Kosuke Fukudome Coming To MLB

Sabean do SOMETHING right for once!!!

Go to the royals.. dont go to the crappy cubs

gotta be KC. hillman-factor.

Per Rosenthal "His decision on whether to join the Cubs, Padres or an unidentified third finalist might come as soon as late Friday night or early Saturday, sources say."

I'd love to see him in Royal blue. We could plug him in at right, move Teahen to center and trade Dejesus for a starter. Come on Dayton, make it happen.

He would be that on base guy KW it looking 4. After all that has gone on this offseason to lose a bidding war to the cubs would be the ultimate humiliation! Reindorf please just sell the team already!!!!

Why would loseing a bidding war to a team that spends a lot more money be Humiliating, even if it is the cubs.

Besides, its not like the white sox have any realistic shot at winning the division during the next oooh 3 or 4 years.

Just come over to the Cubbies Fukudome........

More waiting, damnit to hell and back. Go sign with San Diego and be done with it.

Because the Cubs are what American baseball is all about. If you want a Japanese friendly environment play in Japan.

Just kidding, Fukudome-san.

"how on EARTH is the cubs the "only logical choice"? Please explain.."

...Because the 400M they spend last offseason left gaping holes in the team that they desperately need to fill. "its the only logical choice" because they really, really, really need him more than the others...

...Well, thats what it seems like atleast...

Well, the cubs are not the only logical choice. But they still are a "Logical Choice"

Out of every team seemingly interested in Fukudome, the Cubs are the only team from the previous season to of made the playoffs.

If he goes to the Cubs, The chances to make it to the playoffs would be easier, he would be paid more, he would be loved more (if he pans out), and he would be playing in one of the best ballparks in the history of baseball.

You cannot really say any of that about the other interested teams.

"Out of every team seemingly interested in Fukudome, the Cubs are the only team from the previous season to of made the playoffs"

A) We dont know that ~ one team is a "mystery team" out of 3 options…
B) The Padres missed the playoffs in the 163rd game ~ its hard to call them a "non-playoff contender"
C) A+B means 2-3/3 are actually “contenders”

D) …I just wanted to add “D” to say, how are there really only 3 teams with serious interest in him? Is there something we don’t know here???

If he went to the Cubs and had a poor april he would be booed in April that is how cub fans our!!!!!! The cubs would be the worst choice if goes there it will be a mistake.

Giants could really make use of both him and Matsui.

San Diego and the White Sox don't really have much of a chance when the Cubs will make the highest bid. Why would he want to play for the White Sox when they have no hope for the forseeable future? Even if the unthinkable happened and they outbid the Cubs. Why would he want to play for even less money with the Padres in a park that's bigger the Yosemite? I will bet $10 against all comers for the next hour who'd like to bet it won't be the Cubs.

@CUBS=NOTHING
please stop making all sox fans sound ridiculous. i too, despise the cubs, but you're hatred is getting the best of you here. the white sox do not need fukudome, as hes not going to make a huge difference on our team. We're better off playin JO, and seeing if he can cut it, becasue face it, this year is a rebuilding year whether we like it or not. We cant shed payroll yet becasue we wont get fair market value for our vets yet. Yes, i do think our staff will be better than most expect, but danks and floyd will hit some road bumps, and who knows if contreras can make it the whole season because hes 50. all in all, id rather not have them spend the 10-15 mil its going to cost for fukudome and let some of the kids develop.

Hey White Sox fans worry about your own team. I know we may be in a bidding war here but your inferiority complex to the Cubs is embarrassing you and this city. Keep your focus on your own league, division, and team.

"that is how cub fans our!!!!!!"

"Read that again dude...stop Cubs hating with horrendous grammar."

And a teenybopper number of exclamation points.

"Why would loseing a bidding war to a team that spends a lot more money be Humiliating, even if it is the cubs."

I believe it's been pointed out already, but the Sox have a higher payroll than the Cubs.

As for the Cubs being the logical choice, he fits their needs perfectly, they give him the best chance to win, and give him the best chance to put up numbers at the same time. San Diego is a ridiculously pitcher favored park and is in a pitchers division. Oh and the Cubs will offer more money than anyone else, that too.

no offense to cubs fans.

but if you REALLY think the money is the factor in a japanese player making his decision, you are completely wrong.

you are thinking american. japan is a COMPLETELY different culture where greed and money-hunger isn't the driving force. honor and respect is, along with challenges in the sport.

yes, chicago may have a 15-20 million dollar contract, but he is not going to be looking at the money. please stop thinking this.

"honor and respect is, along with challenges in the sport."

Is there a bigger challenge than getting the Cubs a World Series, and the respect he would earn doing it??? none that I can think of...

OK Bobosan. Watch "Rising Sun" a few too many times?

NancyEcho.

No, but I have read a lot about Japanese baseball since my Royals signed Trey Hillman to be our manager because I wanted to know his background after being hired to run our clubs. I saw a lot of interviews with him regarding the Japanese league, and his insight is very helpful in understanding the players.

But your attitude and sarcasm, is the exact reason why Cubs fans do not deserve Fukudome.

I'm pretty sure money was the last point I made.

What a tool.

"Is there a bigger challenge than getting the Cubs a World Series, and the respect he would earn doing it??? none that I can think of..."

...I also cant imagine a worse situation then for a player looking for respect to go to the Cubs and become the next "goat" in their whining about what happened to ruin their dreams this time around…

NancyEcho, no what I mean is that your sarcasm is the exact reason why he wouldn't be a fit. Cubs fans are well known for turning on their players.

and i didn't see a wager. did i miss something?

Game555. you seem to be dribbling idiocy with each post. can you maybe go watch nickelodeon or something and let us REAL baseball fans have a discussion? thanks tiger.

Your arguments are compelling Focs. Sick.

"Americas baseball team is not the freaking cubs haha as much as i hate to admit it when people think of american baseball they think of the yankees.. "

...or the Dodgers...

"Game555. you seem to be dribbling idiocy with each post. can you maybe go watch nickelodeon or something and let us REAL baseball fans have a discussion? thanks tiger."

What the hell are you talking about? You're in here saying Kosuke is japanese and therefore plays for honor and respect....what a complete and utter tool. And what exactly about missing the playoffs (something the Royals, Padres, and Sox all did) is honorable?

At 3:19 PM I offered to wager $10 against all comers who'd like to bet Fukodome signs with any team other than the Cubs. The bet remains open until 4:19 PM. So I see because I am sarcastic, Fukodome would not be a good fit for the Cubs. I have never turned on a Cubs player who didn't have it coming to him. Including Jacque Jones. That is I never turned on him.

lets be real here, until the cubs actually win something, they will always be the joke of the MLB. Loveable Losers, wait till next year, its gonna happen, the curse of the billy goat.... they have the most excuses in the world. They also have some of the deepest pockets too, so im sure theyll overpay for him and probably get him but that doesnt mean anything. they still have to play out there year and EVERY team is an injury or two away from being completely mediocre.

lol, so he's just a bitter Royals fan. Yeah, I know they have new management, I can tell because old management made no deals. This one just makes bad deals. Good luck with Jose Guillen.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Cubs suck!!!

Nu UH White sox suck!!

No way man Royals suck!!

Silly billy Padres suck!!!

ROFLMAOCOPTER, LOL....

Ugh.

Can you just not come to a consensus and acknoledge that you are all awful?

I think it's difficult to imagine any team but the Cubs being the front-runners for this signing. Not because they are the best fit, most logical choice, or have the most to offer, but simply because they have made it known that they have been waiting for him to make his decision to come to the US to play baseball. Now that he has done so, I don't think there is any way they will let him slip through their fingers and sign with another team. Also, given the fact that they are more than willing to throw money at players and have dumped salary to make room for such a signing, I think it's only a matter of time before he is in a Cubs uniform.

Wow i couldnt agree with you more Bobhamelin everyone thinks we are the same ol royals because no one hears stuff about us.. they dont realize that our owner is now dishing out some dollars since he is one of the richest in baseball and owns walmart.. and we might go after fukudome and might go after alexei ramirez to play SS.. people dont realize this team is not far away from contending at all and will definately finsh before the twins and whitesox in the AL central this year and will compete with the indians and detroit

This post is the result of everyone having winter meeting hangover...and especially Cubs fans, who thought Hendry would get something bigger done. So now we are all over any post that has anything to do with the Cubs...

LOL NANCY if i remember correctly or if the stats are written down correctly Gil Meche had a better ERA then your whole rotation.. including Zambrano dumbass

and i said if we get fukudome and another pitcher via trade we will indeed give the indians and detroit a good fight.. more than the whitesox and twins

troll heaven in here lately lol.

anyways, i wonder why people keep saying he is going to sign soon and then nothing. is there some sort of discord in the info or are they just hyping this to high heaven?

"but that playoff run last year you guys made was amazing. if Milwaukee and St. Louis hadn't just laid down and died for you guys, well who knows..it might have been a challenge, right!"

The Cubs were ahead of the Cardinals all year, and the Cubs had the best record in the NL from June on forward. Nobody laid down, sorry. I know it's unfortunate to be fan of a team you know isn't going anywhere any time soon - I mean I am a Cub fan right - but you don't have to take out your frustrations on other people. The only reason the Royals are even in this discussion is because of your manager, there is nothing to Kosuke going there. Get over it.

and just curious Game555 what is there to make Kosuke go to the cubs.. cuz i see fukudome's buddy yasuhiko yabuta who was the sickest reliever in japan last year who is his friend and i see trey hillman.. so what makes the cubs a better choice GAME555

And really I question the objectivity of anyone expecting them to even finish 3rd, much less compete. They have some nice young talent and they've (poorly) spent money on (overrated) players, but if you honestly think that is a team that will be better than the Twins or White Sox, you are going to be very disappointed.

I like how you all pretend to know what Kosuke wants. get real guys, we don't know what the most important aspects are to him we can only guess. now lets talk about some real topics instead of these lame flame wars.

It's a slow news day Kid. What do you want to talk about?

life, the universe, and everything :D.

but seriously, anything is better than flame wars between fanboys. as i see it fukudome could certainly help all 3 teams (if he does sign with one of them). at this point i would almost rather him just make up his mind so that the other clubs can move on with their other options.

and i understand we overpaid guillen.. by a lot.. but maybe he might live up to the money.. just maybe.. and it orginally looked like we overpaid meche but it turns out we deffinately didnt.. look at the money zambrano is making and his era and look a meches era.. meches is a lot better.. and is better than the cubs whole rotation last year.. every last one of them

I agree...this conversation is getting old...

So what does everyone think his stat line will be next year?

I'm going with:

.305\.375\.450

Anyone care to agree\disagree?

hmm.

.314\.390\.450

27HR 98RBI

I'll say 24 HR 90 RBI

a record of a pitcher has nothing to do with them because they have a lineup that has to get them runs we had a young inexperienced one last year.. you'll have to excuse me i was going under "the most important stat of a pitcher" and was kinda under the asumption of if gil pitched for you last year what might of his record been just to make you understand a little easier since you have the iq of a 2 yr old. and if meche can have that good of an ERA in this tough division i clearly think he is better than zambrano who did shitty in a shitty divison and i said meche did better than your whole rotation not just zabrano to add injury to insult :D