What would B.Roberts and Fukudome do to help the offense?

[Knyption]

I do not get it. I think they are better options for obp, but neither seem to put us over the top.... any thoughts?

[Guest]

They each represent marginal upgrades over DeRosa & Murton on OPS, they're each faster, and they're both left handed.

 

That's all I've got.

[Mephistopheles]

I do not get it. I think they are better options for obp, but neither seem to put us over the top.... any thoughts?

 

alex rodriguez at shortstop wouldn't put us over the top...

[cbbryan]

We'd add a new language to the clubhouse that we don't currently have.

[Rob]

We'd add a new language to the clubhouse that we don't currently have.

 

I was under the impression Soriano spoke some Japanese... he did spend some time over there, after all.

[Mephistopheles]

We'd add a new language to the clubhouse that we don't currently have.

 

I was under the impression Soriano spoke some Japanese... he did spend some time over there, after all.

 

 

That is what I was thinking. Derrek Lee also probably picked some of it up from his dad.

[cbbryan]

We'd add a new language to the clubhouse that we don't currently have.

 

I was under the impression Soriano spoke some Japanese... he did spend some time over there, after all.

 

He's not fluent so he doesn't get credit! LOL!

 

From what I've heard about Fukudome his defense/arm are tremendous. Not Felix Pie tremendous, but above average.

 

Fukudome D > Murton D

 

That would be an upgrade, I suppose.

[Knyption]

Considering the cubs financial obligations, i guess i can understand not going for a big name, but getting 2 marginal upgrades on the field while doing nearly nothing to the rotation does not seem like a "Plan for Winning" to me.

 

 

Call me skeptical....

[Clem Fandango]

They each represent marginal upgrades over DeRosa & Murton on OPS, they're each faster, and they're both left handed.

 

That's all I've got.

 

Seems spot on to me. Stolen bases are sexy

[inari]

I love Murt too, but I don't see Fukudome as a "marginal" upgrade.

[Knyption]

How many of the hyped up Japanese prospects actually play as good as advertised???

 

H Matsui - Kinda

Ichiro --- well ya

 

Taguchi -???crud

K Matsui-???crud

 

I dunno, i guess he is a great player...

[Clem Fandango]

Ichiro was a different type of ball player than most of the Japanese players though. Most of the japanese players that come over end up being disappointments because they hit tons of HR's and high AVG over there and end up not hitting a ton over here. Ichiro wasn't a HR hitter, he just transfered a skill set that was top notch and could be successful at any baseball level, really. I really hope Fukudome is as advertised though (as if anyone doesn't)

[cbbryan]

How many of the hyped up Japanese prospects actually play as good as advertised???

 

H Matsui - Kinda

Ichiro --- well ya

 

Taguchi -???crud

K Matsui-???crud

 

I dunno, i guess he is a great player...

 

I'd take Hideki, Ichiro, or Iguchi. Iguchi's obviously not the player the other two are, but he's an average 2B. Note: I wouldn't take him on this Cub team, but he's a useful player on a MLB team, IMO.

[Mephistopheles]

that isnt true. ichiro is the prototypical japanese hitter.

[Knyption]

My question is will we get closer to ichiro or so taguchi?

 

 

my feeling is that it will be closer to taguchi

[cbbryan]

If Fukudome ends up being Hideki Matsui, I'd be happy. I get the impression that he may be a bit better overall player though, which would be even better.

[inari]

Since when has Hideki Matsui been anything but excellent since coming over?

[CubsWin]

They each represent marginal upgrades over DeRosa & Murton on OPS, they're each faster, and they're both left handed.

 

That's all I've got.

That's about all I've got, too, besides the depth that would be added by making DeRosa the supersub.

 

That depth is no a small thing, however. DeRo would likely end up getting about 400 ABs just rotating as the supersub, and even more if he filled in for someone due to injury which almost always happens. I don't see adding Roberts as an upgrade over DeRosa, though. It's really an upgrade over who ever would play 2B on days when DeRo was filling elsewhere due to injury or giving a guy a day off. Theriot would slide over to 2B and Cedeno would play SS on those days, or Fontenot would play 2B, if he's even on the team.

 

So we are really talking about the upgrade of Fukudome over Murton, Roberts over DeRosa and DeRosa over Cedeno/Fontenot. I guess you could also throw in the value of keeping players fresh with regular days off (if that even has a noticeable impact on a player's production), and the value of the having the minimal drop-off of DeRosa being the injury back-up for the OFers and corner IFers.

 

But for the life of me I still can't figure out the value of having left-handers break-up a string of right-handed hitters in a line-up. Is it the supposed comfort level of the opposing pitcher? Causing managers to burn through their bullpen faster making good match-ups? What is it?

[SouthSideRyan]

We'd add a new language to the clubhouse that we don't currently have.

 

I was under the impression Soriano spoke some Japanese... he did spend some time over there, after all.

 

 

That is what I was thinking. Derrek Lee also probably picked some of it up from his dad.

 

They're probably not conversing in it in the clubhouse though.

 

And bringing So Taguchi into the discussion on Japanese players is like bring Shinjo into it. Neither were supposed to be any good. They were brought over as backups, and that's what they were. There've only been 4 hyped hitters by my recollection. The Matsuis, Johjima, and Ichiro.(Iguchi and Iwamura are on the next level down) Those that have been expected to be good hitters have turned out pretty well.

[cubsfan2210]

Yea they would help out a ton. Derrek had an off year along with Aramis and Soriano. They are great RBI guys. If we just get Roberts then Derosa can play right field and theriot can stay where he is. If we get both then that is great. Derosa or The Riot would be superb backups off the bench.

[badnews]

Why should we believe Fukudome is going to hit as well as Hideki Matsui?

[Mephistopheles]

because he hit nearly as well as him in japan? didn't i just go over all of this stuff in the fukudome thread a few weeks ago? (probably, and I believe it was directed at you there too)

[TBone]

I do not get it. I think they are better options for obp

 

Doesn't that say it all? We need guys who can get on base and be patient at the plate. Currently, we don't have much in that department.

 

Besides, what would be better than setting the record for HDP for a season?

 

Seriously, we've got "enough" power to do damage in the Central and a decent staff. Putting some guys in the lineup that can get on base and move around the bases can't hurt, although it won't be a major upgrade.

 

T

[badnews]

Fukudome's career averages are a .305 BA, .397 OBP, .543 SLG.

 

Matsui's career averages are a .304 BA, .413 OBP, .582 SLG.

 

Fukudome's strikeout rate being higher than most other Japanese hitters who've come over here, besides the so-far unimpressive Iwamura is also a concern for me.

 

If I remember your formula, applying it to Matsui would give him an .878 OPS and he has a career .856 OPS. Applying your formula to Fukudome (if I remember it correctly) would give him an .830 OPS which Matsui is pretty consistently above.

 

Also, you said Fukudome be a .290 EqA, but I'm looking at Matsui's page, and it says after his first year he's posted EqAs of .316, .305, .311, and .301. Also, you said Fukudome would be Mark Kotsay back in San Diego but I've never really thought of San Diego Mark Kotsay as a great comparison to Matsui, so I guess I'm confused.

[Mephistopheles]

i didnt say anything about him being as good as matsui

 

i just said in japan he was matsui minus x, so in the us he should be matsui minus x.