by Toni Ginnetti, The Chicago Sun-Times , Chicago Sun Times

Manager Lou Piniella believes otherwise.

''Look at his overall totals -- pretty impressive,'' he said. ''But you've got the guy in St. Louis [leading vote-getting Albert Pujols] and Prince [Fielder, with the Brewers]. There are some first basemen having monster years.''

Also missing the game for the first time in the last eight years will be Alfonso Soriano, who finished fourth in fan voting, despite his offensive problems.

STARTING TIME

In his second start as the leadoff man, Kosuke Fukudome did exactly what was needed. He led off the first with a triple and the fifth with a single. He also had a sacrifice fly in the sixth. It gave him a 3-for-8 mark (.375) in the new role, but the switch hasn't changed his outlook or approach to the game.

''If I could change my approach, I might be hitting better,'' he said smiling. ''I don't think about the order I'm hitting in. The first at-bat in the first inning is the only one, but the rest [of the game] it really doesn't matter. Today was a little different because I had multiple times batting first, but it just happened.''

Fukudome was an All-Star last year in his first season in the United States.

''I hope Ted Lilly enjoys the All-Star Game like I did last year,'' he said. ''He is definitely a reliable pitcher for us.''

RESET TIME

The All-Star break is the time teams reset their pitching rotation for the second half. For the Cubs , it will mean incorporating more rest for Rich Harden.

The right-hander has thrown only 69 innings after spending time on the disabled list with a mild back strain. But keeping Harden's pitch counts and innings in check has been the aim to minimize the wear and tear on his right shoulder.

Harden pitched seven innings June 29 against the Pittsburgh Pirates but was hit hard in two innings Saturday against the Brewers.

''I was sort of curious about how he would come out [Saturday], but I think the next time he'll pitch so much better,'' Piniella said. ''Then over the All-Star break we can set our rotation [with rest for him].''

Harden will get an extra day off this week because of the Cubs' day off Thursday. He will start Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

''Harden is another guy I think can be so much better in the second half,'' Piniella said. ''We haven't had the luxury of giving our pitchers extra days off [in the last month] because we played 22 straight.''

COMING AROUND

Slowly but surely, Milton Bradley's bat has come around. His average has climbed 118 points in the last 45 games to .245. He is hitting .309 with a .440 on-base percentage since June 10, a trend Piniella considers a sign that the free-agent outfielder with the spotlight squarely focused on him is feeling more comfortable with his new team.

''He's hitting with more consistency,'' Piniella said. ''He's getting acclimated. He'll do well in the second half.''

Copyright 2009 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc. All Rights Reserved
	Terms & Conditions     Privacy Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.