Center field should be a strength for Cubs

Seventh in a series

Editor's note: As the countdown continues toward the April 6 opener for the Cubs, Daily Herald Sports Writer Bruce Miles will offer his analysis of each position on the team and the key issues facing the club this season.

Q. What happened to Felix Pie the last few years? Think he'll blossom in Baltimore?

Miles: Felix could not make the necessary adjustments at the plate. On top of that, he failed to do one of the most important things you can do for Lou Piniella: make a good first impression.

Mike Fontenot made a good first impression a couple of years ago with a double in New York. He got sent down to the minors after that, but Lou remembered and rewarded him with playing time when he got back. Now, he's a starter. Micah Hoffpauir is off to a great start in Arizona. That'll go a long way with Lou.

As far as Pie blossoming, who knows? It's all up to him whether he becomes the first Felix Pie or the second Corey Patterson.

Q. I can't believe I'm asking this, but how much will Jim Edmonds be missed?

Miles: Think Gary Gaetti. After Gaetti helped the Cubs win the wild card in '98, then-GM Ed Lynch signed him for '99, and things didn't work out so hot.

Current GM Jim Hendry didn't fall into that trap. The Cubs squeezed all they could from Edmonds, who had a nice year. But it was time to say thank you and goodbye. I don't believe he'll be missed.

Q. Will it be a strict platoon between Reed Johnson and Kosuke Fukudome?

Miles: Probably not, simply because there are so many more right-handed pitchers. Fukudome figures to get more of the playing time for that reason, but Lou will sour quickly if he shows he still can't hit.

It's an important situation. The Cubs don't want to overexpose Johnson against right-handed pitching even though he hit a respectable .280 against righties last year. So it's important for Fukudome to show his off-season conditioning program paid off.

If Fukudome rebounds, it' could be a huge plus for the Cubs.

Q. Will center field be a strength or a weakness this season?

Miles: It should be a slight strength, even if neither player turns in an optimal performance. Both Johnson and Fukudome are solid defensively, and both will have to cover a lot of ground.

Both players have good on-base percentages, and if they can maintain decent OBPs all season, nobody will be waxing nostalgic about 2008. If Cubs fans actually start pining for Jim Edmonds, there's a big problem on the North Side.

Q. Where does Joey Gathright fit into the equation?

Miles: He's your basic fifth outfielder at this point. He made a nice impression on Lou by going 3-for-3 with a stolen base the other day against the Brewers.

Lou is toying with the idea of Gathright leading off on days when Alfonso Soriano is getting a day off or, wonder of wonders, hitting down in the order. Gathright is fast, but his career OBP is only .328.

• Got a question about the Cubs for Bruce Miles? Visit his blog, Chicago's Inside Pitch, to share your questions and comments.