It was all worth a double take to confirm if that was, indeed, Fukudome swinging the bat.

Then, in what manager Lou Piniella termed Fukudome's best performance in the big leagues, he carried it over to the game -- the balanced stance, the swing with authority. The result: four hits -- matching a career high -- including a home run and ground-rule double. Fukudome also scored four runs -- two more than his previous career high -- in the Cubs' 11-6 thrashing of the Houston Astros .

''He has been working on his hitting,'' said Piniella, who showed last October he can be Fukudome's toughest critic. ''He has been working hard, believe me. Listen, this is the best game offensively he has had in two [seasons].''

That was clear.

So Fukudome has been making adjustments, right?

''I didn't change anything in my approach,'' Fukudome said with a shrug. ''I didn't change anything from last year.''

Wrong answer.

Though it was promising to see Fukudome swing the bat the way he did during the first six weeks of last season, it was disappointing to hear the Japanese star insist he hadn't made any changes in a swing that eventually got him benched late in 2008 and knocked him into a platoon entering this season with the more well-rounded Reed Johnson.

UGLY OPENER

Just two nights earlier -- the last time he was in the starting lineup -- Fukudome looked like his September self, flailing at sliders and cork-screwing himself into the batter's box after another wild swing and miss. He went 0-for-4 with an ugly double-play ball and a strikeout on Opening Day.

It wouldn't have been a shock to see him on the bench Wednesday, even with right-hander Brian Moehler starting for the Astros .

But Piniella has vowed to give Fukudome the benefit of the doubt.

Some of us cynics believe that's because of the four-year, $48 million contract Fukudome signed before last season. Piniella insists it has more to do with getting a capable left-handed bat in the No. 2 spot in his lineup.

''We need for him to hit,'' Piniella said. ''Tonight was a real good start.

''I said all along this spring that we had every confidence he would revert to where he was last year. He is responding. The credit goes to him. I felt all along this year would be different.''

Funny thing is, Fukudome has been more of an offensive threat than the man who bumped him from his gig in right field. Milton Bradley remains hitless in nine at-bats, though he has drawn four walks, gotten hit by a pitch and scored two runs.

No matter what Fukudome says about not changing since last season, Piniella and others know he has been getting extra work in the batting cage. So something is different.

Because he speaks English through a translator, it's tricky getting an honest read on Fukudome. Ask the scaled-down media contingent from Japan that covers Fukudome on a daily basis whether he tells a different story with them in their private chats, and the answer is no.

In English or Japanese, Fukudome keeps insisting he hasn't changed since his awful slide in 2008.

WHATEVER LOU SAYS

''I've been very confident from the beginning of the season,'' he said.

But what about Piniella saying there have been some adjustments?

''If Lou says that,'' Fukudome said, ''then that's what it is. I'm glad to hear that.''

This seems like a game, and Fukudome won't flinch.

A star who still is revered in Japan must be smarting over the idea that he's a platoon player -- fighting to stay in the lineup -- after an All-Star appearance as a major-league rookie.

All you get when that topic is broached is another shrug from Fukudome.

''I just want to do the things I can control,'' Fukudome said. ''The rest is up to Lou.''

And for one rare day -- when the helicopter swing took a vacation -- Piniella was beaming when the topic turned to Fukudome.

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