Zambrano not exactly happy

To use Carlos Zambrano's own terminology, he seemed happy but not "happy" happy after Friday's 1-inning relief appearance in the Cubs' 11-5 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Zambrano was getting ready as the Cubs were widening their lead from 6-5 to 9-5 in the seventh. He hadn't worked since Monday, and his inning was without tension. He was asked if it seemed like a long time between appearances.

"I used to be a starting pitcher," said the Cubs' opening-day starter. "I'm pretty familiar with the time - four days, three days since Monday, whatever. But I felt good today. I was able to pitch an inning and keep the scoring down."

The question now is when Zambrano will be able to work on back-to-back days. Before the game, manager Lou Piniella said Zambrano is about "halfway there" and that he'd have to pitch "three or four or five times." Zambrano has made 3 relief appearances since going to the pen last week.

"I don't know, guys; you have to ask him," Zambrano said, referring to Piniella.

Does Zambrano feel ready?

"Yeah, I'm ready for everything," he said.

Checking the radar: Lou Piniella is aware that the velocity on lefty Ted Lilly's fastball is down. However, Piniella points out that it's still early for Lilly, who spent the spring rehabbing from last November's surgery to his pitching shoulder.

Lilly gave up 7 hits and 6 runs in 5 innings in Thursday's 13-5 loss to the Diamondbacks.

"He's going to add 3-4 miles per hour to his fastball," Piniella said. "Yesterday, what was wrong with Teddy was he got the ball up with the wind blowing out, and that's not good. His velocity will improve, yes. Remember, this was his second major-league start, and he'll get more arm strength."

Finding time for all: Tyler Colvin started in center field ahead of Marlon Byrd, who got into the game as a pinch hitter and singled to help ignite a 3-run seventh inning. Byrd homered in the eighth. For April, he hit .348 (31-for-89) with 4 homers, 16 RBI and a .366 on-base percentage.

With Piniella trying to get playing time for five outfielders, he acknowledged Byrd might have been unhappy to sit.

"I just want to be in there every single day; he understands that," Byrd said of Piniella. "I'm always ready. I told him, 'Whenever you need me, let me know.' I started getting ready in the fifth."

Byrd stayed in the game in center field, with Colvin moving to left. During the ninth, a flock of gulls took up residence on the outfield grass in front of him.

"That's crazy," he said. "D-Lee (Derrek Lee) told me. He said, 'They know. The eighth or ninth inning, they come out automatically.'"