Piniella impressed with Fukudome's discipline

MESA, Ariz. -- Kosuke Fukudome has not tried to put on a show during batting practice in spring training.

He works on different things on the field and then heads for the covered cage.

That's just fine with Cubs manager Lou Piniella.

"He's very methodical in his approach," Piniella said. "He starts hitting the ball down the left-field line, and then he starts working the ball to the middle of the field. And finally, toward the end of his batting practice, he'll start pulling the ball. He uses the whole field in batting practice, which is a nice discipline or a nice approach to hitting."

Piniella said communication has been fine.

"I talk with his interpreter if not on a daily occurrence, certainly every other day, to make sure that everything's fine, that he's acclimating himself well to camp, that he's enjoying the things we're doing here, and the answer is yes," Piniella said.