Worried about Kosuke

[CoolHandLuke]

I was just thinking about how Kosuke would be perceived differently by the fans had he not had an amazing opening day performance. And my curiosity creeped in, and I decided to do a quick calculation of his batting line, when opening day was removed. What I got was:

 

17 hits/60 AB = .283 average

 

17 hits + 13 BB/73 PA = .411 OBP

 

So far so good, but the slugging percentage is not so good.

 

22 TB/60 AB = .367 SLG

 

So, .283/.411/.367 for an ops of .778, pretty mediocre.

 

I love the patience and selectivity he has shown, as well as the solid contact, the good defense and the quality arm, however his slugging thus far has me a little worried. Will pitchers realize that he hasn't shown any power and attack him more, rendering his selectivity less useful? Is he just a slower Ichiro that makes less contact? It's obviously too early to be too concerned, and as long as his obp is over .400 he is quite valuable, I am just worried about his ability to sustain a .400+ obp while not hitting for any power. Hopefully he is just lulling the NL to sleep again, so when they start pitching to him, he will tee off.

 

Additionally, he needs to be moved to the top of the order.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If you take out the top 6% of a player's games and he still has a 400+ OBP, there's not much reason to be worried.

 

But yes, he definitely belongs at the top of the order.

[HendrysBottomFeeders]

Hopefully this thread was made before his 10 pitch at bat clutch single.

[MADD_DOG_31]

although i think he would help us get on base more at the top, i think providing aramis protection right now might be more important...and Kosuke has had great at bats especially with guys on base

 

I think hed be a good player about anywhere in the order but without soriano in the middle of the order i think you have to keep Kosuke 5th

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Kosuke is yet another data point proving that power in Japan does not translate to power in the US. Gorilla Matsui is the only Japanese pro that has successfully hit for power over here. And really, should it be a surprise considering the cartoonish numbers the likes of Kevin Bass and Tuffy Rhodes put up in Japan?

 

But the thing is, lack of power is the ONLY part of Kosuke's game that is deficient. This guy can play, and I love him out there in RF. That at-bat against Heileman was just beautiful. How many guys have the Cubs had like this over the years?

 

Fu-ku-do-me....clap clap, clap clap clap....

[NCCubFan]

If Kosuke is a worry, then the Cubs have no worries. Don't worry, be happy.

[Chocolate Milk]

I'm a little concerned about the power but he did just miss a couple. In any event, he's productive regardless and his best asset is what the Cubs have lacked and needed most desperately. It's a lot easier to score runs when......there are people on base!

[El Ridda]

Kosuke is yet another data point proving that power in Japan does not translate to power in the US. Gorilla Matsui is the only Japanese pro that has successfully hit for power over here. And really, should it be a surprise considering the cartoonish numbers the likes of Kevin Bass and Tuffy Rhodes put up in Japan?

 

But the thing is, lack of power is the ONLY part of Kosuke's game that is deficient. This guy can play, and I love him out there in RF. That at-bat against Heileman was just beautiful. How many guys have the Cubs had like this over the years?

 

Fu-ku-do-me....clap clap, clap clap clap....

 

 

 

In fairness, Rhodes put up cartoonish numbers in the US as well before he tailed off after one game.

[CoolHandLuke]

Kosuke is yet another data point proving that power in Japan does not translate to power in the US. Gorilla Matsui is the only Japanese pro that has successfully hit for power over here. And really, should it be a surprise considering the cartoonish numbers the likes of Kevin Bass and Tuffy Rhodes put up in Japan?

 

But the thing is, lack of power is the ONLY part of Kosuke's game that is deficient. This guy can play, and I love him out there in RF. That at-bat against Heileman was just beautiful. How many guys have the Cubs had like this over the years?

 

Fu-ku-do-me....clap clap, clap clap clap....

 

It's waaaaay to soon to call him a data point "proving" anything. I just thought a discussion was warranted (or at least semi-interesting) based on my curious observation that minus opening day he just hasn't hit for power. Watching him bat, especially considering the Cubs teams of late, is absolutely beautiful. I just have the ever so slight concern that he is being pitched to as if he IS the hitter that hit a home run and a double on opening day, when in reality he is more of a patient singles hitter. Which isn't a bad thing necessarily, but if the pitchers realize it, it could change how he is pitched to and his selectivity won't be as much an asset. Of course if anyone can make the adjustments, he seems like the type of smart hitter who can.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Kosuke is yet another data point proving that power in Japan does not translate to power in the US. Gorilla Matsui is the only Japanese pro that has successfully hit for power over here. And really, should it be a surprise considering the cartoonish numbers the likes of Kevin Bass and Tuffy Rhodes put up in Japan?

 

But the thing is, lack of power is the ONLY part of Kosuke's game that is deficient. This guy can play, and I love him out there in RF. That at-bat against Heileman was just beautiful. How many guys have the Cubs had like this over the years?

 

Fu-ku-do-me....clap clap, clap clap clap....

 

 

 

In fairness, Rhodes put up cartoonish numbers in the US as well before he tailed off after one game.

 

That was one helluva game. Hope Tuffy has it on tape for his kids' sake.

[Tracer Bullet]

Kosuke is yet another data point proving that power in Japan does not translate to power in the US. Gorilla Matsui is the only Japanese pro that has successfully hit for power over here. And really, should it be a surprise considering the cartoonish numbers the likes of Kevin Bass and Tuffy Rhodes put up in Japan?

 

But the thing is, lack of power is the ONLY part of Kosuke's game that is deficient. This guy can play, and I love him out there in RF. That at-bat against Heileman was just beautiful. How many guys have the Cubs had like this over the years?

 

Fu-ku-do-me....clap clap, clap clap clap....

 

In a month of facing guys he's never seen before, coming back from elbow surgery, and adjusting to an entire new country, you've determined he lacks power? You're an amazing scout.

[Soul]

The man is in a new country, facing pitchers he's never faced before, he's coming back from an injury, and he's getting on base at a .400+ clip. He's also seeing the most pitches of anyone in the majors per AB.

 

I'm not worried about Fukudome. He's obviously not a big bopper. Who cares? He's a fine ballplayer, and it will be very interesting to see what happens once he gets used to being at this level. Right now he's still got to be figuring things out. And that's pretty scary.....if you're anyone but the Cubs.

[Fred Hornkohl]

If Kosuke is a worry, then the Cubs have no worries. Don't worry, be happy.

 

Hey NC .... if this Accounting thing doesn't work out, you might just have a career ahead of you in writing pop lyrics, eh? :wink:

[tfarks]

Kosuke is yet another data point proving that power in Japan does not translate to power in the US. Gorilla Matsui is the only Japanese pro that has successfully hit for power over here. And really, should it be a surprise considering the cartoonish numbers the likes of Kevin Bass and Tuffy Rhodes put up in Japan?

 

But the thing is, lack of power is the ONLY part of Kosuke's game that is deficient. This guy can play, and I love him out there in RF. That at-bat against Heileman was just beautiful. How many guys have the Cubs had like this over the years?

 

Fu-ku-do-me....clap clap, clap clap clap....

 

It's waaaaay to soon to call him a data point "proving" anything. I just thought a discussion was warranted (or at least semi-interesting) based on my curious observation that minus opening day he just hasn't hit for power. Watching him bat, especially considering the Cubs teams of late, is absolutely beautiful. I just have the ever so slight concern that he is being pitched to as if he IS the hitter that hit a home run and a double on opening day, when in reality he is more of a patient singles hitter. Which isn't a bad thing necessarily, but if the pitchers realize it, it could change how he is pitched to and his selectivity won't be as much an asset. Of course if anyone can make the adjustments, he seems like the type of smart hitter who can.

 

I'm totally with ya here. I was thinking about this briefly the other day. Its very similar when talking about a running back's day in the NFL...someone rushes for 100 yards on 25 carries at a 4.0 avg, but someone mentions if you take out his run of 40 yards he only rain for 60 yards on 24 carries, a 2.5 average. I believe taking out his amazing opening day is an interesting discussion piece because I too am concerned with his power. However, as others have pointed out, there are many things going against him hitting for power right now.

 

I think he will pick back up which won't necessarily result in HR's but plenty of doubles. I think his projections(might be off) were around a .500 slugging. If Kosuke starts hitting more doubles pitchers will stay plenty afraid. I am weary of him maintaining an OBP of .440 obviously, but if he puts up a .400 OBP, we are looking at a .900 OPS, not too shabby for someone who should be hitting 2nd in the Cubs lineup. I wouldn't hold your breath on him hitting 20+ homers though, hope he surprises.

[RedFlash]

I am not worried about Fuku lack of power, right now, because of Ichiro, H. Matsui and Johjima:

 

Career numbers in Japan

 

Ichiro:-----.353/.421/.522

Fuku:------.305/.397/.543

Godzilla:----.304/.413/.582

Johjima:---- .299/.360/.517

 

Career in MLB:

Ichiro-------.332/.378/.435

Johjima-----.284 .323/.432

H. Matsui---.295/.371/.486

 

You can see those three great Japanese players power dropped coming from Japan, but IMO, it's not that unusual. They dropped because: A. The fields are bigger in the MLB and B. The pitchers are better. In other words, Fukudome is fine. His slg will be somewhere in the .430 or higher before the end of the yr.

[JonnyRed]

What this Cubs team needed was not another power threat (we already have three guys more than capable of 30+ HRs), what we needed was an OBP guy. Right now, Fuku is the most patient hitter in the game with a .444 OBP...and to think he's still getting used to MLB.....love the FUKU-MAN!

[CuseCubFan69]

I dig the dude. He gives the Cubs a different type of hitter and helps keep opposing pitchers from getting into a comfort groove.

[TheDude]

although i think he would help us get on base more at the top, i think providing aramis protection right now might be more important...and Kosuke has had great at bats especially with guys on base

 

I think hed be a good player about anywhere in the order but without soriano in the middle of the order i think you have to keep Kosuke 5th

 

Completely disagree. Without Soriano, Soto is adequate protection for Ramirez. Soriano healthy is adequate protection for Ramirez. Kosuke needs to be hitting 2nd in front of Lee, regardless of Soriano's health.

[BigbadB]

If we take away all the home runs Derrek Lee hit so far this year, he'd have zero right now. That's appalling. Something needs to be done.

[Tracer Bullet]

If we take away all the home runs Derrek Lee hit so far this year, he'd have zero right now. That's appalling. Something needs to be done.

 

That don't make no sense.

[Jon]

It's way, way too early to determine what kind of power he'll have in this league.

[YearofDaCubs]

Am I worried about Fukudome? Not at all. Consider that JJones last year hit all of 5 HR for us. Jones is slumping for the Tigers and Fuku is playing excellent for us. Replacing Jones with Fuku is a HUGE improvement to this team.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6246/career;_ylt=Au.d59UUS9WnMYune.uQdwiFCLcF

[UMFan83]

So almost 20 games into the season, how do you guys project Fuku's stat line to be?

 

.315/.420/.430 15 HRs 20 2Bs

 

I think that Fuk could hit more HRs if he sacrificed other parts of his game.

[javy knows my name]

So almost 20 games into the season, how do you guys project Fuku's stat line to be?

 

.315/.420/.430 15 HRs 20 2Bs

 

I think that Fuk could hit more HRs if he sacrificed other parts of his game.

He'll hit more than 20 2Bs but other than that I would be really happy with that production

[jersey cubs fan]

Worried? Seriously?