Fukudome front and center, at least a little bit

MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs manager Lou Piniella had a bit of a surprise Sunday morning.

Piniella has made it clear that center fielders Felix Pie and Sam Fuld both will not make the team. The Ronny Cedeno-in-center experiment also seems to have ended.

That means Piniella will try right fielder Kosuke Fukudome for at least a few innings in center field this spring.

"I'm going to have to play Fukudome in center a little bit this week," Piniella said. "We don't have a backup center fielder. If somebody gets hurt during the course of the game or a double switch or something, we've got to get him a little work in center field."

Fukudome seemed agreeable.

"If he tells me to play center field, I'll play center field," Fukudome said through translator Ryuji Araki. "I have played center field a full season in Japan, so I'm very comfortable. I have played more in right field, but I can play either position. It shouldn't be a problem."

Fukudome added that this is the first time he has heard about possibly playing some center field.