Bodog Beat

Kosuke Fukudome says he’d welcome a nickname. (AP Images)

The Chicago Cubs have waited a century for a World Series victory. They hope the arrival of their newest star will help deliver them the opportunity come October.

Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome entered his first North American training camp in Mesa, Arizona, on Friday afternoon, and was greeted warmly by his new teammates and manager.

"This young man is a professional," Lou Piniella said. "He's experienced. He knows what to do here. He'll get a chance to meet his new teammates and get comfortable. We'll just stay out of the way and let him play."

Fukudome, who starred in the World Baseball Classic, will play rightfield and bat either second or fifth, Piniella said. The lefthanded-hitting slugger averaged .305 in his Japanese League career.

He seemed amenable to adopting a name more appealing to American hears. "I'm comfortable with any nickname anybody comes up with, or Kosuke,” he said through an interpreter. “Whatever floats the boat would be fine for me."

The Cubs are favored to repeat as National League Central champs and hold 2008 World Series odds of 12/1. They haven’t won a championship since 1908, whent the famed trio of Tinkers, Evers and Chance were in their prime.

For more on the Cubs’ chase to win it all in the centennial year of their last title, read Bodog Nation, and get the latest 2008 World Series odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.