Piniella: Fukudome Needs to Start Hitting

[E.J.]

why sign teix when we have a $300,000 version of him OPS-ing 1.600(ish) in AAA?

 

You act like everyone is saying Hoff is the next coming of Christ. Most people are saying he's doing well in AAA right now and could probably help us in RF this year. Is he the answer to all our problems? Of course not. I would expect Hendry or whatever GM we have this offseason to go after a legit RF and maybe move Fukudome to CF.

[kjfoster 1553]

I balk at the idea that you can't put DeRosa at right and Fontenot at second because going from Kosuke to DeRosa is too steep a decline in right field. Plus, I'm curious about Fontenot. What is he? .725 OPS guy? .750 OPS guy? .775? .800? I'd like to have a better handle on what he is. Does he just go through crazy fluke streaks? More playing time would clear up the picture.

 

Career OPS of .805

 

Year 1 - .600 in 2 AB's

Year 2 - .738 in 234 AB

This season he is OPSing .885 in 192 AB's so far.

[mul21]

I balk at the idea that you can't put DeRosa at right and Fontenot at second because going from Kosuke to DeRosa is too steep a decline in right field. Plus, I'm curious about Fontenot. What is he? .725 OPS guy? .750 OPS guy? .775? .800? I'd like to have a better handle on what he is. Does he just go through crazy fluke streaks? More playing time would clear up the picture.

 

Career OPS of .805

 

Year 1 - .600 in 2 AB's

Year 2 - .738 in 234 AB

This season he is OPSing .885 in 192 AB's so far.

 

I gotta think he's a guy who if used properly (read: how he's been used this year) will consistently give you somewhere between what he did last year and what he's doing this year. A .775-.825 OPS bench/platoon guy is a pretty valuable piece to have considering how cheap he is right now. And man is he an improvement over the Gremlin and Neifi.

[Tracer Bullet]

It cracks me up to hear people talking about wanting to move DeRosa to RF so that we can get a guy that might put up an .800 OPS more ABs. We had DeRosa and a guy putting up an .800 OPS for 2 years and people couldn't wait to get rid of him.

[kjfoster 1553]

I balk at the idea that you can't put DeRosa at right and Fontenot at second because going from Kosuke to DeRosa is too steep a decline in right field. Plus, I'm curious about Fontenot. What is he? .725 OPS guy? .750 OPS guy? .775? .800? I'd like to have a better handle on what he is. Does he just go through crazy fluke streaks? More playing time would clear up the picture.

 

Career OPS of .805

 

Year 1 - .600 in 2 AB's

Year 2 - .738 in 234 AB

This season he is OPSing .885 in 192 AB's so far.

 

I gotta think he's a guy who if used properly (read: how he's been used this year) will consistently give you somewhere between what he did last year and what he's doing this year. A .775-.825 OPS bench/platoon guy is a pretty valuable piece to have considering how cheap he is right now. And man is he an improvement over the Gremlin and Neifi.

 

Agreed. But as an everyday starter, I could see his production dropping way down.

 

My brother is convinced he would hit .300 and slug .700 or .800 if he started everyday, which would probably NOT happen.

[Tracer Bullet]

I balk at the idea that you can't put DeRosa at right and Fontenot at second because going from Kosuke to DeRosa is too steep a decline in right field. Plus, I'm curious about Fontenot. What is he? .725 OPS guy? .750 OPS guy? .775? .800? I'd like to have a better handle on what he is. Does he just go through crazy fluke streaks? More playing time would clear up the picture.

 

Career OPS of .805

 

Year 1 - .600 in 2 AB's

Year 2 - .738 in 234 AB

This season he is OPSing .885 in 192 AB's so far.

 

I gotta think he's a guy who if used properly (read: how he's been used this year) will consistently give you somewhere between what he did last year and what he's doing this year. A .775-.825 OPS bench/platoon guy is a pretty valuable piece to have considering how cheap he is right now. And man is he an improvement over the Gremlin and Neifi.

 

Agreed. But as an everyday starter, I could see his production dropping way down.

 

My brother is convinced he would hit .300 and slug .700 or .800 if he started everyday, which would probably NOT happen.

 

Slug .800? Tell your brother I will bet him any amount of money he wants that Fontenot will not slug .700 or .800 for the rest of this season.

[Bull]

why sign teix when we have a $300,000 version of him OPS-ing 1.600(ish) in AAA?

 

You act like everyone is saying Hoff is the next coming of Christ. Most people are saying he's doing well in AAA right now and could probably help us in RF this year. Is he the answer to all our problems? Of course not. I would expect Hendry or whatever GM we have this offseason to go after a legit RF and maybe move Fukudome to CF.

 

I don't see why you can't let Pie, Hoff, and Dubois complete for the LF/CF job in spring training and sign Edmonds as a cheap lefty bat off the bench. At that point you have two great backup plans, and I really see Pie and/or Hoff breaking out in the bigs next year.

[kjfoster 1553]

I balk at the idea that you can't put DeRosa at right and Fontenot at second because going from Kosuke to DeRosa is too steep a decline in right field. Plus, I'm curious about Fontenot. What is he? .725 OPS guy? .750 OPS guy? .775? .800? I'd like to have a better handle on what he is. Does he just go through crazy fluke streaks? More playing time would clear up the picture.

 

Career OPS of .805

 

Year 1 - .600 in 2 AB's

Year 2 - .738 in 234 AB

This season he is OPSing .885 in 192 AB's so far.

 

I gotta think he's a guy who if used properly (read: how he's been used this year) will consistently give you somewhere between what he did last year and what he's doing this year. A .775-.825 OPS bench/platoon guy is a pretty valuable piece to have considering how cheap he is right now. And man is he an improvement over the Gremlin and Neifi.

 

Agreed. But as an everyday starter, I could see his production dropping way down.

 

My brother is convinced he would hit .300 and slug .700 or .800 if he started everyday, which would probably NOT happen.

 

Slug .800? Tell your brother I will bet him any amount of money he wants that Fontenot will not slug .700 or .800 for the rest of this season.

 

I know, I have told him the same thing.

[inari]

why sign teix when we have a $300,000 version of him OPS-ing 1.600(ish) in AAA?

 

You act like everyone is saying Hoff is the next coming of Christ. Most people are saying he's doing well in AAA right now and could probably help us in RF this year. Is he the answer to all our problems? Of course not. I would expect Hendry or whatever GM we have this offseason to go after a legit RF and maybe move Fukudome to CF.

 

I don't see why you can't let Pie, Hoff, and Dubois complete for the LF/CF job in spring training and sign Edmonds as a cheap lefty bat off the bench. At that point you have two great backup plans, and I really see Pie and/or Hoff breaking out in the bigs next year.

 

If DuBois or Hoffpauir are competing to be starters next year, we're going to have a serious problem.

[Sammy Sofa]

why sign teix when we have a $300,000 version of him OPS-ing 1.600(ish) in AAA?

 

You act like everyone is saying Hoff is the next coming of Christ. Most people are saying he's doing well in AAA right now and could probably help us in RF this year. Is he the answer to all our problems? Of course not. I would expect Hendry or whatever GM we have this offseason to go after a legit RF and maybe move Fukudome to CF.

 

I don't see why you can't let Pie, Hoff, and Dubois complete for the LF/CF job in spring training and sign Edmonds as a cheap lefty bat off the bench. At that point you have two great backup plans, and I really see Pie and/or Hoff breaking out in the bigs next year.

 

If DuBois or Hoffpauir are competing to be starters next year, we're going to have a serious problem.

 

No kidding. What a horrifying scenario, including resigning Edmonds.

[Bull]

why sign teix when we have a $300,000 version of him OPS-ing 1.600(ish) in AAA?

 

You act like everyone is saying Hoff is the next coming of Christ. Most people are saying he's doing well in AAA right now and could probably help us in RF this year. Is he the answer to all our problems? Of course not. I would expect Hendry or whatever GM we have this offseason to go after a legit RF and maybe move Fukudome to CF.

 

I don't see why you can't let Pie, Hoff, and Dubois complete for the LF/CF job in spring training and sign Edmonds as a cheap lefty bat off the bench. At that point you have two great backup plans, and I really see Pie and/or Hoff breaking out in the bigs next year.

 

If DuBois or Hoffpauir are competing to be starters next year, we're going to have a serious problem.

 

Dubois, I agree, probably should have left his name off, but why not give him the chance to compete. Pie and Hoofpauir are a different story. I really believe Pie will come through, but mostly I believe that Edmonds is a legitimate backup plan.

 

I think September will tell us a lot about the offseason. This time last year, Soto was tearing it up in AAA, but no one really considered him a legitimate contender for a starting job until his awesomeness in September. If Hoff AND Pie don't impress this September, then I'll concede the point to you. but wait until the offseason to call insane, you might be surprised.

Edited August 22, 2008 by Bull

[CubinNY]

why sign teix when we have a $300,000 version of him OPS-ing 1.600(ish) in AAA?

 

You act like everyone is saying Hoff is the next coming of Christ. Most people are saying he's doing well in AAA right now and could probably help us in RF this year. Is he the answer to all our problems? Of course not. I would expect Hendry or whatever GM we have this offseason to go after a legit RF and maybe move Fukudome to CF.

 

I don't see why you can't let Pie, Hoff, and Dubois complete for the LF/CF job in spring training and sign Edmonds as a cheap lefty bat off the bench. At that point you have two great backup plans, and I really see Pie and/or Hoff breaking out in the bigs next year.

 

If DuBois or Hoffpauir are competing to be starters next year, we're going to have a serious problem.

 

No kidding. What a horrifying scenario, including resigning Edmonds.

 

A let out an audible wail.

 

It's hard to say what is going to happen with the new owner and what-not, but I have to believe that this is the year for the Cubs. If it's not the year, oh boy. The future doesn't look so bright to me. However, I don't think Huffpauir, DuBois, or Edmonds factor into that future.

[Bull]

why sign teix when we have a $300,000 version of him OPS-ing 1.600(ish) in AAA?

 

You act like everyone is saying Hoff is the next coming of Christ. Most people are saying he's doing well in AAA right now and could probably help us in RF this year. Is he the answer to all our problems? Of course not. I would expect Hendry or whatever GM we have this offseason to go after a legit RF and maybe move Fukudome to CF.

 

I don't see why you can't let Pie, Hoff, and Dubois complete for the LF/CF job in spring training and sign Edmonds as a cheap lefty bat off the bench. At that point you have two great backup plans, and I really see Pie and/or Hoff breaking out in the bigs next year.

 

If DuBois or Hoffpauir are competing to be starters next year, we're going to have a serious problem.

 

No kidding. What a horrifying scenario, including resigning Edmonds.

 

A let out an audible wail.

 

It's hard to say what is going to happen with the new owner and what-not, but I have to believe that this is the year for the Cubs. If it's not the year, oh boy. The future doesn't look so bright to me. However, I don't think Huffpauir, DuBois, or Edmonds factor into that future.

 

Then you'd better hope the new ownership has very deep pockets. Check out the payroll projections thread.

[CubinNY]

why sign teix when we have a $300,000 version of him OPS-ing 1.600(ish) in AAA?

 

You act like everyone is saying Hoff is the next coming of Christ. Most people are saying he's doing well in AAA right now and could probably help us in RF this year. Is he the answer to all our problems? Of course not. I would expect Hendry or whatever GM we have this offseason to go after a legit RF and maybe move Fukudome to CF.

 

I don't see why you can't let Pie, Hoff, and Dubois complete for the LF/CF job in spring training and sign Edmonds as a cheap lefty bat off the bench. At that point you have two great backup plans, and I really see Pie and/or Hoff breaking out in the bigs next year.

 

If DuBois or Hoffpauir are competing to be starters next year, we're going to have a serious problem.

 

No kidding. What a horrifying scenario, including resigning Edmonds.

 

A let out an audible wail.

 

It's hard to say what is going to happen with the new owner and what-not, but I have to believe that this is the year for the Cubs. If it's not the year, oh boy. The future doesn't look so bright to me. However, I don't think Huffpauir, DuBois, or Edmonds factor into that future.

 

Then you'd better hope the new ownership has very deep pockets. Check out the payroll projections thread.

That's why the future doesn't look so bright.

 

Huffpauir will be 29 next year. This is his 4th go around in AAA. He's not a major league player. He might do well hitting off the bench every once in a while, but he's no up and comer.

 

DuBois will be 30 next year. I watching him play 3 games in Memphis and he still can't hit a curve ball. He's an AAA roster filler.

 

Edmonds may be a platoon mate if he still wants to play, but the Cubs should not expect the same level of production out of a 39 year old player.

[Bull]

I'm looking forward to September.

[Coach C]

Dare I say that Fukudome may have learned the Mark Grace slumpbuster class?

[Gingerballs Lives]

Dare I say that Fukudome may have learned the Mark Grace slumpbuster class?

 

 

Yeah, he's actually looked like a real major league hitter the past couple of days.

[wvcbxl]

Dare I say that Fukudome may have learned the Mark Grace slumpbuster class?

 

 

Yeah, he's actually looked like a real major league hitter the past couple of days.

 

Maybe we should blame Lou for not having "the talk" weeks if not months ago. :unsure:

[Peoriaman]

As long as many of us have been baseball fans, it is embarrassing how we jump to conclusions. Many had Fukudome headed to the Hall of Fame after June and headed for the scrapheap a week ago. Baseball is a tough game, slumps occur and hot streaks happen. Patience is a rare commodity for some fans.