Slimmed-down Zambrano looking for a big Cubs year

MESA, Ariz. - Carlos Zambrano did his best Thursday to turn the conversation away from 2009 and toward 2010.

But there also was a little turn-back-the-clock coming from the Cubs ace.

"I'm excited, man," he said before throwing off the mound on the first official day of workouts for pitchers and catchers. "I feel like a new man. I feel like a rookie again. That's why I have this haircut. I got this haircut in December or January, and somebody told me, 'You look like when you were a rookie, when you first came up.' I didn't know. When I first came up to the big leagues, pitching against Milwaukee, I had this same haircut."

Zambrano is shorn of virtually all hair on his head. He also has shed 12-15 pounds, with 5 more to go before he gets down to a "fighting weight" of 255, thanks to a diet plan he follows every day.

Maybe "fighting weight" isn't the right term. Zambrano, it seems, is ready to relax and roll with life's punches this season.

"I can be better," he said. "Obviously to be better, one of the ways is to work hard, be in shape, be in better shape, and to do everything exactly right, not only physically, but mentally. I'm prepared for that. I think I'm past the age or the stage where everything was getting me mad. That's why I think you'll see a different Carlos Zambrano - smiling and laughing with everybody, even the umpires."

Just as it was for the Cubs as a team, last year was a disappointing one for Zambrano. He had a record of 9-7 with a 3.77 ERA, his best ERA since 2006 but in only 1691/3 innings. Although a lack of run support no doubt cost him some victories in the middle of the season, Zambrano spent time on the disabled list, admitted to not being in the best physical shape, and even got himself suspended for a run-in with an umpire and an on-field tantrum.

That's no fun.

"It was; it wasn't," he said of last season. "I had fun. In some other ways, I had a lot of frustration. But I don't want to talk about '09. I want to talk about 2010. This 2010 spring training, and we are preparing here for the season and look forward to the season."

It'll be a season with the Cubs and not some other team. Over the winter, rumors sprung up that Zambrano would be traded, even though he has a no-trade clause in his $91 million contract.

He said the trade talk didn't bother him, but it bothered others close to him. He also said he would not waive the no-trade anyway.

"No, but in other words yes, because I have family," he said. "One time I told my daughter - she's 9 years old and she understands everything - we may move, with the rumors. She started crying. She said she doesn't want to move; she loves Chicago. It's hard to see your kids crying.

"It was a moment of frustration. Everybody was talking about trading, trading, trading, and it was coming for sure, but thank God Jim (GM Hendry) never mentioned anything to me. It was all speculation by you guys (the media). Some of the things that people say, you believe it. No, not even if I have that season this year again. I want to finish here. I want to finish my career here. I would say no."

Zambrano likely will get his sixth straight opening-day start April 5 at Atlanta. With lefty Ted Lilly out for the start of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery, the Cubs are counting on Zambrano.

"We need Carlos," said manager Lou Piniella. "There's no reason why Zambrano can't win 18 ballgames or so. I think that we're going to score more runs this year as a team. We've got a darn good chance of being better defensively. I think that with the shape that he's in, with the fact that he wasn't happy with his performance last year, I think this is going to be a big year for Carlos.

"Carlos is serious. I think Carlos was embarrassed last year. I think this year you're going to see a totally different pitcher on the mound. He's in great shape. He threw the ball really, really well today."

Like others on the team, Zambrano has sounded the theme that last year's disappointment is motivation for this year.

"Of course," he said. "Two years ago, we were motivated by tasting the playoffs, and we lost. This year, we are motivated to win because we have a good team. Last year, we couldn't make the playoffs, and we had injuries, and we won 83 games. This year, the key is to stay healthy. If we stay healthy, we can win more than 90 games."

For more, read Bruce Miles' Blog, Chicago's Inside Pitch.