"Lou Piniella admitted he never has seen a player's performance free fall the way Kosuke Fukudome's did last season. In the next breath, the Cubs manager expressed confidence in a player who personified the boom and bust Cubs of 2008.

"He probably learned a lot last year," Piniella said. "He's obviously a talented young man. He'll figure it out."

It's a cheery prediction, and with a month left before Opening Day, why not be cheery? It's the manager's job to inspire confidence, even when the organization hedged its $48 million bet on Fukudome by acquiring Milton Bradley during the offseason.

Fukudome went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in Team Japan's 3-2 win over the Cubs on Thursday. The exhibition was noteworthy if only because it gave Piniella a first glimpse at a player who remains the biggest mystery on the Cubs roster.

He made rising sun headbands hot sellers last season. But is his sun rising or setting?

Projecting what Fukudome will do this season is as difficult as comprehending the logic behind his screwy batting style. He could bounce back and be the player he was in April and May last season, when he took pitches, drew walks and hit for average and power while ranking among the league's better right fielders.

Or he could continue the long string of near-hopeless at-bats that got him benched in September."