Is it actually realistic to think Fukudome won't be back?

[inari]

Al Yellon at BCB seems to think so; I firmly believe that the Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome are going to reach an agreement that will allow both sides to, with face saved, get out of the remaining three years of the deal signed last year -- probably with several million dollars of buyout -- and Dome, who is deep in Lou's doghouse (and you all know that once there it's nearly impossible to get out), will return to Japan.

 

Does anyone actually believe this could happen? I know I don't.

[Derwood]

Al Yellon at BCB seems to think so; I firmly believe that the Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome are going to reach an agreement that will allow both sides to, with face saved, get out of the remaining three years of the deal signed last year -- probably with several million dollars of buyout -- and Dome, who is deep in Lou's doghouse (and you all know that once there it's nearly impossible to get out), will return to Japan.

 

Does anyone actually believe this could happen? I know I don't.

 

It could happen if a better option comes along, sure.

[radarluv1]

we could get a posting fee from his japanese team!

[OleMissCub]

Figure out how to hit a sinker and he'll be alright.

[RedFlash]

Al Yellon at BCB seems to think so; I firmly believe that the Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome are going to reach an agreement that will allow both sides to, with face saved, get out of the remaining three years of the deal signed last year -- probably with several million dollars of buyout -- and Dome, who is deep in Lou's doghouse (and you all know that once there it's nearly impossible to get out), will return to Japan.

 

Does anyone actually believe this could happen? I know I don't.

 

I think MLBPA won't allow Fuku to accept a buyout for anything less then 75% of what is still owed to him. My guess is it would take closer to 80-85%, but for that kind of coin just keep him and see if he can rebound. If Matsui can play in NY, then Fuku can play in Chicago.

[cubsfan26]

I don't think the Cubs or Fukudome will give up on each other yet. I think Fukudome will work hard this offseason and try to figure things out and the Cubs will help him. Then if this season guys like Reed Johnson, Pie, Fontenot and Hoffpauir end up taking his playing time and he doesn't improve. Then I think the Cubs and Fukudome will consider cutting ties. But right now Fukudome really only struggled the final three months of the season. So I don't think either will give up already.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Al Yellon at BCB seems to think so; I firmly believe that the Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome are going to reach an agreement that will allow both sides to, with face saved, get out of the remaining three years of the deal signed last year -- probably with several million dollars of buyout -- and Dome, who is deep in Lou's doghouse (and you all know that once there it's nearly impossible to get out), will return to Japan.

 

Does anyone actually believe this could happen? I know I don't.

 

Al Yellon also seems to think us trading for Matt Cain, then packaging him and other players for RICKY NOLASCO is a great idea.

 

That said, I have no idea how likely the probability is, it's a unique situation without much precedent.

[SweetZombieJesus]

I'm sure the players union will allow that. :roll: :pig: :banghead: :nea:

[Clem Fandango]

Why would the players union intervene if by chance both sides did want this to happen and it was mutual? I don't know the specifics of the union and what not. What do they stand to lose if they amicably split with a respectable buyout?

[badnews]

Figure out how to hit a sinker and he'll be alright.

 

Is like saying "Matt Murton needs to hit for power against righties and he'll be alright" or "Corey just needs to shorten up his swing and he'll be alright?"

 

I've seen this line used a couple of times. The idea that they don't have sinkers in Japan. He can hit them. He's got a groundball-generating swing that hits them directly at any infielder. I like his unique combination of high strikeouts, high G/F ratio, and low power. It makes him really special as a ballplayer.

[17 Seconds]

Figure out how to hit a sinker and he'll be alright.

 

He'll never be able to hit a sinker with that swing.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I think were stuck with him, and in the end, hopefully he can stabilize inta a Kaz Matsui type, and be a serviceable, but not great player.

[cubsfan26]

Figure out how to hit a sinker and he'll be alright.

 

I find it hard to believe that so many MLB teams, scouts and experts couldn't tell if the guy can hit a sinker or not. Alot of teams were after this guy, and most of them were offering him 3 and 4 year deals at 30-50m plus. Thats a huge gamble for any team to make, and something you never see unless your sure the guy can hit. Thats why I feel there must be some correctable flaw he has with his swing.

 

 

 

Guys like Kazuo Matsui, Iwamura, Iguchi, Johjima(was bad last year though) have all been serviceable major leaguers and Ichiro and Hideki Matsui have been good major leaguers. So I can't accept Fukudome is the sub 200 hitter we saw the last two months of the season yet. But thats probably just me not willing to accept that we could have a guy making 12m per year as a really bad 5th outfielder. I don't even wanna think about that, so lets hope Fukudome turns it around.

[JeffH]

Al Yellon is very, very dumb.

[Backtobanks]

Al Yellon at BCB seems to think so; I firmly believe that the Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome are going to reach an agreement that will allow both sides to, with face saved, get out of the remaining three years of the deal signed last year -- probably with several million dollars of buyout -- and Dome, who is deep in Lou's doghouse (and you all know that once there it's nearly impossible to get out), will return to Japan.

 

Does anyone actually believe this could happen? I know I don't.

 

It's not going to happen. As others have stated, the Players' Union would require that he get most of the money, so it wouldn't be worth it to the Cubs. Moving him to CF and platooning him with Johnson would lower the expectations. Of course that's assuming the Cubs can find a power-hitting corner OF. If the Cubs could acquire a power-hitting CF (Beltran?), then Fukudome's lower numbers would be okay in RF. I do expect him to rebound next season, but I do think his original projections were beyond what we should expect.

[CubinNY]

Al Yellon at BCB seems to think so; I firmly believe that the Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome are going to reach an agreement that will allow both sides to, with face saved, get out of the remaining three years of the deal signed last year -- probably with several million dollars of buyout -- and Dome, who is deep in Lou's doghouse (and you all know that once there it's nearly impossible to get out), will return to Japan.

 

Does anyone actually believe this could happen? I know I don't.

No.

[Sammy Sofa]

Al Yellon and BCB.com are inufferable.

[UMFan83]

Al Yellon at BCB seems to think so; I firmly believe that the Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome are going to reach an agreement that will allow both sides to, with face saved, get out of the remaining three years of the deal signed last year -- probably with several million dollars of buyout -- and Dome, who is deep in Lou's doghouse (and you all know that once there it's nearly impossible to get out), will return to Japan.

 

Does anyone actually believe this could happen? I know I don't.

 

Al Yellon also seems to think us trading for Matt Cain, then packaging him and other players for RICKY NOLASCO is a great idea.

 

That said, I have no idea how likely the probability is, it's a unique situation without much precedent.

 

Matt Cain AND Hinshaw for Derrek Lee.

 

The same Matt Cain that is being proposed would take Fielder and Hardy from the Brewers.

[jersey cubs fan]

There is no possible way for this to happen and have people save face. Huge F up by Gary Hughes and Jim Hendry, huge bed crapping by Fukudome, huge waste of money by Cubs ownership. There just isn't a way for this to work out with everybody saving face.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

wasn't Al Yellon the name of the kooky archery instructor who got busted with the glory holes in Campfire Girls 5?

[UMFan83]

There is no possible way for this to happen and have people save face. Huge F up by Gary Hughes and Jim Hendry, huge bed crapping by Fukudome, huge waste of money by Cubs ownership. There just isn't a way for this to work out with everybody saving face.

 

I wouldn't give up on Fukudome just yet.

 

I am a bit worried though becuase Fuk is clearly in Lou's doghouse, and I can't remember a player who has made his way out of there yet.

[Tyrant]

Al Yellon is very, very dumb.

 

This.

[Guest]

Al Yellon at BCB seems to think so; I firmly believe that the Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome are going to reach an agreement that will allow both sides to, with face saved, get out of the remaining three years of the deal signed last year -- probably with several million dollars of buyout -- and Dome, who is deep in Lou's doghouse (and you all know that once there it's nearly impossible to get out), will return to Japan.

 

Does anyone actually believe this could happen? I know I don't.

 

Al Yellon also seems to think us trading for Matt Cain, then packaging him and other players for RICKY NOLASCO is a great idea.

 

That said, I have no idea how likely the probability is, it's a unique situation without much precedent.

 

Matt Cain AND Hinshaw for Derrek Lee.

 

The same Matt Cain that is being proposed would take Fielder and Hardy from the Brewers.

 

Trade Derrek Lee for Matt Cain and Alex Hinshaw?

 

But then you trade Matt Cain AND Felix Pie for Ricky Nolasco?

 

Yikes.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Al Yellon at BCB seems to think so; I firmly believe that the Cubs and Kosuke Fukudome are going to reach an agreement that will allow both sides to, with face saved, get out of the remaining three years of the deal signed last year -- probably with several million dollars of buyout -- and Dome, who is deep in Lou's doghouse (and you all know that once there it's nearly impossible to get out), will return to Japan.

 

Does anyone actually believe this could happen? I know I don't.

 

Al Yellon also seems to think us trading for Matt Cain, then packaging him and other players for RICKY NOLASCO is a great idea.

 

That said, I have no idea how likely the probability is, it's a unique situation without much precedent.

 

Matt Cain AND Hinshaw for Derrek Lee.

 

The same Matt Cain that is being proposed would take Fielder and Hardy from the Brewers.

 

Trade Derrek Lee for Matt Cain and Alex Hinshaw?

 

But then you trade Matt Cain AND Felix Pie for Ricky Nolasco?

 

Yikes.

 

And then sign Sergio Mitre and trade him and Nolasco for Juan Pierre. Circle complete.

[nilodnayr]

There is no possible way for this to happen and have people save face. Huge F up by Gary Hughes and Jim Hendry, huge bed crapping by Fukudome, huge waste of money by Cubs ownership. There just isn't a way for this to work out with everybody saving face.

 

I wouldn't give up on Fukudome just yet.

 

I am a bit worried though becuase Fuk is clearly in Lou's doghouse, and I can't remember a player who has made his way out of there yet.

 

 

Fontenot? Maybe that was just SS Fontenot that was in Lou's doghouse though. But we have never seen anyone get as entrenched in Lous doghouse as Kosuke.