Kosuke appreciation thread

[Bote McBoteface]

.....how do you work on something in Spring Training, not show it in games, and keep it a secret until the end of the season? What the hell? Is he planning on showing something new in the playoffs?

 

Doesn't he realize that this team is finishing 4-158 because we have a sham closer, Corey's twin in CF, Derosa can't handle trade talks, and Soriano strikes out too much (which is way worse than any other kind of out you can make)? Our catcher flying out to the warning track every at bat isn't helping things, either. =/

[Tracer Bullet]

FOO - KOO - DOH - MAY

clap - clap - clap clap clap

 

I didn't see a reference to this interesting tidbit:

 

Fukudome is hitting .458 after seven games with a .581 on-base percentage and .708 slugging percentage. He said through an interpreter that there were some things he was working on in spring training that he has yet to show in the regular season.

 

"It will be a secret until the end of the season," he said.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080407-kosuke-fukudome-chicago-cubs-piniella,0,7789593.story

 

I had a sudden image of Kosuke turning around to bat RH against a LOOGY late in a tight game, ala Rocky II.

 

Fukudome, with the bases loaded and 2 out, down 3 to the Mets in Game 7 of the NLCS, facing Wager is down 0/2:

 

Fukudome (tapping off cleats): I'll admit it, you are better than I am

 

Wagner (rubbing the ball): Then why are you smiling?

 

Fukudome (settles in batters box): b/c I know something that you don't

 

Wagner (firing nasty breaking ball): What's that?

 

Fukudome: I...am not left-handed [switches to RH batters box and crushes a grand slam]

[CuseCubFan69]

FOO - KOO - DOH - MAY

clap - clap - clap clap clap

 

I didn't see a reference to this interesting tidbit:

 

Fukudome is hitting .458 after seven games with a .581 on-base percentage and .708 slugging percentage. He said through an interpreter that there were some things he was working on in spring training that he has yet to show in the regular season.

 

"It will be a secret until the end of the season," he said.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080407-kosuke-fukudome-chicago-cubs-piniella,0,7789593.story

 

I had a sudden image of Kosuke turning around to bat RH against a LOOGY late in a tight game, ala Rocky II.

 

Fukudome, with the bases loaded and 2 out, down 3 to the Mets in Game 7 of the NLCS, facing Wager is down 0/2:

 

Fukudome (tapping off cleats): I'll admit it, you are better than I am

 

Wagner (rubbing the ball): Then why are you smiling?

 

Fukudome (settles in batters box): b/c I know something that you don't

 

Wagner (firing nasty breaking ball): What's that?

 

Fukudome: I...am not left-handed [switches to RH batters box and crushes a grand slam]

 

Very nice.

[YearofDaCubs]

FOO - KOO - DOH - MAY

clap - clap - clap clap clap

 

I didn't see a reference to this interesting tidbit:

 

Fukudome is hitting .458 after seven games with a .581 on-base percentage and .708 slugging percentage. He said through an interpreter that there were some things he was working on in spring training that he has yet to show in the regular season.

 

"It will be a secret until the end of the season," he said.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080407-kosuke-fukudome-chicago-cubs-piniella,0,7789593.story

 

I had a sudden image of Kosuke turning around to bat RH against a LOOGY late in a tight game, ala Rocky II.

 

Fukudome, with the bases loaded and 2 out, down 3 to the Mets in Game 7 of the NLCS, facing Wager is down 0/2:

 

Fukudome (tapping off cleats): I'll admit it, you are better than I am

 

Wagner (rubbing the ball): Then why are you smiling?

 

Fukudome (settles in batters box): b/c I know something that you don't

 

Wagner (firing nasty breaking ball): What's that?

 

Fukudome: I...am not left-handed [switches to RH batters box and crushes a grand slam]

=D> Classic!

[rocket]

actually wagner then reveals that he's right handed and strikes out fukudome on 3 pitches and in the process fukudome breaks his spine swinging the bat and the cubs are ruined for another 100 years

[imb]

:cry:

[fromthestretch]

actually wagner then reveals that he's right handed and strikes out fukudome on 3 pitches and in the process fukudome breaks his spine swinging the bat and the cubs are ruined for another 100 years

 

Funny thing is that Wagner really is right-handed. He only started throwing lefty at age 10 or 11 because he broke his right arm.

[Roast]

actually wagner then reveals that he's right handed and strikes out fukudome on 3 pitches and in the process fukudome breaks his spine swinging the bat and the cubs are ruined for another 100 years

 

Funny thing is that Wagner really is right-handed. He only started throwing lefty at age 10 or 11 because he broke his right arm.

Jesus, I wish I could just one day start throwing 100mph with my non-dominant arm.

[WrigleyField 22]

actually wagner then reveals that he's right handed and strikes out fukudome on 3 pitches and in the process fukudome breaks his spine swinging the bat and the cubs are ruined for another 100 years

 

Funny thing is that Wagner really is right-handed. He only started throwing lefty at age 10 or 11 because he broke his right arm.

Jesus, I wish I could just one day start throwing 100mph with my non-dominant arm.

Have you actually tried throwing with your non dominant hand... maybe?

[Roast]

actually wagner then reveals that he's right handed and strikes out fukudome on 3 pitches and in the process fukudome breaks his spine swinging the bat and the cubs are ruined for another 100 years

 

Funny thing is that Wagner really is right-handed. He only started throwing lefty at age 10 or 11 because he broke his right arm.

Jesus, I wish I could just one day start throwing 100mph with my non-dominant arm.

Have you actually tried throwing with your non dominant hand... maybe?

Yes and I throw like a complete girl with my left hand.

[Rob]

actually wagner then reveals that he's right handed and strikes out fukudome on 3 pitches and in the process fukudome breaks his spine swinging the bat and the cubs are ruined for another 100 years

 

Funny thing is that Wagner really is right-handed. He only started throwing lefty at age 10 or 11 because he broke his right arm.

Jesus, I wish I could just one day start throwing 100mph with my non-dominant arm.

Have you actually tried throwing with your non dominant hand... maybe?

Yes and I throw like a complete girl with my left hand.

 

And that's different from how you throw with your right hand... how exactly?

[WrigleyField 22]

actually wagner then reveals that he's right handed and strikes out fukudome on 3 pitches and in the process fukudome breaks his spine swinging the bat and the cubs are ruined for another 100 years

 

Funny thing is that Wagner really is right-handed. He only started throwing lefty at age 10 or 11 because he broke his right arm.

Jesus, I wish I could just one day start throwing 100mph with my non-dominant arm.

Have you actually tried throwing with your non dominant hand... maybe?

Yes and I throw like a complete girl with my left hand.

 

And that's different from how you throw with your right hand... how exactly?

Perfect execution, WF22 assists to Rob.

[Flames24Rulz]

actually wagner then reveals that he's right handed and strikes out fukudome on 3 pitches and in the process fukudome breaks his spine swinging the bat and the cubs are ruined for another 100 years

 

Funny thing is that Wagner really is right-handed. He only started throwing lefty at age 10 or 11 because he broke his right arm.

Jesus, I wish I could just one day start throwing 100mph with my non-dominant arm.

Have you actually tried throwing with your non dominant hand... maybe?

Yes and I throw like a complete girl with my left hand.

 

And that's different from how you throw with your right hand... how exactly?

Perfect execution, WF22 assists to Rob.

 

He shoots, he scores.

[reds44]

actually wagner then reveals that he's right handed and strikes out fukudome on 3 pitches and in the process fukudome breaks his spine swinging the bat and the cubs are ruined for another 100 years

 

Funny thing is that Wagner really is right-handed. He only started throwing lefty at age 10 or 11 because he broke his right arm.

Jesus, I wish I could just one day start throwing 100mph with my non-dominant arm.

Have you actually tried throwing with your non dominant hand... maybe?

Yes and I throw like a complete girl with my left hand.

 

And that's different from how you throw with your right hand... how exactly?

Perfect execution, WF22 assists to Rob.

 

He shoots, he scores.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL

 

Hey did you guys know Roast works for the Cubs?

[Jehrico]

Did anyone else realize this was the first game Kosuke didn't reach base? Let's start another streak, Fukudome!

[Andy]

Did anyone else realize this was the first game Kosuke didn't reach base? Let's start another streak, Fukudome!

Yep. Bad day for Kosuke. He reached base 5 times 2 days ago and here I am thinking something's up with him. Nice to be 'struggling' that much.

[BCVM22]

He hasn't had a hit since Wednesday. Nice to be "struggling" and still hitting .371, but if he's still 0-fer tomorrow I'll start to worry about his home/road splits a bit.

[weis21]

He hasn't had a hit since Wednesday. Nice to be "struggling" and still hitting .371, but if he's still 0-fer tomorrow I'll start to worry about his home/road splits a bit.

I wouldn't worry too much about that personally. He hasn't played in any stadium enough to truly have a "home" feel. I think it's more likely that pitchers are starting to find out what works against him.

[shnsajax]

It didn't take long for Kosuke Fukudome's new Cubs teammates to figure out he was a way better player than he'd let on while he was hitting .270, with only four extra-base hits, in spring training.

 

"We're all convinced he was sandbagging everyone in spring training," laughed Mark DeRosa. "In fact, we were sitting on the plane [leaving Arizona], and Derrek Lee said, 'Hey, this guy gets it. I think he's been tricking everyone.' He's been way more than advertised.

 

"I've gotten to hit behind him a lot, so I've seen it. You know how pitchers have quality starts? He's had quality at-bats 99 percent of the time. He doesn't swing at bad pitches. He's always on base. He's got sneaky power. He can do a lot of things. Chipper [Jones] even sent me a text the other day: 'Is it really that easy?' Hey, it is for him."

 

According to Bill James Online, Fukudome has swung at only 11 pitches all season that were out of the strike zone. Amazing.

 

Damn, very unCub like.

 

And I wish Chipper would text me too.

[BCVM22]

Adam Dunn did homer for the Reds, off reliever Kevin Hart in the eighth. That’s when fans at Wrigley Field not only threw one ball back—as is a tradition after an opponent’s homer—they littered the field with 15 baseballs, momentarily halting play.

 

“I was surprised. I didn’t know that many people hit a home run today,” Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome said through a translator.

 

He can rake, walk AND make funny. What a guy.