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

[Sterling30]

The Padre fans just love us after the signing... :D

 

"The only

Thing worse than losing out on him is having to hear it from all of the douch Cubs fans out there. God I hope this guy tanks. "

"

The Pads made a fair offer - not the front office's fault that the Cubs overpaid for the guy. And, yeah, they overpaid for him.

And, yeah, I hope he tanks, too. Because I hate the Cubs. A lot."

 

http://www.gaslampball.com/story/2007/12/11/224611/46

 

While not quite on par with "moran", "douch" is quite funny. :lol: :lol:

[erik316wttn]

Where is he projected to bat in the lineup?

[JeffH]

Where is he projected to bat in the lineup?

 

Manager Lou Piniella, who called Fukudome a cross between Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui, said last week he expected to bat the new Cub fourth or fifth in the order.

[PrimeTime]

http://images.bleedcubbieblue.com/images/admin/Kosuke.jpg

[nilodnayr]

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

 

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

 

The disturbing thing I read in that quote is that, assuming the Cubs do get Roberts, Hendry and Piniella STILL think Soriano should leadoff. Dumb, dumb, dumb. This makes infinitely more sense:

 

Roberts, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Fukudome, Soto, then others.

 

I'm guessing

 

Soriano

Roberts

Lee

Fukudome

Ramirez (4/5 could flip flop)

Soto

Pie

Theriot

 

It'd be great if we pulled a TLR and bat Theriot 9th and the pitcher 8th.

[erik316wttn]

Where is he projected to bat in the lineup?

 

Manager Lou Piniella, who called Fukudome a cross between Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui, said last week he expected to bat the new Cub fourth or fifth in the order.

 

Wow. I didn't think he had enough power to bat 4th. I always thought he was a leadoff or #2 guy.

[PrimeTime]

LOL at crybaby Kenny Williams

 

Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, eyes glazed and body weary, slumped in a chair, trying to make sense of this ruthless behavior besieging the American League.

"If I ever leave this job or if I ever get fired," Williams says, "I'm not coming back to the American League. I'm going to the National League. You've got a fighting chance over there."

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-12-10-alnl-baseball_N.htm

[Derwood]

Dear Jim,

 

Your OF is now set for the next four years. Repeat after me: Soriano-Pie-Fukodome. Soriano-Pie-Fukodome.

 

Do NOT tinker. Do NOT decide you need some random tool set. Get a better SS and walk away.

 

Sincerely,

 

Cubs Fans

[nilodnayr]

Where is he projected to bat in the lineup?

 

Manager Lou Piniella, who called Fukudome a cross between Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui, said last week he expected to bat the new Cub fourth or fifth in the order.

 

Wow. I didn't think he had enough power to bat 4th. I always thought he was a leadoff or #2 guy.

 

Just like OBP isnt the ONLY important thing out of a leadoff hitter, power isnt the ONLY important thing out of a middle of the order hitter. Also, while he doesn't have HR power, he definitely has great doubles power and will probably lead the team or be very close to the lead in 2bs.

[UMFan83]

Did anyone read the quote from JH in Bruce's article. Apologize if its been discussed already

 

"He answers so many questions for us," Hendry said. "He's left-handed. He has a high on-base percentage

 

What next, are you going to talk about his VORP? Are you freaking kidding me Jim? Did you finally realize the Damien Jacksons and Neifi Perez's of the world have a fundamental problem with them.

[St.Paul Cub]

 

The disturbing thing I read in that quote is that, assuming the Cubs do get Roberts, Hendry and Piniella STILL think Soriano should leadoff. Dumb, dumb, dumb. This makes infinitely more sense:

 

Roberts, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Fukudome, Soto, then others.

 

I'm guessing

 

Soriano

Roberts

Lee

Fukudome

Ramirez (4/5 could flip flop)

Soto

Pie

Theriot

 

It'd be great if we pulled a TLR and bat Theriot 9th and the pitcher 8th.

 

Agree with both of you. I think that's exactly the lineup we'll use, but I agree that having Roberts lead off makes more sense.

[TruffleShuffle]

From the article above, and I couldn't agree more:

 

…is a pretty good-looking lineup. PECOTA very much likes all Geovany Soto and Felix Pie, by the way, and is reasonably warm on Ronny Cedeno. If the Cubs let these kids play — perhaps integrating Ryan Theriot and Matt Murton in platoons of various kinds — this could quite easily be the best lineup in the National League.

 

yeah, pecota liked pie and cedeno a lot in the past too, and they sucked ass.

[Banedon]

 

The disturbing thing I read in that quote is that, assuming the Cubs do get Roberts, Hendry and Piniella STILL think Soriano should leadoff. Dumb, dumb, dumb. This makes infinitely more sense:

 

Roberts, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Fukudome, Soto, then others.

 

I'm guessing

 

Soriano

Roberts

Lee

Fukudome

Ramirez (4/5 could flip flop)

Soto

Pie

Theriot

 

It'd be great if we pulled a TLR and bat Theriot 9th and the pitcher 8th.

 

Agree with both of you. I think that's exactly the lineup we'll use, but I agree that having Roberts lead off makes more sense.

 

I'd like to see:

Roberts

Lee

Soriano

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soto

Pie

Theriot

 

I know Lee 2nd isn't ideal, but if you take Soriano out of the leadoff spot for Roberts, then you don't really have a prototypical 2 spot guy. You could put Derosa 2nd, move everyone down one if he plays SS.

[apete6]

 

The disturbing thing I read in that quote is that, assuming the Cubs do get Roberts, Hendry and Piniella STILL think Soriano should leadoff. Dumb, dumb, dumb. This makes infinitely more sense:

 

Roberts, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Fukudome, Soto, then others.

 

I'm guessing

 

Soriano

Roberts

Lee

Fukudome

Ramirez (4/5 could flip flop)

Soto

Pie

Theriot

 

It'd be great if we pulled a TLR and bat Theriot 9th and the pitcher 8th.

 

Agree with both of you. I think that's exactly the lineup we'll use, but I agree that having Roberts lead off makes more sense.

 

I'd like to see:

Roberts

Lee

Soriano

Ramirez

Fukudome

Soto

Pie

Theriot

 

I know Lee 2nd isn't ideal, but if you take Soriano out of the leadoff spot for Roberts, then you don't really have a prototypical 2 spot guy. You could put Derosa 2nd, move everyone down one if he plays SS.

 

We have a winner! I totally agree with you on the order. Pie doesn't bat 8th, Theriot is the same hitter anywhere, Soriano protected by Ramirez, Lee is patient enough to take walks in front of Soriano and Ramirez. =D>

[Soul]

Did anyone read the quote from JH in Bruce's article. Apologize if its been discussed already

 

"He answers so many questions for us," Hendry said. "He's left-handed. He has a high on-base percentage

 

What next, are you going to talk about his VORP? Are you freaking kidding me Jim? Did you finally realize the Damien Jacksons and Neifi Perez's of the world have a fundamental problem with them.

 

It is indeed very interesting to suddenly hear Jimbo throwing OBP around. This is new.

[jersey cubs fan]

Did anyone read the quote from JH in Bruce's article. Apologize if its been discussed already

 

"He answers so many questions for us," Hendry said. "He's left-handed. He has a high on-base percentage

 

What next, are you going to talk about his VORP? Are you freaking kidding me Jim? Did you finally realize the Damien Jacksons and Neifi Perez's of the world have a fundamental problem with them.

 

Jim has mentioned OBP a lot in recent years. Although I felt he was just paying lip service after having people like Bruce Miles ask about it repeatedly. The one concern I still have is that he likes OBP, only if it comes with high AVG. In other words, he still doesn't see the problem with the lack of walks. Hopefully Fukudome is a signal that is changed.

[Hosak8]

One of Fukudome's biggest boosters is Cubs broadcaster Ron Santo, who now has the envious task of trying to pronounce his name without incurring any fines from the FCC.

 

"I talked to Pat Hughes about it and told him that's going to be a tough one," Santo said last weekend from his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. "He said, 'Fukudome.' I said, 'Easy for you to say.'"

 

:lol: YES

Imagine Harry trying to get it right.

Imagine Harry trying to say it backwards!

 

I don't know.. Emodukuf isn't really all that hard to say. Sounds alot like "emoticuf".

 

"Hey, Steve, did you know Fukudome backwards is Emodukuf?!?"

[ThePenguin11]

If we were to get Roberts, I don't see why this would not be the lineup. In fact I don't know why our .400 OBP guy would be buried behind our power-hitters in any scenario. It troubles me that Lou is already thinking he's a guy who should be protecting our 3-4 hitters. He should be a table setter getting into scoring position regularly in front of them. I think it's pretty obvious to most of us that Soriano is batting out of order, but let's not double-whammy the lineup.

 

As for Derosa in RF, I think he should be the guy since he's an efficient hitter and can field the position adequately. He's a team guy and I don't see this upsetting his chemistry when it comes down to it - especially when he should be happy to get in the field on an everyday basis. Now if I can just talk Lou into making him an everyday player....

 

Roberts 2B

Fukudome CF

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Soriano LF

DeRosa RF

Theriot SS

Soto C

P

 

w/o Roberts

 

Soriano

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Derosa

Soto

Theriot

Pie

P

 

The no-Roberts scenario kinda blows because we still have Soriano leading off and Soto/Theriot/Pie at the bottom of the order leaves something to be desired (with a weaker 1-5 order).

[CubColtPacer]

Did anyone read the quote from JH in Bruce's article. Apologize if its been discussed already

 

"He answers so many questions for us," Hendry said. "He's left-handed. He has a high on-base percentage

 

What next, are you going to talk about his VORP? Are you freaking kidding me Jim? Did you finally realize the Damien Jacksons and Neifi Perez's of the world have a fundamental problem with them.

 

I don't understand why everyone is going crazy over that quote. Hendry has repeatedly used on base percentage and plate discipline in many of his quotes over the past year (after rarely using it before that). He used those concepts in talking about the Kendall deal (if I remember right, he said that Kendall "always has had a high on base percentage" and that was a main factor in getting him, Pie getting sent down (specifically to work on his plate discipline and drawing more walks), and many other random interviews through the year.

 

What is significant here is that he actually acquired a player who is going to help significantly in that department rather than just saying OBP is important, because he has been saying that consistently for almost a year now.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

LOL at crybaby Kenny Williams

 

Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, eyes glazed and body weary, slumped in a chair, trying to make sense of this ruthless behavior besieging the American League.

"If I ever leave this job or if I ever get fired," Williams says, "I'm not coming back to the American League. I'm going to the National League. You've got a fighting chance over there."

 

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-12-10-alnl-baseball_N.htm

To be fair, KW is hamstrung by a prick of an owner. That is why the Bulls don't have Kobe, or Garnett...he won't pay the luxury tax.(that and John Paxson has no balls).

[UMFan83]

Dear Jim,

 

Your OF is now set for the next four years. Repeat after me: Soriano-Pie-Fukodome. Soriano-Pie-Fukodome.

 

Do NOT tinker. Do NOT decide you need some random tool set. Get a better SS and walk away.

 

Sincerely,

 

Cubs Fans

 

Im sure some Cubs fans wouldn't mind trading Pie for a SS and making Soriano-Fukudome-Murton the OF for the next 4 years.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Dear Jim,

 

Your OF is now set for the next four years. Repeat after me: Soriano-Pie-Fukodome. Soriano-Pie-Fukodome.

 

Do NOT tinker. Do NOT decide you need some random tool set. Get a better SS and walk away.

 

Sincerely,

 

Cubs Fans

 

Im sure some Cubs fans wouldn't mind trading Pie for a SS and making Soriano-Fukudome-Murton the OF for the next 4 years.

This is what I'd prefer, ideally.

[A New Era]

Incase anyone is wondering. Comcast sportsnet already has fuku all dolled up in the Cubs uni. Looks like they sent over a uni for him to snap a quick pic.

 

http://chicago.comcastsportsnet.com/images/homepage/fukudomeinuniformH.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

What is significant here is that he actually acquired a player who is going to help significantly in that department rather than just saying OBP is important, because he has been saying that consistently for almost a year now.

 

Agreed. Now, if we could just get him to let the players know it's okay to take a walk.

[jersey cubs fan]

Incase anyone is wondering. Comcast sportsnet already has fuku all dolled up in the Cubs uni. Looks like they sent over a uni for him to snap a quick pic.

 

http://chicago.comcastsportsnet.com/images/homepage/fukudomeinuniformH.jpg

 

Isn't that just your standard superimposed new jersey on an old picture situation?