The Kosuke Fukudome & Hiroki Kuroda Thread

[Mephistopheles]

I have a question. Several media sources say that Fukudome's defensive skills are comparable to Ichiro's. I know Fukudome is said to have more power than Ichiro but what about his speed? Can Fukudome also steal bases? How fast is he?

 

No.

 

So he doesn't have the skills of Ichiro? Why in the world do these media guys compare them like that then? Well....since they are both Japanese let's just group them together. What player in MLB is he most like?

 

Because he's got great bat control like Ichiro. He does, however, have enough speed to be an above average defensive centerfielder. I don't like the Raul Ibanez comparison. He's somewhere between Grady Sizemore lite and Mark Kotsay 2000-04 (basically Grady Sizemore lite)

[erik316wttn]

Fukudome seems to be Hendrys guy this offseason. Hendry targeted Soranio last offseason and got it done quickly expect the same with Fukudome.

 

If this is a case, I hope he doesn't sign Fukudome to a ridiculous contract that will surely handcuff us 5-6 years down the road like he did with Soriano.

[moorecg]

Not sure if this has been posted on here...but XM says that Fukudome filed for free agency today.

[UMFan83]

Fukudome seems to be Hendrys guy this offseason. Hendry targeted Soranio last offseason and got it done quickly expect the same with Fukudome.

 

Furcal?

[Post Count Padder]

Fukudome seems to be Hendrys guy this offseason. Hendry targeted Soranio last offseason and got it done quickly expect the same with Fukudome.

 

Furcal?

Hendry wanted him or Pierre and wound up with one. Last season he said he would get Soriano and he did. If he wants Fukudome just as bad, I can only hope he would be able to get it done.

[Yanksfan1523]

Fukudome seems to be Hendrys guy this offseason. Hendry targeted Soranio last offseason and got it done quickly expect the same with Fukudome.

 

Furcal?

Hendry wanted him or Pierre and wound up with one. Last season he said he would get Soriano and he did. If he wants Fukudome just as bad, I can only hope he would be able to get it done.

 

Even if it means overpaying at the end of the contract? Like he did with Soriano. What is the Salary expectations for this guy?

[TheDude]

Fukudome seems to be Hendrys guy this offseason. Hendry targeted Soranio last offseason and got it done quickly expect the same with Fukudome.

 

Furcal?

Hendry wanted him or Pierre and wound up with one. Last season he said he would get Soriano and he did. If he wants Fukudome just as bad, I can only hope he would be able to get it done.

 

Even if it means overpaying at the end of the contract? Like he did with Soriano. What is the Salary expectations for this guy?

 

You can't get an impact bat without paying for it if you're farm system isn't producing it. There is no other option.

[Yanksfan1523]

Fukudome seems to be Hendrys guy this offseason. Hendry targeted Soranio last offseason and got it done quickly expect the same with Fukudome.

 

Furcal?

Hendry wanted him or Pierre and wound up with one. Last season he said he would get Soriano and he did. If he wants Fukudome just as bad, I can only hope he would be able to get it done.

 

Even if it means overpaying at the end of the contract? Like he did with Soriano. What is the Salary expectations for this guy?

 

You can't get an impact bat without paying for it if you're farm system isn't producing it. There is no other option.

 

What is the rumored contract for this guy? Just curious.

[BCVM22]

What is the rumored contract for this guy? Just curious.

 

This scouting report predicted 3-4 years totaling $12-15 million over the length of the contract, but that was before he had the elbow problems.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

So, when can I order my Fukudome jersey. I've been working on my Christmas list.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So, when can I order my Fukudome jersey. I've been working on my Christmas list.

who cares who he signs with, order one -- and spell it the American way

[BCVM22]

So, when can I order my Fukudome jersey. I've been working on my Christmas list.

 

When he reminds us all that he'll wear KOSUKE on his MLB jersey.

[CubColtPacer]

What is the rumored contract for this guy? Just curious.

 

This scouting report predicted 3-4 years totaling $12-15 million over the length of the contract, but that was before he had the elbow problems.

 

It's not totaling 12-15 million, it's 12-15 million per year over 3-4 years. Now I've heard that he'll probably get around 10 million per year.

[BCVM22]

It's not totaling 12-15 million, it's 12-15 million per year over 3-4 years. Now I've heard that he'll probably get around 10 million per year.

 

Was I misreading it that badly? Wow. Oh well. What he said.

[Post Count Padder]

I'd have no problem with 4 years and about 50 million, 5 years only if we have to.

[1908]

On Saturday I was on the Major League Baseball channel on XM Radio. I fleshed out my picks that I gave you last week, giving them a position player, a starter, a reliever, and my long-shot.

 

1. Chunichi Dragons outfielder Kosuke Fukudome

 

No secret about this guy. People say things about him like: Gold Glove-caliber defense, going away the best Japanese talent available this year, a solid, no-nonsense type player with a terrific glove and sound arm.

 

Had surgery on his right elbow in August and missed his team's win in the Japan Series. Is seen as the top position player.

 

Fukudome, 30, a left-handed-hitting corner outfielder, probably best in right, was a standout on Japan's club that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.

 

He hit 192 home runs and has a .305 batting average during nine seasons, all with the Chunichi Dragons from Nagoya.

 

But may he be the player where the Japanese draw the line in the sand?

 

Wayne Graczyk, author of the Japan Baseball Media Guide and a scout for the Red Sox in Japan, just mentioned to me, "People say the Cubs are going to make a big play, but the rumor going around is that Fukudome may sign with the Tokyo Giants."

 

The Tokyo Giants ballclub, while not as dominant as in year's past, is still Japan's team. It is Team Japan and if anyone can keep him, they can.

[Post Count Padder]

On Saturday I was on the Major League Baseball channel on XM Radio. I fleshed out my picks that I gave you last week, giving them a position player, a starter, a reliever, and my long-shot.

 

1. Chunichi Dragons outfielder Kosuke Fukudome

 

No secret about this guy. People say things about him like: Gold Glove-caliber defense, going away the best Japanese talent available this year, a solid, no-nonsense type player with a terrific glove and sound arm.

 

Had surgery on his right elbow in August and missed his team's win in the Japan Series. Is seen as the top position player.

 

Fukudome, 30, a left-handed-hitting corner outfielder, probably best in right, was a standout on Japan's club that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.

 

He hit 192 home runs and has a .305 batting average during nine seasons, all with the Chunichi Dragons from Nagoya.

 

But may he be the player where the Japanese draw the line in the sand?

 

Wayne Graczyk, author of the Japan Baseball Media Guide and a scout for the Red Sox in Japan, just mentioned to me, "People say the Cubs are going to make a big play, but the rumor going around is that Fukudome may sign with the Tokyo Giants."

 

The Tokyo Giants ballclub, while not as dominant as in year's past, is still Japan's team. It is Team Japan and if anyone can keep him, they can.

Oh dear God don't let that be true

[Derwood]

Oh dear God don't let that be true

 

Randy Winn, your table is ready

[bhogg]

I see this guy's name and I think of the Tina Turner song "Thunderdome."

 

It could be his theme song with a couple of minor lyric changes.

[Mizzou]

So, when can I order my Fukudome jersey. I've been working on my Christmas list.

 

When he reminds us all that he'll wear KOSUKE on his MLB jersey.

Why exactly is that? I know Ichiro does it, but you didn't see Hideo Nomo with "Hideo" on his jersey. So Taguchi's jersey doesn't say "So." Chan Ho Park's jersey doesn't say "Chan." Did Tuffy Rhodes' jersey say "Tuffy?" It kind of bothers me that Ichiro did it and this guy is supposedly doing it too.

[dew1679666265]

So, when can I order my Fukudome jersey. I've been working on my Christmas list.

 

When he reminds us all that he'll wear KOSUKE on his MLB jersey.

Why exactly is that? I know Ichiro does it, but you didn't see Hideo Nomo with "Hideo" on his jersey. So Taguchi's jersey doesn't say "So." Chan Ho Park's jersey doesn't say "Chan." Did Tuffy Rhodes' jersey say "Tuffy?" It kind of bothers me that Ichiro did it and this guy is supposedly doing it too.

 

This guy is doing it because another player (can't recall who) warned him what Fukudome could be confused for in English. If I understand right, he has Fukudome on his jersey in Japan, but will change it for translation reasons in the States.

[BCVM22]

So, when can I order my Fukudome jersey. I've been working on my Christmas list.

 

When he reminds us all that he'll wear KOSUKE on his MLB jersey.

Why exactly is that? I know Ichiro does it, but you didn't see Hideo Nomo with "Hideo" on his jersey. So Taguchi's jersey doesn't say "So." Chan Ho Park's jersey doesn't say "Chan." Did Tuffy Rhodes' jersey say "Tuffy?" It kind of bothers me that Ichiro did it and this guy is supposedly doing it too.

 

This guy is doing it because another player (can't recall who) warned him what Fukudome could be confused for in English. If I understand right, he has Fukudome on his jersey in Japan, but will change it for translation reasons in the States.

 

As stated earlier in the thread, it was some friendly advice from Alex Ochoa, who told him the surname "FUKUDOME" wouldn't quite translate to American culture for obvious reasons.

[dew1679666265]

So, when can I order my Fukudome jersey. I've been working on my Christmas list.

 

When he reminds us all that he'll wear KOSUKE on his MLB jersey.

Why exactly is that? I know Ichiro does it, but you didn't see Hideo Nomo with "Hideo" on his jersey. So Taguchi's jersey doesn't say "So." Chan Ho Park's jersey doesn't say "Chan." Did Tuffy Rhodes' jersey say "Tuffy?" It kind of bothers me that Ichiro did it and this guy is supposedly doing it too.

 

This guy is doing it because another player (can't recall who) warned him what Fukudome could be confused for in English. If I understand right, he has Fukudome on his jersey in Japan, but will change it for translation reasons in the States.

 

As stated earlier in the thread, it was some friendly advice from Alex Ochoa, who told him the surname "FUKUDOME" wouldn't quite translate to American culture for obvious reasons.

 

Many thanks. I couldn't remember who it was that told him that and I was too lazy to go back and check.

[nilodnayr]

So, when can I order my Fukudome jersey. I've been working on my Christmas list.

 

When he reminds us all that he'll wear KOSUKE on his MLB jersey.

Why exactly is that? I know Ichiro does it, but you didn't see Hideo Nomo with "Hideo" on his jersey. So Taguchi's jersey doesn't say "So." Chan Ho Park's jersey doesn't say "Chan." Did Tuffy Rhodes' jersey say "Tuffy?" It kind of bothers me that Ichiro did it and this guy is supposedly doing it too.

 

This guy is doing it because another player (can't recall who) warned him what Fukudome could be confused for in English. If I understand right, he has Fukudome on his jersey in Japan, but will change it for translation reasons in the States.

 

As stated earlier in the thread, it was some friendly advice from Alex Ochoa, who told him the surname "FUKUDOME" wouldn't quite translate to American culture for obvious reasons.

Why did Ichiro do it? Was he just so widely known as Ichiro, like a Cher or Madonna type thing, that he decided to go with that instead of Suzuki?

[Guest]

So, when can I order my Fukudome jersey. I've been working on my Christmas list.

 

When he reminds us all that he'll wear KOSUKE on his MLB jersey.

Why exactly is that? I know Ichiro does it, but you didn't see Hideo Nomo with "Hideo" on his jersey. So Taguchi's jersey doesn't say "So." Chan Ho Park's jersey doesn't say "Chan." Did Tuffy Rhodes' jersey say "Tuffy?" It kind of bothers me that Ichiro did it and this guy is supposedly doing it too.

 

This guy is doing it because another player (can't recall who) warned him what Fukudome could be confused for in English. If I understand right, he has Fukudome on his jersey in Japan, but will change it for translation reasons in the States.

 

As stated earlier in the thread, it was some friendly advice from Alex Ochoa, who told him the surname "FUKUDOME" wouldn't quite translate to American culture for obvious reasons.

Why did Ichiro do it? Was he just so widely known as Ichiro, like a Cher or Madonna type thing, that he decided to go with that instead of Suzuki?

 

Back before Ichiro Suzuki was known as the best hitter ever to come out of Japan, he was a rookie with the Orix Blue Wave, one of four Suzukis on the Orix roster.

 

Blue Wave manager Akira Ogi liked to do what most managers do, call players by their last names. With four Suzukis, however, he had a problem. Suzuki is one of the most common names in Japan, the equivalent of Smith or Jones.

 

Ogi's advice to his budding right fielder: Go by the first name.