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

[Bruce Miles]

Fukudome will be in Chicago next week. The Cubs are still looking at Roberts, but MacPhail has been busy with the Tejada trade, and he'll likely turn his attention next to Bedard. I don't think the Cubs are players for Bedard. With Roberts, MacPhail doesn't HAVE to move him as he felt he had to move Tejada; The owner doesn't want to move him. Anything between the Cubs and Orioles, I believe, will take the better part of a couple weeks.

[Soul]

While it may be true that Jacque never "won the fans over," I recall the boos stopping right around the same time Jacque starting playing better.

 

Hmmmm, funny how that works.

 

Jacque was absolutely abysmal when he first got here, and he was horrid again at the beginning of last year. I mean come on, fans are going to boo that. It's terrible baseball.

[C.C.]

While it may be true that Jacque never "won the fans over," I recall the boos stopping right around the same time Jacque starting playing better.

 

Hmmmm, funny how that works.

 

Jacque was absolutely abysmal when he first got here, and he was horrid again at the beginning of last year. I mean come on, fans are going to boo that. It's terrible baseball.

 

+1

[Sammy Sofa]

Jones was barely booed in the beginning...what there was was mostly because of the negative perception of his signing, I think he had a very slow start and the hideous throws. Then he complaned about what little booing there was and compounded it with the series of moronic baserunning mistakes and it was all downhill from there.

 

The biggest thing was complaning about the fans. It showed he was resisiting adjusting to playing in a place like Wrigley, and that immediately made it a "me vs. them" situation that almost no player can win. If he had come in with a better reputation before that, mybe he would have made it out...Lee's made comments about the booing and nobody turned on him...but to that quickly call out the fans was abad move. I highly doubt that will be the case with Fukudome.

[justlikethecubs]

Fukudome will be in Chicago next week. The Cubs are still looking at Roberts, but MacPhail has been busy with the Tejada trade, and he'll likely turn his attention next to Bedard. I don't think the Cubs are players for Bedard. With Roberts, MacPhail doesn't HAVE to move him as he felt he had to move Tejada; The owner doesn't want to move him. Anything between the Cubs and Orioles, I believe, will take the better part of a couple weeks.

 

Thanks for the insight. If it happens before Chistmas it will at least be a good present.

[ottawacubbie]

While it may be true that Jacque never "won the fans over," I recall the boos stopping right around the same time Jacque starting playing better.

 

Hmmmm, funny how that works.

 

Jacque was absolutely abysmal when he first got here, and he was horrid again at the beginning of last year. I mean come on, fans are going to boo that. It's terrible baseball.

 

That is a good point, and I think that I recall him getting a curtain call last year, but I could be wrong. That said maybe it is because of my feelings towards booing your own team. I always felt is was just a step above verbally abusing your wife. You shouldn't hurt the ones you love, even the most vile aspects of their being it never makes a situation better. You should take metnal notes and bring it up during couples counselling or for sports fans radio talk shows LOL!

[Keener98]

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.

 

The booing with Jones was after a horrid start, and alot of stupid ass mistakes, and then some comments regarding the fans treatment of him, so it snowballed from there. Id be shocked to see Fukudome make the same dumbass plays and baserunning mistakes that Jones made.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I remember the curtain call. I've never seen a player more reluctant to take one in my life.

[Banedon]

While it may be true that Jacque never "won the fans over," I recall the boos stopping right around the same time Jacque starting playing better.

 

Hmmmm, funny how that works.

 

Jacque was absolutely abysmal when he first got here, and he was horrid again at the beginning of last year. I mean come on, fans are going to boo that. It's terrible baseball.

 

Well yeah, with the exception of maybe Bonds, and maybe not even there, nobody gets booed in their home park when they're doing well. Jacque's problem was he was always so immediately defensive when criticized, and then he was combative with the fans...they don't like that so much.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Regardless of his wishes, I'm placing my order for this one tonight.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/vance_the_cubs_fan/prod.jpg

[Butterscup1679666578]

Here's a cool Fukudome highlight video (not rickroll i swear)

 

[jersey cubs fan]

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

 

However, you have to admit the booing during Jones' first season was a little bit unwarrented.

 

The fans did not boo him for his season stats. They booed him because he was exactly the opposite of what this team needed, he had a horrible start, he got picked off repeatedly, he threw the ball directly into the ground or 100 feet over the cutoff man, AND HE WHINED ABOUT THE FANS IN HIS FIRST WEEK IN UNIFORM.

 

I'm not going to say I approve of the booing, but this is a completely different situation.

[C.C.]

Here's a cool Fukudome highlight video (not rickroll i swear)

 

 

 

That was posted already. Man, that song is terrible.

[Magnetic Curses]

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

 

However, you have to admit the booing during Jones' first season was a little bit unwarrented.

 

The fans did not boo him for his season stats. They booed him because he was exactly the opposite of what this team needed, he had a horrible start, he got picked off repeatedly, he threw the ball directly into the ground or 100 feet over the cutoff man, AND HE WHINED ABOUT THE FANS IN HIS FIRST WEEK IN UNIFORM.

 

I'm not going to say I approve of the booing, but this is a completely different situation.

 

i agree. i think that his reaction to the early season boo-birds is what got him booed for the rest of his cubs tenure.

[CuseCubFan69]

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

 

However, you have to admit the booing during Jones' first season was a little bit unwarrented.

 

The fans did not boo him for his season stats. They booed him because he was exactly the opposite of what this team needed, he had a horrible start, he got picked off repeatedly, he threw the ball directly into the ground or 100 feet over the cutoff man, AND HE WHINED ABOUT THE FANS IN HIS FIRST WEEK IN UNIFORM.

 

I'm not going to say I approve of the booing, but this is a completely different situation.

 

God that was funny watching him throw the ball almost straight down! Good times.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Fukudome will be in Chicago next week. The Cubs are still looking at Roberts, but MacPhail has been busy with the Tejada trade, and he'll likely turn his attention next to Bedard. I don't think the Cubs are players for Bedard. With Roberts, MacPhail doesn't HAVE to move him as he felt he had to move Tejada; The owner doesn't want to move him. Anything between the Cubs and Orioles, I believe, will take the better part of a couple weeks.

 

awesome. if you get a chance to talk to him personally (or through a translator), tell him welcome to Wrigley for us!

[Fro]

Soriano, Pie, Fukudome OF = MLB season record for OF assists. 8-)

[justlikethecubs]

Soriano, Pie, Fukudome OF = MLB season record for OF assists. 8-)

 

If that is how the outfield stacks up, I dont think many teams will run on us. It's possible our SS might have the worst arm on the team.

[UK1679666180]

I know it's grainy YouTube video, and I'm not that great at this kind of stuff, but does his swing look a little long?

 

I felt the same way. I'm no scout, and I can't look at a guy and dissect the swing properly. But it appears long to me. Although he also seems to be able to keep his hands back.

 

It's a little sweepy for me but it depends on his hand speed if he can get away with it. I'm very curious on how he'll handle off speed stuff...especially away.

 

As I mentioned earlier, he's a lunge hitter and he steps in the bucket, so you'd automatically assume he could retired away, but he stays back well and I'm sure he's been tested away and prob. squares up the ball well. I imagine he's more of a gap hitter to LC rather than a power hitter, which is fine.

 

That swing doesn't look long to me, the only that is long is that stride. It's ironic b/c Rickey said he would never sign a hitter that lunges.

Edited December 12, 2007 by UK

[Backtobanks]

Bruce,

Anything in the way of some other starter (besides Bedard) on the horizon?

[CuseCubFan69]

I know it's grainy YouTube video, and I'm not that great at this kind of stuff, but does his swing look a little long?

 

I felt the same way. I'm no scout, and I can't look at a guy and dissect the swing properly. But it appears long to me. Although he also seems to be able to keep his hands back.

 

It's a little sweepy for me but it depends on his hand speed if he can get away with it. I'm very curious on how he'll handle off speed stuff...especially away.

 

As I mentioned earlier, he's a lunge hitter and he steps in the bucket, so you'd automatically assume he could retired away, but he stays back well and I'm sure he's been tested away and prob. squares up the ball well. I imagine he's more of a gap hitter to LC rather than a power hitter, which is fine.

 

That swing doesn't look long to me, the only that is long is that stride. It's ironic b/c Rickey said he would never sign a hitter that lunges.

 

The long arms make me wonder though. I'd like to see how the pitchers are going to attack him this year. I agree he'd be a gap away guy. He reminds me of a softball hitter.

[UK1679666180]

You're letting that long stride/lunge and stepping in the bucket cloud your vision. The expected weaknesses of his swing as he looks like he can't hit the low and away pitches and would be way out in front on every breaking ball would've been exposed in Japan. One of those clips which was down the middle, he went to LF and did what he is supposed to do by letting the ball come further in the zone instead of rolling it over to 2B.

[PrimeTime]

I'd say the lineup is good now with Fukudome...I think we realllllly need to worry about pitching now and not another upgrade on offense,even though it would be nice, but the back end up our rotation is pretty sucky in my opinion..I want another starter so then all those other guys, Dempster/Marshall/whoever can fight over the 5 spot...

[Omar]

BRUCE! I love Prior and I would hate to see him leave. What are the chances they'll get something done by tonight?

[CuseCubFan69]

You're letting that long stride/lunge and stepping in the bucket cloud your vision. The expected weaknesses of his swing as he looks like he can't hit the low and away pitches and would be way out in front on every breaking ball would've been exposed in Japan. One of those clips which was down the middle, he went to LF and did what he is supposed to do by letting the ball come further in the zone instead of rolling it over to 2B.

 

I've gone to a lot of HS softball clinics in the area and what he does, they teach. The follow through extension in the arms is a drill we do, watch his right arm. Is it long, you're probably right no but it's different than the MLB'ers in the colonies.

 

I don't remember the clip where hit hit the ball hard deeper in the zone instead of 4-3ing it.