Lee optimistic, feels great

MESA, Ariz. -- First baseman Derrek Lee checked into camp Sunday sporting a beard and a strong outlook.

"I feel great," he said. "My body feels great. I'm excited. I think we got better. I think the team's ready. I'm excited for the year. I like our chances."

The 32-year-old Lee said he shares manager Lou Piniella's assessment that the Cubs are teed off about October's three-and-out exit against the Diamondbacks in the National League division series. But there was a positive side of it, too.

"This group got a taste of the playoffs," said Lee, a world champion with the Marlins in 2003. "We feel like we could have done a lot better. You bring that into this season."

Lee came back last year after missing most of 2006 with a broken bone in his right wrist. Although his home run total dropped from 46 in 2005 to 22 last year, his on-base percentage was .400 and his slugging percentage was .513, fueled by 43 doubles.

"I felt fine at the plate," he said. "I felt healthy. I just didn't hit a lot of home runs. … I thought I was still productive. Obviously, I would have liked to hit more home runs, but home runs are something you can't try and do. … You just let it happen."

Looking good: Lou Piniella liked what he saw in outfield drills from new right fielder Kosuke Fukudome.

"He looks good in the outfield," Piniella said. "I was watching him. He looked really smooth out there, too. A nice throwing arm. He's got good (footwork). Whoever ends up in center field, we're going to have a nice defensive outfield."

Fukudome seemed satisfied with the workload he's getting.

"The work days are short, but at the same time, there are no days off," Fukudome said through his interpreter. "In Japan, they work two days and have one day off."

No distractions: Lou Piniella discounted any of his younger players being distracted over the seemingly endless trade rumors involving Baltimore's Brian Roberts.

"You're talking about all young kids," he said. "Basically, they've all been lumped into one trade, which has been the trade to Baltimore. That's been the crux of it -- nowhere else. About a month ago, I was asked, and my answer was I think we'd be constituted just the way we are. The more I look at this thing, the more I feel that way.

"The actual fact is, I think when the season starts, we're going to be pretty much put together the way we are. Like I said before, I'm pleased with that."

Tune in: Comcast SportsNet features a full day of programming, beginning at 11 a.m. today to honor the 10-year anniversary of the passing of Cubs and White Sox broadcaster Harry Caray. Included will be rebroadcasts of three classic Cubs games.