Fukudome Signs with Cubs for 4 years (MLB.com: $48 M)

[Andy]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e67/ndistops/fukudomania.jpg

 

FUKUDOMANIA!!!!

[Guest]

Hendry and Wilson really are committed to Asia.

[BigbadB]

Bruce Miles has obviously and finally gotten into Hendry's head with this silly OBP stuff.

 

Hats off to Bruce!

[Omar]

Any news on an official press conference? Edited December 12, 2007 by Omar

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

Jim Hendry is the best GM in Chicago Sports.

[VanceJergins]

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e67/ndistops/fukudomania.jpg

 

FUKUDOMANIA!!!!

 

Meh...not as good as Derwood's, but still pretty nice.

[Bruce Miles]

Any news on an official press conference?

 

No. Considering the logistics, maybe early next week.

[Mephistopheles]

Didn't Meph suggest that Japanese baseball will be close to being on par with the National League next year? I'm not sure if he was serious or thinking out loud, but there might be something to it. I really don't know.

 

I was suggesting it. I am serious. That being said there still is going to be a translation of numbers going from one league to another. Now that I actually have a Cubs-linked reason to develop my own translation system -- and the semester finished for me this morning, I'll certainly get to work on the stuff.

 

And of course, I'll post my results for all to see.

[Mizzou]

So Fuk's arm... I know it's good, but are we talking Ichiro good or Sammy in his prime good?

[BCVM22]

So Fuk's arm... I know it's good, but are we talking Ichiro good or Sammy in his prime good?

 

It's been posted before, but

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPPZjtu-eIA

[BigbadB]

Did I read somewhere in this thread that he and his wife are due for the birth of their first child very soon?

 

If so, this is a pretty huge decision he's making. Surprised he made it this quickly, even if we all went through tremendous torture waiting this long.

[1908]

So Fuk's arm... I know it's good, but are we talking Ichiro good or Sammy in his prime good?

Few are Ichiro good. Much more accurate than Sosa's.

[RammyFanny]

Only about the third Fukudome story I've written today:

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=93689

Solid article Bruce.

Good stuff as always Bruce. One thing though, I could've sworn the Lou quote comparing him to other players was a cross between Hideki Matsui and Ichiro (not that I necessarily agree). You've got Kaz in there.

 

Edit: From here:

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071209&content_id=2321824&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Edited December 12, 2007 by RammyFanny

[Omar]

How is his English? Will he need a translator?

[Outshined_One]

So Fuk's arm... I know it's good, but are we talking Ichiro good or Sammy in his prime good?

Few are Ichiro good. Much more accurate than Sosa's.

 

Whew, good to know we won't have to worry about more throws from RF to the backstop. I still wake up in cold sweats from nightmares produced by Alou and Sosa in the OF...

[Guancous]

This is a very good signing by Hendry. We're an average shortstop away from being the best team in the league. How much will Theriot improve this year?

[XZero771679666304]

So Fuk's arm... I know it's good, but are we talking Ichiro good or Sammy in his prime good?

Few are Ichiro good. Much more accurate than Sosa's.

 

Whew, good to know we won't have to worry about more throws from RF to the backstop. I still wake up in cold sweats from nightmares produced by Alou and Sosa in the OF...

 

The Cubs will have plus arms at all three OF positions. That will make a huge difference. Instead of fearing Soriano's arm, teams will have to fear them all.

[SouthSideRyan]

So Fuk's arm... I know it's good, but are we talking Ichiro good or Sammy in his prime good?

Few are Ichiro good. Much more accurate than Sosa's.

 

Whew, good to know we won't have to worry about more throws from RF to the backstop. I still wake up in cold sweats from nightmares produced by Alou and Sosa in the OF...

 

The Cubs will have plus arms at all three OF positions. That will make a huge difference. Instead of fearing Soriano's arm, teams will have to fear them all.

 

All with plus range as well. This is a very very good defensive OF.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

We're an average shortstop away from being the best team in the league.

woah, lets not get ahead of ourselves.

[Omar]

So Fuk's arm... I know it's good, but are we talking Ichiro good or Sammy in his prime good?

Few are Ichiro good. Much more accurate than Sosa's.

 

Whew, good to know we won't have to worry about more throws from RF to the backstop. I still wake up in cold sweats from nightmares produced by Alou and Sosa in the OF...

 

The Cubs will have plus arms at all three OF positions. That will make a huge difference. Instead of fearing Soriano's arm, teams will have to fear them all.

 

All with plus range as well. This is a very very good defensive OF.

 

Unless Murton swings a good bat while Pie fails to... Moving Fuku to CF & Murton to RF. Very possible.

Edited December 12, 2007 by Omar

[Brian]

I've got to admit I'm pumped.

[Mephistopheles]

We're an average shortstop away from being the best team in the league.

woah, lets not get ahead of ourselves.

 

Actually this is quite true. Although it has nothing to do with this move. The Cubs were an average shortstop away from being the best team in the league before they signed Fukudome.

[VanceJergins]

We're an average shortstop away from being the best team in the league.

woah, lets not get ahead of ourselves.

 

I think I agree with Guancous.

[SouthSideRyan]

So Fuk's arm... I know it's good, but are we talking Ichiro good or Sammy in his prime good?

Few are Ichiro good. Much more accurate than Sosa's.

 

Whew, good to know we won't have to worry about more throws from RF to the backstop. I still wake up in cold sweats from nightmares produced by Alou and Sosa in the OF...

 

The Cubs will have plus arms at all three OF positions. That will make a huge difference. Instead of fearing Soriano's arm, teams will have to fear them all.

 

All with plus range as well. This is a very very good defensive OF.

 

Unless Murton swings a good bat while Pie fails to... Moving Fuku to CF & Murton to RF. Very possible.

 

I think Matt's on his way to Baltimore. DeRosa will be the new backup plan if Pie falters.

[TruffleShuffle]

Only about the third Fukudome story I've written today:

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=93689

 

if you can do another one by the end of the day, then i'll be really impressed. :lol:

 

are you prepared for the onslaught of your japanese counterparts? i'm sure it will be less than the coverage of, say, ichiro or daisuke, but more than the fervor of so taguchi's debut.