Piniella doesn't know why Bradley was upset Thursday

ST. LOUIS - Maybe it's because he answers questions before and after every game.

Whatever the reason, Cubs manager Lou Piniella didn't seem to know why Milton Bradley was so curt in fielding reporters' questions Thursday about why he came out of the game against the Brewers at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs said Bradley has "left-knee inflammation." He was not in Friday's starting lineup, and Piniella said he is day to day.

"I think you just answer the question," Piniella said. "You get asked a question, you answer it and you're done with it. That's all. It's simple. The guy can't run well in a 1-run ballgame, it's my job as a manager to get somebody else in there, and that's exactly what we did. Answer the question and go on to the next one.

"It shouldn't be all that hard."

The Cubs say Bradley told them he was sore beforehand and that they told him that if he got a hit, they'd pinch run. Bradley led off the sixth with a single, and it appeared that he took himself out of the game.

Piniella said Bobby Scales was stretching and getting ready to pinch run.

Bradley is in the first of a three-year, $30 million contract, but it's hard to believe the Cubs won't try to deal him in the off-season.

Storm passed: Pitcher Carlos Zambrano appeared happy to be away from the Wrigley Field media crush after dealing with rumors the Cubs would try to trade him, even though he has a no-trade clause in his deal.

Zambrano was playing cards in the clubhouse before the game (he'll start Sunday night), and he just smiled when asked about the ruckus. His agent, Barry Praver, sought to clarify the situation when asked about it.

"There has been zero dialogue between the Cubs and us regarding Carlos waiving his no trade clause," Praver wrote in an e-mail response.

No go for Guzman: Reliever Angel Guzman threw from the outfield grass Friday, but it was a short session. Guzman has not pitched since Sept. 8 because of muscle soreness in his arm.

"He threw about a dozen pitches or so, and it really didn't feel good, so we had to shut him down," Piniella said. "It can't be too long. The season will be over in a couple weeks."