Big ZZZZZZZ?

MESA, Ariz. -- It's only one game, but it looks like the "new" Carlos Zambrano is sticking around.

After Zambrano pitched 2 uneventful innings in Friday's 8-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants in the home opener at HoHoKam Park, there was no brashness.

There was no talk of Cy Youngs or 20 wins, no predictions of World Series titles.

"I'm talking about getting the first game against Milwaukee," Zambrano said of the March 31 regular-season opener at Wrigley Field. "From that, I will get more games -- one by one."

Well, that's no fun.

The all-business Big Z says this is an altogether different year for him. Last spring he came to camp and avoided a salary arbitration hearing by mere minutes when the two sides settled.

Getting a long-term contract took some doing, though, and it wasn't until August that he signed a five-year, $91.5 million extension.

Zambrano looked distracted during spring training even as he talked of the Cy Young and winning the World Series.

And he got himself hot and bothered several times during the regular season, culminating with his dugout and clubhouse fistfight with catcher Michael Barrett, who was dispatched to San Diego soon thereafter.

This year, Zambrano looks relaxed. More important, he says he's throwing better.

"So far, I feel better than last year at this point," he said. "I think I'm 90 percent of my ability. It's good to know that.

"I feel better about everything. I feel better than last year, my arm slot. At this point last year, I was 75 percent, 80 percent. Now I'm 90 percent, and that's good. When I feel like this, I'm ready to go to the season."

Zambrano allowed 2 hits and an unearned run over his 2 innings. The unearned run was the result of his own fielding error, when he fumbled Eugenio Velez's bunt in the first inning.

The game also featured the "home" debut of right fielder Kosuke Fukudome, who continued to demonstrate patience at the plate by walking his first two times up.

"Just like it's been before," he said. "If I don't a see a strike, I don't swing. If I see a strike, I swing."

Fukudome (0-for-1) received nice cheers from the crowd of 8,838.

"I was glad that we had a good cheer when I came up to the plate, and if I can get even more when we get back to Chicago, then I'm looking forward to it," he said.

At the other end of the "patience" spectrum is Alfonso Soriano, who made his spring debut. Soriano, who loves to swing away, drew a walk his first time up.

"Typical leadoff," he joked.

Soriano will spend the spring testing his troublesome legs. So far, so good, but don't look for many stolen bases early in the Cactus League season.

"I have to play a little more and have the rhythm of the game," he said. "I think I'll be OK with my legs because I don't feel anything at all. They told me to wait. Maybe in the second week of the month (March) I will be running."

That's all fine with manager Lou Piniella.

"We want to keep him nice and healthy, and we want to keep his legs strong," Piniella said. "There will come a time this spring when we ask him to run, but now is not the time."