Kosuke Fukudome

[texascub]

For 1908 of anyone else that knows, is there any chance that Kosuke Fukudome gets posted by Chunichi this offseason? I saw that he's most likely going to be a FA after the 2007, so there might be a chance of it. I wouldn't mind having his .357/.437/.655/1.092 line in the OF this year at all.

[Roast]

I have no other comment than that his name is simply awesome.

[texascub]

I have no other comment than that his name is simply awesome.

 

Unfortunately it isn't pronounced the way it looks, though it would be funny.

[Roast]

I have no other comment than that his name is simply awesome.

 

Unfortunately it isn't pronounced the way it looks, though it would be funny.

 

Darn.

[rocket]

it'd make for some awesome signs at wrigley

[Warpticon]

FOOkooDohmay

 

Pretty much every Japanese name you hear in baseball is commonly badly mispronounced. Matt Sooie!

[NCCubFan]

Matt Sooie!

Matt Suhey! :D

[Bruno7481]

For 1908 of anyone else that knows, is there any chance that Kosuke Fukudome gets posted by Chunichi this offseason? I saw that he's most likely going to be a FA after the 2007, so there might be a chance of it. I wouldn't mind having his .357/.437/.655/1.092 line in the OF this year at all.

 

Me either, but what are the chances of him doing that at the ML level? Matsui has never even approached those numbers with the NYY.

[Mephistopheles]

A few things about Kosuke. He's an elite defender with an excellent arm as well. He plays for Chunichi and their home park is the Japanese equivalent to the Astrodome. I do not have his splits but I am certain they'd be significant. Unlike Matsui his transition could be very good as he's a very patient hitter.

 

Obviously he's not going to put up the same numbers in the US as he has in Japan, but he's one of the best players in Japan. Scouts have been all over his pure hitting ability for several years now. He's a guy Beane could love.

 

In fact, his Davenport translations have been VERY solid over the course of his career:

 

Japanese stats - Translated MLB stats

 

2002: .343/.406/.537

2003: .312/.401/.604 - .282/.365/.484

2004: .277/.367/.569 - .247/.328/.437

2005: .328/.430/.590 - .301/.382/.498

2006: .361/.439/.655

 

You can throw the 2004 numbers out of the door, he was hurt. In 2005 his Japanese EqA (non translated) was .318 - second best in the league behind Matsunaka. His translated EqA the last three years:

 

2003: .288

2004: .262

2005: .302

 

Remember .260 is league average. He's not a huge home run guy, but he's a 2B and walk machine. The only issue I have with signing him if he wanted to come stateside is that he will turn 30 next April.

[soccer10k]

Sounds like Bobby Abreu with a lot of 2B and walks but with a lack of HR power. Definately wouldn't mind having him in the outfield.

[Mephistopheles]

I've always thought Milton Bradley or Mark Kotsay (when he was good) with him myself.

[1908]

For 1908 of anyone else that knows, is there any chance that Kosuke Fukudome gets posted by Chunichi this offseason?

He's expressed interest in MLB a couple times, but he's never asked to be posted like Akinori Iwamura and Daisuke Matsuzaka have. I think it's unlikely the Dragons post him. Japanese teams have been very reluctant to post their superstars.

 

Outside of Nobuhiko Matsunaka, there isn't a better Japanese-born hitter in NPB at the moment than Fukudome. The best bat likely to be available to MLB teams from Japan this off-season is Michihiro Ogasawara, who's hitting .304/.385/.557 for the Fighters this year. He'll be a free agent, but I have my doubts he'd be interested in making the transition to MLB at 33.

[Mephistopheles]

Surprisingly Fukudome has a significantly higher SLG% than Matsunaka. Matsunaka is a walk machine. Up until this season I would have said Wada was better than Fukudome, but it looks like his offensive skills might still be hampered from the injury that kept him on the bench for the WBC.

[bhogg]

He has a twin brother named Fukmedome

[1908]

Surprisingly Fukudome has a significantly higher SLG% than Matsunaka.

Yes, this season. Part of that could be a mass Matsunaka had removed from his hip around the All-Star break. Three-year averages are close if you take out Fukudome's injury-filled 2004, and leave in Matsunaka's possibly injury-effected 2006.

 

.330/.421/.611 Fukudome

.336/.442/.649 Matsunaka

 

Up until this season I would have said Wada was better than Fukudome, but it looks like his offensive skills might still be hampered from the injury that kept him on the bench for the WBC.

I wouldn't. Wada had a great run from 2003-2005, but Fukedome's right there with him over the past four seasons, and that includes Kosuke's injury-shortened 2004.

 

.319/.410/.602 Fukedome

.321/.406/.578 Wada

 

I also suspect age and not injury is responsible for Wada's drop in production.

[1908]

Matsui has never even approached those numbers with the NYY.

Unlike Matsui his transition could be very good as he's a very patient hitter.

Fukedome's more patient than Kazuo, but not Hideki.

[Mephistopheles]

Eh, I meant Kaz. I just read NY and thought bust for Kaz.

 

I suck.