Fukudome

[ChiCubsfan0502]

As good as he is at getting on base and playing very good defense, who here is not happy with his offensive production? Seriously, I was not on board for a projected total of 7 HR and about 55 RBI.

 

I'll chalk up his almost a 3rd of a way through numbers as a getting to know the pitchers. However, he needs to be more productive.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He doesn't make outs. Outs are bad. He is good.

[BCVM22]

Fukudome.

 

I'll agree he's not yet producing quite like we expected with the basic numbers, but he's getting on base like a machine just like we expected and he's playing defense just like we expected.

 

If we get to the break and he still has 2 HRs and 20-some RBI, then I'll start to worry a bit.

[Electron Blue]

this is the 7000th Cubs forum thread. just sayin'

[17 Seconds]

I'm more upset with the fact that Lou still has him batting 5th. He's a prototypical top of the order hitter. batting him 5th makes no sense, other than that he's on based for GEOVANY SOTO a lot.

[Amazing_Grace]

1. It's the middle of May, and there's a lot of season left.

 

2. He's still slugging a respectable .431, just 13 points away from Mark DeRosa, who has the same BA. He's getting his share of doubles. He's not Ryan Theriot.

 

3. It's his first year in MLB, and his OPS is .840, his numbers are outstanding for a rookie. If it weren't for the Pujols-esque numbers put up by that Soto guy, he'd probably be the front-runner for ROY.

 

4. OBP>SLG>HR

 

5. It's not his fault that Lou is hitting him 5th instead of at leadoff where he belongs.

 

Fukudome is a big reason for the Cubs success and he's well worth what we're paying him. If Lou weren't so bound and determined to have a LH behind Ramirez (like Soto and DeRosa aren't good enough protection), we would have no leadoff problem.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs don't have a leadoff problem.

[Outshined_One]

I'll take a .412 OBP any day of the week out of a hitter.

 

I'd like to see some more power from him, but if he keeps that OBP up, I won't care a whole lot.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Fukuome is a top of the order type of guy, Soto is a heart of the order type of guy. Unfortunately, that decision is up to the guy who left in a rookie lefty as the potential tying run vs. a closer who eats lefties for breakfast, and not us.

[Tracer Bullet]

I'm very happy with his production. Wouldn't be surprised to see him end the season with 10-15 HRs. I'd be even happier if that .400+ OBP was hitting 2nd. Soto is more than enough protection for ARam and should move to 5th (note: I don't care about lineup "protection" but obviously Lou does).

[TheDude]

Fukudome was billed as somewhere between Ichiro's batting control and Matsui's power.

 

Hideki Matsui's rookie 2003 season: .287 /. 353 / .435 / .788

 

You need to give the guy time to adjust. Thus far, he looks a lot more like Ichiro than Matsui, unless you look at Matsui's rookie year. The lack of HR power is a little surprising but not alarming.

 

He demonstrates that he belongs in the MLB with his plate discipline alone. He already has that control you can't teach. If he ends up being a 10 HR guy in his 2nd or 3rd year with a .400 OBP, he becomes a prototypical 2-hole threat. But much, much more important: he is everything the Cubs franchise has needed for years.

 

I know the whole Brian Roberts business was overblown, but I still can't help thinking how awesome Roberts-Fukudome would be at 1-2 in front of Lee and Ramirez in the comic style alternate universe.

[Peoriaman]

I am thrilled with his production. He is the Cubs best on-base hitter, their best baserunner, their best arm and has played great defense. All as a rookie.

 

I talked to a veteran MLB scout who said he is a "terrific player" who would hit 15-20 homers if they just asked him to. Of course, his on-base %/BA would decline and strike-outs increase.

 

We are really digging for something to complain about if we are bitching about this guy.

[jersey cubs fan]

I am thrilled with his production. He is the Cubs best on-base hitter, their best baserunner, their best arm and has played great defense. All as a rookie.

 

I talked to a veteran MLB scout who said he is a "terrific player" who would hit 15-20 homers if they just asked him to. Of course, his on-base %/BA would decline and strike-outs increase.

 

We are really digging for something to complain about if we are bitching about this guy.

 

I don't see how his OBP would decline if he hit 15-20 homers.

[Ryno is God 23]

He is a 2 hitter batting 5th.

[Electron Blue]

I am thrilled with his production. He is the Cubs best on-base hitter, their best baserunner, their best arm and has played great defense. All as a rookie.

 

I talked to a veteran MLB scout who said he is a "terrific player" who would hit 15-20 homers if they just asked him to. Of course, his on-base %/BA would decline and strike-outs increase.

 

We are really digging for something to complain about if we are bitching about this guy.

 

I don't see how his OBP would decline if he hit 15-20 homers.

 

If his approach is patient line-drive hitting, attempting to hit more home runs would change that approach. It's not some for-certain thing, but it seems reasonable.

[UMFan83]

I think people are just disappointed because everyone's expectations for Fukudome went sky high with his hot start.

[hardcorecubfan]

I am cutting the guy a break, new baby boy, new land, foreign language and probably misses his bride, plus like it has been said a number 2 in a number 5 spot.

[gerby23]

I am cutting the guy a break, new baby boy, new land, foreign language and probably misses his bride, plus like it has been said a number 2 in a number 5 spot.

 

That's been mentioned already? Eh, there goes my point...

[rocket]

does his elbow injury last season have anything to do with this loss of power?

[wade]

does his elbow injury last season have anything to do with this loss of power?

 

I think that's a good question. I've read a couple of places where wrist injuries heal, but power comes back more slowly (Derrek Lee, etc.) Maybe that's part of it with Fukudome.

[CubColtPacer]

Kosuke has been quite good this year when looking at the total package.

 

It's interesting to wonder how Cubs fans think of him who don't look at the stats as much. On one hand, I'm sure many people share the thought that he should have hit for more power, so they underrate his OBP so far this year. On the other hand, the fact that he's been unbelievable with runners on base this year would have fans tend to overrate him. So it's hard to say.

 

BTW, those splits with nobody on and with runners on:

 

Nobody on: .261/.346/.337

Runners on: .360/.479/.547

[nilodnayr]

I am thrilled with his production. He is the Cubs best on-base hitter, their best baserunner, their best arm and has played great defense. All as a rookie.

 

I talked to a veteran MLB scout who said he is a "terrific player" who would hit 15-20 homers if they just asked him to. Of course, his on-base %/BA would decline and strike-outs increase.

 

We are really digging for something to complain about if we are bitching about this guy.

 

I don't see how his OBP would decline if he hit 15-20 homers.

 

If his approach is patient line-drive hitting, attempting to hit more home runs would change that approach. It's not some for-certain thing, but it seems reasonable.

 

Hasn't Ichiro also said the same thing...that he could hit for more homers but he'd overall be a less productive hitter. I believe he's put on quite some shows in BP. Guys with superb bat control and pitch recognition (not talking about race at all) like Ichiro and Fukudome probably could hit for more homers at will by lofting the ball more and swinging at pitches they could elevate. But fly balls are turned into outs much much more than liners and grounders and by having to be either more or less selective (based on what the pitcher is throwing them), there would definitely be an impact on OBP, as well as other stats.

[apete6]

I am thrilled with his production. He is the Cubs best on-base hitter, their best baserunner, their best arm and has played great defense. All as a rookie.

 

I talked to a veteran MLB scout who said he is a "terrific player" who would hit 15-20 homers if they just asked him to. Of course, his on-base %/BA would decline and strike-outs increase.

 

We are really digging for something to complain about if we are bitching about this guy.

 

I don't see how his OBP would decline if he hit 15-20 homers.

 

If his approach is patient line-drive hitting, attempting to hit more home runs would change that approach. It's not some for-certain thing, but it seems reasonable.

 

Hasn't Ichiro also said the same thing...that he could hit for more homers but he'd overall be a less productive hitter. I believe he's put on quite some shows in BP. Guys with superb bat control and pitch recognition (not talking about race at all) like Ichiro and Fukudome probably could hit for more homers at will by lofting the ball more and swinging at pitches they could elevate. But fly balls are turned into outs much much more than liners and grounders and by having to be either more or less selective (based on what the pitcher is throwing them), there would definitely be an impact on OBP, as well as other stats.

 

I agree, to an extent. Wade Boggs and Tony Gwynn also took this approach for much of their careers.

[Keener98]

I am thrilled with his production. He is the Cubs best on-base hitter, their best baserunner, their best arm and has played great defense. All as a rookie.

 

I talked to a veteran MLB scout who said he is a "terrific player" who would hit 15-20 homers if they just asked him to. Of course, his on-base %/BA would decline and strike-outs increase.

 

We are really digging for something to complain about if we are bitching about this guy.

 

While I agree with basically evertything you said, Soriano has the best arm.

[Peoriaman]

I am thrilled with his production. He is the Cubs best on-base hitter, their best baserunner, their best arm and has played great defense. All as a rookie.

 

I talked to a veteran MLB scout who said he is a "terrific player" who would hit 15-20 homers if they just asked him to. Of course, his on-base %/BA would decline and strike-outs increase.

 

We are really digging for something to complain about if we are bitching about this guy.

 

While I agree with basically evertything you said, Soriano has the best arm.

 

 

so I was wrong once!