Hitless day as center fielder

MESA, Ariz. -- Kosuke Fukudome made his first appearance in center field Thursday and didn't get any action in the Cubs' 8-6 victory over the Rockies.

"It didn't help his bat," manager Lou Piniella joked with a Japanese reporter. "He concentrated too much on outfield play."

He went 0-for-4 at the plate, and his average stands at .205 (9-for-44). American reporters are learning that Fukudome is reluctant to talk about what's going on at the plate.

"I'm not being able to do what I want to do right now," he said through translator Ryuji Araki. "There are a lot of reasons, yes."

Such as?

"There are a lot of things, and let's leave it at that for now," he said.

Is he frustrated?

"Being frustrated is not productive for me, so I try not to (be frustrated)," he said.