Top pick Cashner cashes in, will head to Boise

Andrew Cashner found himself in a couple of good places Thursday.

The Cubs signed Cashner, their No. 1 draft pick this year and promptly gave him a locker - at least for one day - between veterans Kerry Wood and Ted Lilly.

Cashner then headed out to the green grass of Wrigley Field, where he got to play catch and pitch off flat ground in front of family members.

"It's a huge day," the 21-year-old Cashner said. "I really like it here. Great fans here. My family came last night. Things don't get much better than this here."

The Cubs took Cashner with the 19th pick overall out of TCU, giving him a signing bonus of $1.54 million, $75,000 for school and an invite to spring training next year. Cashner was a closer at TCU, picking up 9 wins and 9 saves this spring in his junior year.

The Cubs will send him to their spring-training complex in Mesa, Ariz., today so he can get acclimated. From there, Cashner will head to Class A Boise, where he will be the closer.

"I can move a lot faster that way as opposed to maybe a starter," he said. "As a closer, you can be here in three years rather than a lot longer as a starter."

The Cubs also signed their second-round pick, pitcher Aaron Shafer, a righty out of Wichita State.

Center of attention: Right fielder Kosuke Fukudome will start Tuesday's All-Star Game in center field. With teammate Alfonso Soriano not available to play because of his broken hand, Fukudome will move between Ryan Braun of the Brewers and Matt Holliday of the Rockies. Holliday was added to the starting lineup to replace Soriano.

Fukudome may get today off. He had his right shin bandaged Thursday, the result of a foul ball. He went 0-for-5 at the plate, and his manager says he needs a rest.

"I've got to rest a couple of my outfielders," Lou Piniella said. "It looks to me like he's swinging awfully tired."

Daryle Ward may start in left field today against the San Francisco Giants, with Mark DeRosa playing right.

The Marshall plan: Even though he has put together 2 quality starts in a row, Sean Marshall appears to be headed to the bullpen for the short term and perhaps to Class AAA Iowa after the all-star break.

"I don't know yet," said pitching coach Larry Rothschild. "Lou and I will sit down and decide what we want to do."

Marshall is a starting pitcher by trade, even though he performed well out of the pen earlier this year, and Rothschild would like to keep him stretched out.

"Yeah, I would," Rothschild said. "He's pitched two really good games for us in key situations - tough situations - against the White Sox and against the Cardinals. We just need to sit down. I don't know where we're going with it yet."

All-star pitchers: It's still possible Carlos Zambrano could start the All-Star Game. He last pitched Wednesday night. Fellow all-star Ryan Dempster will start Sunday, making him doubtful to pitch in the All-Star Game. Dempster would like to go 1 inning at Yankee Stadium.

"You kind of want to watch that," said Larry Rothschild. "That's pretty much out of my control. Lou will be there, so he'll know what's going on. 'Z' will be in good shape. It probably wouldn't hurt him at all. It might help him.

"I know they want to pitch, so you hate to say no. In a perfect world ... we'll see."