Lou To Try Fukudome Out In Center

[Wheelimus]

Link

 

Good to see it remains Pie or Fuld. Good luck in AAA Fuld, may you put up monster numbers and inflate your trade value.

 

Fukudome in center. Would be excellent. Fukudome in center versus lefties with Murton in right. As the article indicates though it's likely for emergency purposes. Someone else will be Pie's backup :cry:

[Little Slide Rooter]

Sounds to me like they may be grooming DeRosa for Rt when we get our new 2B/leadoff hitter.

[WilcoFan]

Great idea. Hopefully, an emergency arises every day.

[Wheelimus]

Great idea. Hopefully, an emergency arises every day.

 

I wouldn't go that far. I'll take Pie's spring training numbers if they're an indication of things to come. I'd just like to see him get all his rest versus lefties he'd struggle against anyway.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

It's only a matter of time before he is the starting CF.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Fukudome in CF with Murton in RF would be much better than having to trade valuable commodities for Coco Crisp or Marlon Byrd.

[KingCubsFan]

Fukudome in CF with Murton in RF would be much better than having to trade valuable commodities for Coco Crisp or Marlon Byrd.

Agreed, but allowing our young players to actually play and learn from mistakes for once would be even better

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Fukudome in CF with Murton in RF would be much better than having to trade valuable commodities for Coco Crisp or Marlon Byrd.

Agreed, but allowing our young players to actually play and learn from mistakes for once would be even better

 

I have no problem letting Pie play; but I don't see using him for 162 games, especially against tough left-handers. As it stands, we really have no back-up CF.

 

If Fukudome can play both RF and CF, when there is a lefty, Murton plays right and Fukudome slides to CF.

[CuseCubFan69]

Fukudome in CF with Murton in RF would be much better than having to trade valuable commodities for Coco Crisp or Marlon Byrd.

Agreed, but allowing our young players to actually play and learn from mistakes for once would be even better

 

Having Fukudome, Pie and I suppose Soriano who could play CF if needed, that's not bad and allows for a bigger bat off the bench and the Cubs aren't forced to keep a no hit CF for that spot.

[Roast]

I like this. I assume it's just for back-up purposes like others have alluded to. We currently have no back up centerfielder however with both Soriano and possibly Fukudome being able to play center, it may lessen our need for one. At least enough that we aren't going to trade the farm for someone like Crisp.

[17 Seconds]

The article I read said Lou only planned on using Fukudome as an emergency center fielder. He won't get regular playing time there.

[98navigator]

Giving Fukudome a few starts in CF, during Spring Training, is an insurance policy against the Cubs not being able to get the backup CF they want. They will have no backup CF once Fuld is sent to AAA. Cedeno was suppose to fill that role, in the event that both trades (for Roberts and a second bench guy or platoon partner for Pie) didn't come to pass. However, Lou is now giving hints that Cedeno's injuries have elimanted his outfield chances and put him behind Fontenot, Cintron, and Patterson for an infield job. Of course, the Cubs may be forced to keep him on the the bench if they can't trade him because he's out of options.

 

I think Lou is considering the possibility of keeping Hoffpauir's LH bat for a corner outfield bench role (specifically for RF when Fukudome is resting or on the days when he might play CF). Hoffpauir has played in every Spring game for a reason... If Ward were more mobile, Lou would be inclined to use him out there but I think DWard will get more starts subbing for DLee than Fuk (considering I read that Ward got some understanding that he'd have more starts this year). Also, I see Fontenot pushing out Cintron for the infield reserve spot (heck, they might keep them both unless, the Cubs finally do get Roberts and are forced to take Payton as well).

 

"We've been looking for a left-hand bat who can hit a little bit, and we might just have him in camp

 

Starting pitchers:

1. Zambrano

2. Lilly

3. Dempster

4. Hill

5. Lieber

 

Bullpen:

6. Lahey

7. Eyre

8. Wuertz

9. Hart

10. Marmol

11. Howry

12. Wood

 

Starting Hitters:

13. Soto

14. Lee

15. DeRosa

16. Ramirez

17. Theriot

18. Fukudome

19. Pie

20. Soriano

 

Bench:

21. Ward

22. Murton/Hoffpauir

23. Fontenot

24. Blanco

25. Cedeno/Cintron/Patterson

 

If the Cubs can't get a few trades completed in the next 2 weeks, Marquis will be the fifth starter and Lieber will be in the bullpen (sending Lahey back to the Twins). Cedeno and Murton will be on the bench with Marshall, Fontenot, Hoffpauir, and Patterson all returning to the minors (Cintron will be released unless he agrees to AAA).

[sporrer17]

I think the Cubs may go with Cintron over Cedeno should it come down to it. Cintron has more experience, and he (attemps to) hits from both sides. Neither is amazing with the glove, so I think Cintron is going to beat Cedeno out based on the Spring Training Stats alone.

[98navigator]

I think the Cubs may go with Cintron over Cedeno should it come down to it. Cintron has more experience, and he (attemps to) hits from both sides. Neither is amazing with the glove, so I think Cintron is going to beat Cedeno out based on the Spring Training Stats alone.

 

The problem with that, absent trading Cedeno, is he is out of options so the Cubs may be forced to keep him on the roster or lose him...

[apete6]

So...Fukudome comes to the Cubs because we were the only ones to guarantee him that he could play RF and we are going to play him in CF?

 

Something tells me that this isn't going over too well in the Fukudome camp behind the scenes.

 

Not that it should matter, the guy should do whatever the manager wants (like Sosa batting lower in the order, Soriano moving in the order and playing CF, etc...), but hopefully this doesn't create an "issue" between Fuku and Lou-san.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think the Cubs may go with Cintron over Cedeno should it come down to it. Cintron has more experience, and he (attemps to) hits from both sides. Neither is amazing with the glove, so I think Cintron is going to beat Cedeno out based on the Spring Training Stats alone.

 

The problem with that, absent trading Cedeno, is he is out of options so the Cubs may be forced to keep him on the roster or lose him...

and Cintron is on a minor league deal

[BCVM22]

So...Fukudome comes to the Cubs because we were the only ones to guarantee him that he could play RF and we are going to play him in CF?

 

By all accounts, Lou wants to make sure he can do it solely for emergency purposes should the need arise. Given the professional attitude Kosuke's shown thus far, I can't imagine he's objecting too audibly about playing the position, for one, two, maybe three days, in spring training. It's not as if the Cubs said "Hey Kosuke, you might want to get used to center field, you're gonna be there for a while..."