't chapped about the situation," Hendry said. "I personally felt that he showed great restraint by not getting upset with the 3-0 call. I think you'd have to be playing a very nonsignficant sport if you didn't get upset at that."

Big Z ready: Pitcher Carlos Zambrano passed another test as he took fielding practice before Thursday's game.

He'll pitch Sunday for Class A Daytona in a rehab start. Zambrano, who has been on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, will rejoin the Cubs' rotation May 22 in San Diego.

Although he prides himself on being a baseball player in addition to a pitcher, he said he'll take it a little easier in other facets of the game.

"For a month, yeah. I'll be running like (catchers) Geo Soto or Bengie Molina," he said. "I'll be running nice and easy, just taking my time and not hustling at all. I apologize to the Cub fans. One thing is to hustle, and the other thing is not playing good. I will perform good. I will try to do things right. With the running situation, I have to take it easy, at least for a month, until this thing is completely gone.

"I will run like Juan Pierre after that."

Theriot hot: Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot fell just a few feet short of another home run during Thursday's 11-3 victory over the Padres. Theriot "settled" for double off the wall in right-center. He also walked twice.

@Plain Text:He was all the rage for reporters one day after hitting 2 home runs against the Padres. Theriot is batting .297 with a career-best 5 homers, 17 RBI, an on-base percentage of .372 and a slugging percentage of .484

"When you lose guys to injuries, we haven't really been at full strength all year, other guys need to step up, and that's what's happening," he said.

One thing that may be helping Theriot is a gift from slugger Milton Bradley: a bat. Bradley gave Theriot a bat at the end of spring training, and Theriot liked it so much he ordered a batch. He said he likes the contour of the handle because it's easier on a calloused are on the palm of his hand.