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.

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.