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

[Geech]

Also this one.

[ottawacubbie]

cheaters:

 

http://www.wrigleyvillesport.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=53861!Maj&csurl=%2Fistar%2Easp%3Fa%3D3%26dept%3DCubs%26class%3DT%26sortby%3D%26numperpage%3D18%26pos%3D36%26

 

and

 

http://www.wrigleyvillesport.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=53859!Maj&csurl=%2FiStar%2Easp%3Fa%3D29%26

 

Actually all

 

http://www.wrigleyvillesport.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=53859!Maj&csurl=%2FiStar%2Easp%3Fa%3D29%26

[The Voice of Reason]

I ain't buying Levine saying the Cubs didn't have the highest bid. Only if I hear it from a more reliable source like Bruce Miles.

 

George Offman said in his update that the Cubs and Sox had very similar offers. If Offman is any better for ya.... :P

 

No, his source is probably Levine.

 

I'll wait for confirmation from Mr. Miles.

[UMFan83]

I was looking online to get a Chunichi Dragons Fukudome jersey, when I came across this site:

 

http://www.yakyushop.net/proddetail.php?prod=JD1111&cat=7

 

But it looks like Cubs fans already had that idea before me!

 

Note: With the announcement that Kosuke Fukudome will play for the Cubs next season, our stocks of this jersey were quickly snapped up. More jerseys are on the way, but they probably won't arrive in time for Christmas. Watch this space!

[Andy]

The heck with that, I want one with FUKUDOME on the back

[Bruce Miles]

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

 

Bump. You know, I screwed that up. The day Lou gave that original quote was the day the Cubs found out they got "beat" in the Kaz Matsui sweepstakes. So I went back and looked at my transcription of Lou's quote that day, and he said only "Matsui." So I've had "Kaz" Matsui on the brain. I'm sure he meant Hideki Matsui, and that would be a better thing.

[ctcf]

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

 

Bump. You know, I screwed that up. The day Lou gave that original quote was the day the Cubs found out they got "beat" in the Kaz Matsui sweepstakes. So I went back and looked at my transcription of Lou's quote that day, and he said only "Matsui." So I've had "Kaz" Matsui on the brain. I'm sure he meant Hideki Matsui, and that would be a better thing.

 

Hey Bruce!

 

Any updates on what the Cubs are up to post-Kosuke?

[minnesotacubsfan]

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

 

Bump. You know, I screwed that up. The day Lou gave that original quote was the day the Cubs found out they got "beat" in the Kaz Matsui sweepstakes. So I went back and looked at my transcription of Lou's quote that day, and he said only "Matsui." So I've had "Kaz" Matsui on the brain. I'm sure he meant Hideki Matsui, and that would be a better thing.

 

Hey Bruce!

 

Any updates on what the Cubs are up to post-Kosuke?

 

yea, is he flying to Chicago for an unveiling of any kind soon???

[ctcf]

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

 

Bump. You know, I screwed that up. The day Lou gave that original quote was the day the Cubs found out they got "beat" in the Kaz Matsui sweepstakes. So I went back and looked at my transcription of Lou's quote that day, and he said only "Matsui." So I've had "Kaz" Matsui on the brain. I'm sure he meant Hideki Matsui, and that would be a better thing.

 

Hey Bruce!

 

Any updates on what the Cubs are up to post-Kosuke?

 

yea, is he flying to Chicago for an unveiling of any kind soon???

 

I was thinking more Roberts/Mystery Pitcher but yea that too.

[JeffH]

So I've had "Kaz" Matsui on the brain.

 

I'm sorry to hear that. Are there treatments available?

[Rob]

So I've had "Kaz" Matsui on the brain.

 

I'm sorry to hear that. Are there treatments available?

 

Not much, short of sucking on the business end of a Colt .45

[MPC]

pretty good signing, hendry.

[WindyCity]

soo..has anyone had any success orderng a jersey or t-shirt yet??

 

I ordered a custom 'Fukudome' jersey shirt from the cubs.com store last night. Since he plans on going with 'Kosuke', I wasn't sure they would allow it for much longer so I didn't wait to get an order in. :D

[minnesotacubsfan]

soo..has anyone had any success orderng a jersey or t-shirt yet??

 

I ordered a custom 'Fukudome' jersey shirt from the cubs.com store last night. Since he plans on going with 'Kosuke', I wasn't sure they would allow it for much longer so I didn't wait to get an order in. :D

 

can you send a link?

[ottawacubbie]

Old Style Cub fans (pun intended) are much worse about heckling players, that's one reason why they got the name "bleacher bums". If anything, new style Cub fans are criticized for being uninvolved.

 

That is true, but it seems they have grown a little more impatient since 2003. I guess it is the Old Style fans with the "New Stlye", "Gen-Y" I want it now, and don't care about the ramifications of my actions type attitude that concerns me. I just don't think booing is ever productive. I would rather you phone into radio shows or boycott tickets (although the latter doesn't work in Chicago).

 

I am not the only one thinking about this http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_whatsgoinon/2007/12/will-cubs-fans.html :

 

The man he essentially replaces, Jacque Jones, got a three-year, $16 million deal in 2006 that Cubs fans hated and voiced their displeasure at every opportunity, first with Jim Hendry -- by booing Jones -- then with Jones' slow start -- by booing Jones. Then they booed him some more.

 

Jones rallied to hit .285 with 27 homers and 81 RBI that first year, which was better than what Cubs fans should have expected based on his numbers with the Twins the previous two seasons. But he never won them over.

 

Fukudome brings a .305 lifetime average in Japan and the reputation as a patient hitter to the Cubs outfield, which easily will improve defensively. He also comes with a lot of hype, a nice, new four-year, $48-50 million contract and an elbow injury.

 

Fukudome averaged 29 home runs between 2003-06, but hit .294 with 13 homers last year in a season cut short by the injury. Cubs manager Lou Piniella says to give him a year to adjust to day games. But will the fans wait that long? Will they even wait a month?

[CubsWin]

From the Daily Herald: "He's a Cub, he's a Cub," said Hendry...

When I read this, it reminded me of when Dallas Green was quoted saying, "We got him! We got him! We got the Penguin!"

[WindyCity]

soo..has anyone had any success orderng a jersey or t-shirt yet??

 

I ordered a custom 'Fukudome' jersey shirt from the cubs.com store last night. Since he plans on going with 'Kosuke', I wasn't sure they would allow it for much longer so I didn't wait to get an order in. :D

 

can you send a link?

 

 

Here's the link -- Click customize, add the name and number, and click preview.

[ottawacubbie]

With that link you can also use profanity. Weird. Ussually blocks it. I tried spelling it phonetically and it let me.

[Bull]

This clip showcases his swing really well. It reminds me of someone's but I am not sure who?

 

 

Also at 1:53 he reminds me of a specific Expos gunning our runners at 1st from RF.

 

Ichiro

Eric Davis

Griffey Jr

[minnesotacubsfan]

soo..has anyone had any success orderng a jersey or t-shirt yet??

 

I ordered a custom 'Fukudome' jersey shirt from the cubs.com store last night. Since he plans on going with 'Kosuke', I wasn't sure they would allow it for much longer so I didn't wait to get an order in. :D

 

can you send a link?

 

 

Here's the link -- Click customize, add the name and number, and click preview.

 

danke

[jersey cubs fan]

Old Style Cub fans (pun intended) are much worse about heckling players, that's one reason why they got the name "bleacher bums". If anything, new style Cub fans are criticized for being uninvolved.

 

That is true, but it seems they have grown a little more impatient since 2003. I guess it is the Old Style fans with the "New Stlye", "Gen-Y" I want it now, and don't care about the ramifications of my actions type attitude that concerns me. I just don't think booing is ever productive. I would rather you phone into radio shows or boycott tickets (although the latter doesn't work in Chicago).

 

I am not the only one thinking about this http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_whatsgoinon/2007/12/will-cubs-fans.html :

 

The man he essentially replaces, Jacque Jones, got a three-year, $16 million deal in 2006 that Cubs fans hated and voiced their displeasure at every opportunity, first with Jim Hendry -- by booing Jones -- then with Jones' slow start -- by booing Jones. Then they booed him some more.

 

Jones rallied to hit .285 with 27 homers and 81 RBI that first year, which was better than what Cubs fans should have expected based on his numbers with the Twins the previous two seasons. But he never won them over.

 

Fukudome brings a .305 lifetime average in Japan and the reputation as a patient hitter to the Cubs outfield, which easily will improve defensively. He also comes with a lot of hype, a nice, new four-year, $48-50 million contract and an elbow injury.

 

Fukudome averaged 29 home runs between 2003-06, but hit .294 with 13 homers last year in a season cut short by the injury. Cubs manager Lou Piniella says to give him a year to adjust to day games. But will the fans wait that long? Will they even wait a month?

 

Jacque Jones was exactly the opposite of what this team needed, he played like crap from the beginning, and whined about the fans after the initial smattering of boos. He made himself the fans' target with his repeated "rookie baserunning gaffes" and those absolutely amazingly bad throws.

 

Fukudome's signing has been seen as a positive by practically all involved, there really isn't a comparison.

 

I would expect it to be much more like Soriano and the extended honeymoon he enjoyed, if not quite the Nomar level of absolute love.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, this can't really be compared with the Jones signing. That had a negative perception from day one, even with the more casual fans. I think a better comparison would be with Soriano...even when he went through his cold spots, he didn't get booed. Fukudome has a lot of excitement and positive perception going along with his deal, so I think it would really take him just completely flaming out into a disaster for him to get booed.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think a lot of that could be determined by how Fukedome reacts to the booing. I am quite curious to see how much of a leash the fans give him.

[Banedon]

Jacque Jones was exactly the opposite of what this team needed, he played like crap from the beginning, and whined about the fans after the initial smattering of boos. He made himself the fans' target with his repeated "rookie baserunning gaffes" and those absolutely amazingly bad throws.

 

Fukudome's signing has been seen as a positive by practically all involved, there really isn't a comparison.

 

I would expect it to be much more like Soriano and the extended honeymoon he enjoyed, if not quite the Nomar level of absolute love.

 

And even if the bleacher bums start cursing out Fukudome at some point, he won't understand what they're saying, so no biggee... :D

[ottawacubbie]

Yeah, this can't really be compared with the Jones signing. That had a negative perception from day one, even with the more casual fans. I think a better comparison would be with Soriano...even when he went through his cold spots, he didn't get booed. Fukudome has a lot of excitement and positive perception going along with his deal, so I think it would really take him just completely flaming out into a disaster for him to get booed.

 

I'll preface this by saying I really like the Fukudome signing. Couldn't be happier to fill the need and not overpay as much as we could have. Also I didn't like the Jones signing at the time.

 

However, Cubs fans booed Jones for his first season hitting:

 

.285/.334/.499 27 HR

 

That said Fukudome has been projected to hit

 

.289/.401/.504 15 HR

 

 

and everyone is thrilled.

 

I would rather half a Fukudome than a Jacque Jones and a half. However, you have to admit the booing during Jones' first season was a little bit unwarrented. I don't think Fuku will get booed and I am glad to see Jones in a different uniform, but I think Cubs fans were pretty disrespectful to him even with the baserunning and throwing gaffes.