Kosuke Fukudome to hit third?

[DiamondMind]

I think Lou's point is he doesn't want Fukudome to be obligated to bunt, hit and run, hit to the right side with less than 2 outs, etc etc. He wants him to drive in runs, either 3rd or 5th in the order. Fukudome has hit 3rd his entire career, so I'm sure comfortability is factoring into the decision as well.

 

why would Fukodome feel obligated to do any of those things? does Derek Jeter drop a lot of sac bunts for the Yankees?

 

Because Jeter didn't play in Japan?

[biittner77]

Is anyone else struck by the paradox of easing him into the lineup by having him bat 3rd?

[ottawacubbie]

Regardless of where he hits, ESPN Fantasy sports has predicted a

 

149/518 78 runs 14 HR 78 RBI 10 SB .288 AVG for him. No guess on walks.

 

My question is, how would you feel if he hit these numbers, not do you think they are accurate, but if Fuku put up these stats on Nov. 1 2008 how would you feel?

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

Regardless of where he hits, ESPN Fantasy sports has predicted a

 

149/518 78 runs 14 HR 78 RBI 10 SB .288 AVG for him. No guess on walks.

 

My question is, how would you feel if he hit these numbers, not do you think they are accurate, but if Fuku put up these stats on Nov. 1 2008 how would you feel?

Considering that other than HR's, those are worthless stats,...I'd be indifferent, I guess.

[Beer Kaese]

I think we're over doing the Theriot bites thing. The fact is Theriot would be an excellent utility infielder. The problem is Cedeno hasn't hit. So shouldn't we take the position that Cedeno sucks and because of that a utility guy is starting at short?

 

Back to the topic. Lou said at the convention that he's thought about batting Fukudome 2nd and 3rd as well as 5th. He just doesn't know and how could he?

 

I don't think anyone can clearly say exactly what the Cubs have in Cedeno. Sure, he got plenty of at bats in 2006, but he had just turned 23 years of age. During his age 24 season, he got limited major league at bats and absolutely tore up AAA.

 

Now that he's basically fully developed, it's worth the risk to give Cedeno the job and see if he can outproduce Theriot. Personally, I think he can. He has more power and is a better defender and I think he can hit for better average, which should help him match Theriot overall in OBP. The Cubs have a perfect spot for him to bat, which is 8th. This would also prevent Lou from playing Theriot and batting him 2nd. DeRosa is currently the best option (excluding Fukudome) to bat 2nd.

 

We pretty much agree then.

 

I like Fukudome 3rd and 5th depending on the whether we're facing a lefty or righty. Without looking in depth I'd think keeping Ramirez 4th and flipping Lee with Fukudome would be the way to go but I haven't looked at the splits.

 

When Hendry was asked about not producing a position player at the convention he didn't offer Theriot. I think that short is an open position. There is no question in my mind that Theriot lacks range and he has no power to make up for that weakness. That makes him a utility player, spot starter, pinch runner and freaking cheap ... for now.

 

I think it's interesting that they ran Ronny out to center to give him another way to get at bats even if Theriot starts at short in April. I mean, think about it. If Cedeno hits in a part time role in center and Theriot lacks range and power, it opens the door.

 

".. it's worth the risk to give Cedeno the job .."

 

I want Ronny to take the job away with superior play. He can do it in March or, if he's the RH option in CF, he's got more time.

[killthegoat06]

"I don't think he serves a purpose for us second."

 

Awesome.

Dusty-esque.

[Guest]

"I don't think he serves a purpose for us second."

 

Awesome.

 

Good god that is so incredibly stupid.

 

There was just a report by Peter Gammons who said that the Cubs OBP out of the 1-2 spots was something like .338 last year. So to give Lee and Ramirez more RBI spots that Fukudome might bat third with Lee and Ramirez bat fourth and fifth. Yes let's do it this way rather than use common sense and just drop Theriot in the order and bat Fukudome second. This isn't rocket science (though to some people in MLB, it might as well be).

[Danny82]

Regardless of where he hits, ESPN Fantasy sports has predicted a

 

149/518 78 runs 14 HR 78 RBI 10 SB .288 AVG for him. No guess on walks.

 

My question is, how would you feel if he hit these numbers, not do you think they are accurate, but if Fuku put up these stats on Nov. 1 2008 how would you feel?

Considering that other than HR's, those are worthless stats,...I'd be indifferent, I guess.

 

Let's not go overboard here. Batting average is hardly worthless.

[Danny82]

"I don't think he serves a purpose for us second."

 

Awesome.

 

Good god that is so incredibly stupid.

 

There was just a report by Peter Gammons who said that the Cubs OBP out of the 1-2 spots was something like .338 last year. So to give Lee and Ramirez more RBI spots that Fukudome might bat third with Lee and Ramirez bat fourth and fifth. Yes let's do it this way rather than use common sense and just drop Theriot in the order and bat Fukudome second. This isn't rocket science (though to some people in MLB, it might as well be).

 

Personally, I think Fukudome should lead off with DeRosa hitting second.

[biittner77]

Regardless of where he hits, ESPN Fantasy sports has predicted a

 

149/518 78 runs 14 HR 78 RBI 10 SB .288 AVG for him. No guess on walks.

 

My question is, how would you feel if he hit these numbers, not do you think they are accurate, but if Fuku put up these stats on Nov. 1 2008 how would you feel?

Considering that other than HR's, those are worthless stats,...I'd be indifferent, I guess.

 

Let's not go overboard here. Batting average is hardly worthless.

 

Batting Average is a stat that people like Joe Morgan use to show that players like Juan Pierre are good.

[UK1679666180]

It's not worthless, but it's obviously not the best way to judge a hitter. To put the ball in play for a hit at a higher % is more skill than luck.

 

Of course, saying someone is a .288 hitter should be followed up with and....

[CubColtPacer]

Regardless of where he hits, ESPN Fantasy sports has predicted a

 

149/518 78 runs 14 HR 78 RBI 10 SB .288 AVG for him. No guess on walks.

 

My question is, how would you feel if he hit these numbers, not do you think they are accurate, but if Fuku put up these stats on Nov. 1 2008 how would you feel?

Considering that other than HR's, those are worthless stats,...I'd be indifferent, I guess.

 

Let's not go overboard here. Batting average is hardly worthless.

 

Batting Average is a stat that people like Joe Morgan use to show that players like Juan Pierre are good.

 

True, but that doesn't mean it's worthless, just overvalued. If I had to pick one stat to measure how well a player did in that department (getting on) it would be OBP. OBP doesn't tell everything though, and a player's batting average, especially over a long sample, is good to know as a complement to the OBP stat.

[mcgoobs]

The Cubs had a .341 OBP out of the #1 spot last year (primarily Soriano, with Theriot getting over 150 PAs as well) and a .336 OBP out of the #2 spot (primarily Theriot, with DeRosa, Jones, Fontenot, and Pie all getting over 50 PAs). Our OBP out of the #1 spot was 9th best in the NL, out of the #2 spot was 7th best in the NL. Our OPS out of the #1 spot was 2nd best in the NL though.

 

Moving a .370 hitter into the #2 spot would add ~25 baserunners (I'm sure Meph or another stathead could give better numbers) in front of Lee over the course of a season. If Fukudome was a stud and gave us a .400 OBP out of the #2 spot, that's ~50 more baserunners in front of Lee over the course of a season.

[Sammy Sofa]

If Lee is being moved from #3 and we're not getting Roberts, why can't he just hit #2?

[Tyrant]

 

True, but that doesn't mean it's worthless, just overvalued. If I had to pick one stat to measure how well a player did in that department (getting on) it would be OBP.

 

Wait, wait, wait.

 

If you had to choose ONE stat that showed how good a player was at getting on base, you'd choose OBP?!?

 

Wild stuff, man. :)

[CubColtPacer]

 

True, but that doesn't mean it's worthless, just overvalued. If I had to pick one stat to measure how well a player did in that department (getting on) it would be OBP.

 

Wait, wait, wait.

 

If you had to choose ONE stat that showed how good a player was at getting on base, you'd choose OBP?!?

 

Wild stuff, man. :)

 

I knew that sentence sounded really bad, but I just couldn't phrase it correctly. :D

[Roast]

If Lee is being moved from #3 and we're not getting Roberts, why can't he just hit #2?

+11ty billion.

 

I really don't think it's that big of a stretch, i wish someone in the org would pick up on it. Lee gets on base at a monster rate (.400 obp last year) and his power, which was a big reason why he fit very well in the 3 hole, is now much diminished (maybe it will come back, maybe it wont). So why not just stick him in the 2 spot where a player with a huge obp and moderate power belongs?

[David]

 

True, but that doesn't mean it's worthless, just overvalued. If I had to pick one stat to measure how well a player did in that department (getting on) it would be OBP.

 

Wait, wait, wait.

 

If you had to choose ONE stat that showed how good a player was at getting on base, you'd choose OBP?!?

 

Wild stuff, man. :)

 

I knew that sentence sounded really bad, but I just couldn't phrase it correctly. :D

 

I usually phrase it the "not making outs" department.

[Magnetic Curses]

i don't care who hits third, i just think it's kind of an insult to lee. not that it matters at all.

[Magnetic Curses]

i think derosa should hit second, personally.

[Roast]

i think derosa should hit second, personally.

I could get behind this. Really, my theory at this point is "anyone but Theriot"

 

I might have problems with the pitcher or Pie in that spot, too. But that's all.

[Fro]

Lou just needs to tell him "Batters in the 2 hole in America bat like Japanese hitters in the 3 hole do... don't bunt or sacrifice unless I give you the signal".

 

Problem solved and he can hit in the 2 hole.

[Andy]

If Lee is being moved from #3 and we're not getting Roberts, why can't he just hit #2?

+11ty billion.

 

I really don't think it's that big of a stretch, i wish someone in the org would pick up on it. Lee gets on base at a monster rate (.400 obp last year) and his power, which was a big reason why he fit very well in the 3 hole, is now much diminished (maybe it will come back, maybe it wont). So why not just stick him in the 2 spot where a player with a huge obp and moderate power belongs?

I think it's safe to say Lee's power will be fine. He was ripping the ball in the second half of last year.

[shnsajax]

I would be more than ok with

Soriano

Derosa

Fuku

Lee

Aramis

Soto

Pie/Fuld/ect

Theriot

 

I don't prefer to have Soriano at the top, but will settle for that.

[Guest]

If Lee is being moved from #3 and we're not getting Roberts, why can't he just hit #2?

+11ty billion.

 

I really don't think it's that big of a stretch, i wish someone in the org would pick up on it. Lee gets on base at a monster rate (.400 obp last year) and his power, which was a big reason why he fit very well in the 3 hole, is now much diminished (maybe it will come back, maybe it wont). So why not just stick him in the 2 spot where a player with a huge obp and moderate power belongs?

I think it's safe to say Lee's power will be fine. He was ripping the ball in the second half of last year.

 

Beat me to the point. Yes, Lee's power was back to the tune of a pace of 38 HR's for a full season. His SLG also showed a huge improvement despite his BABIP dropping 74 points.

 

  I Split        G   GS  PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF ROE GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  BAbip sOPS+ tOPS+ Split
+-+------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------------+
  1st Half      82  79 355 309  46 102 26  1  6  42  39   5  63   5   0   2   5   3   3  4  .330  .411  .479  .890  .397   139    96 1st Half     
  2nd Half      68  68 295 258  45  78 17  0 16  40  32   3  51   4   0   1   3  12   3  1  .302  .386  .554  .941  .323   142   104 2nd Half

 

It's also important to note that his career BABIP is .322 so his second half BABIP is right in line with that.