Standing in the plush visitors' clubhouse of Yankee Stadium, Carlos Zambrano made a plea for Chicago to replace Wrigley Field.

"You come into a ballpark like this and you see great things," the Cubs ace told The Associated Press yesterday before his team's 10-1 exhibition loss at the sparkling ballpark in the Bronx.

"You wish that Chicago'd build a new stadium for the Cubs," he said.

Built in 1914 and home to the Cubs since 1916, Wrigley Field is the second-oldest major league stadium, trailing only Boston's Fenway Park (1912). Fans in Chicago still flock to see the ivy-covered walls and keep alive Harry Caray's tradition of singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during every seventh-inning stretch.

In 2008, their 100th season without a World Series title, the Cubs drew a Wrigley record of 3,300,200 fans, and thousands more peered into the field from rooftops near the neighborhood park.

Zambrano wasn't just being his unpredictable self yesterday. As a player he wants a relaxing environment to work in, and he understands Wrigley's appeal for fans despite the lack of amenities — who needs a martini bar, as there is in the new, $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium, when you can go loopy just trying to figure out the wind direction for that day's game?

"People are used to Wrigley Field," Zambrano said. "As a fan it's hard to think of a new ballpark."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella couldn't agree less with his opening-day starter. The former Yankees outfielder and manager was enchanted by the new ballpark in the Bronx, but can't wait to return to Chicago for the first home game April 13.

"I don't see why," Piniella said when asked if the Cubs need a new stadium. "Wrigley's got its own uniqueness. There's no question the facilities need to be redone but that's going to happen.

"My favorite time of year is when the ivy turns green. It's really a great environment to play a ballgame," he said.

ELSEWHERE

White Sox: Jose Contreras threw four shutout innings and Bartolo Colon followed with five more, leading the Chicago White Sox over the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2-0, yesterday at Chase Field.

Contreras gave up one single while throwing 55 pitches, and Colon gave up three singles and walked one while throwing 72 pitches.

Contreras underwent surgery after suffering a season-ending Achilles' injury Aug. 8. Colon had surgery to remove bone chips in the offseason.

Red Sox: Boston has optioned right-hander Clay Buchholz to Triple-A Pawtucket and placed five players on the 15-day disabled list.

Right-hander John Smoltz (right shoulder surgery), outfielder Mark Kotsay (right elbow), shortstop Julio Lugo (right knee surgery), outfielder Jonathan Van Every (right ankle sprain) and right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (right elbow surgery) all went on the DL yesterday retroactive to March 27.

Marlins: Right-hander Rick VandenHurk, who pitched for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, was placed on the disabled list with inflammation on the outer portion of his elbow.

VandenHurk began feeling discomfort after he returned from the Classic and it got worse after a March 28 appearance against the Mets.