"He looked a lot like Kosuke Fukudome and wore the same uniform number.

But the Kosuke Fukudome who showed up at HoHoKam Park on Thursday didn't sound at all like the Japanese star who fizzled in the second half of his debut season in Chicago.

Appearing relaxed and confident after missing the first six weeks of camp while playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, Fukudome was at times self-deprecating, boastful and a bit introspective.

What caused him to have so much trouble adjusting in the second half?

"My stupidity," he said, through his new interpreter.

Fukudome then laughed, something he rarely did in public last summer.

He said he had learned from last year's struggles and worked out all winter to be in better shape for the long season.

"If I can be the player that Lou [Piniella] wants me to be, I should be playing a lot better," he said.

Only one Japanese reporter was on hand for Fukudome's arrival, in stark contrast to last year's hoopla."