Fukudome Is Just A Rookie

If the Cubs don't re-sign Edmonds (and they probably shouldn't), I think Fukudome should play CF next year. Then, the Cubs could either play DeRosa full-time in RF (with Fontenot at 2B) or pursue a FA like Abreu. Fukudome's contract won't get better, but his lack of power and run production would be better hidden in CF.

One of the biggest problems with Japanese imports is the hype. They're expected to be instant stars. It's like last year, the first bad outing Matsuzaka had people were crowing he was a huge flop.

It's like 10-15 years ago, Cubans players were fairly unknown so you'd hear people saying Cuban baseball could take on a MLB allstar team, scouts now believe Cuban ball is on average AA talent. Japanese baseball has similar issues, but not only that, the game has certain style differences. So yeah, Fukudome has holes in his swing because it worked in Japan. But pitchers caught on and you see a massive downfall, month by month. He should go to Iowa for a month, but odds are they'll just try to work things out in ST. But really, Fukudome doesn't deserve the blame for the Cubs collapse, frankly they sucked as a team against the Dodgers.

I agree there's no way to shop him and that the minors are what he needs. Fukudome has to stop leaving his back foot and nearly falling over every time he gets fooled by a pitch...

He is just a rookie. If a rookie wasn't meeting expectations, you'd send him to the minors. Send him to the minors to work out the kinks.

Bravesfanuc- Jason Varitek this year was worse.

The airport announcement was hilarious though. Bwahahahaha.

"Soriano's real problem was pointed out on espn by Kurkjian, he became the default lead off hitter on a team without a lead off hitter."

the problem is, he hits so much better when he's in the leadoff spot, for some reason. What about the possibility of signing Furcal to leadoff and play SS? You could move Soriano down to third (and thus, move down Double Play Derrek) and platoon Theriot/DeRosa/Fontenot at 2nd, with DeRosa/Fukudome in right, with Fukudome also getting some time in CF? Bring in Pie for defense in latter innings? Keep Reed Johnson to play in CF against the lefties?

SS- Furcal S
RF- DeRosa R
LF- Soriano R
3B- Ramirez R
CF- Fukudome L
1B- Lee R
C - Soto R
2B- Fontenot L

Bench
1B/RF Hoffpauir L
SS/2B Theriot R
C Blanco R
OF Johnson R
CF Pie L

Of course, I'd rather see somebody with more pop in the 5 hole, but I stuck in (an improved) Fukudome in there to break up all the righties. I don't know. Maybe I play too much baseball on XBox or something.

The Cubs need to sign Furcal. I love Ryan Theriot, but he is not a good shortstop. He has a terrible arm, and doesnt really have good range. I think the cubs should move him to 2nd if they do sign furcal. And the Cubs also are going to need to see what their options are with soriano. I was thinking they can maybe propose a trade with the astros to trade soriano for carlos lee... even though they are in the same division and that is pretty rare. But the most important acquisition the cubs should do is get furcal.. even if they cubs still have soriano. Furcal is your prototypical lead off hitter. So if they got him there would be no controversy that soriano should bat lead off. This is what their 09 line up should look like

Rafael Furcal
Derrek Lee
Alfonso Soriano
Aramis Ramirez
Geovany Soto
Mark Derosa
Kosuke Fukudome
Ryan Theriot

i personally think D Lee would be a great 2 hitter, he doesnt have the 35+ homerun power any more but he can still hit for average with occasional power. which is what a 2 hitter should provide.

Several teams and their scouting over evaluated Fukudome when he was in Japan, not just the Cubs. It's just we are stuck with him and have to get him turned around. I agree the minors is best, but that can of worms in ego and how it is handled is huge.

Other players that came from Cuba or Japan had at least a bigger impact on the game when they first came here, not just 2 months like Fukudome. At least not in a long time. Some of those players fizzled, some did well. Other than Fukudome (unless you count opening day), all in the last dozen years made some impact. I think teams might want to do more research before giving out millions and anoiting players before they earned it. As a Cub fan, even I was embarrased he made the all star team when I knew others were more deserving.

"If the Cubs don't re-sign Edmonds (and they probably shouldn't), I think Fukudome should play CF next year. Then, the Cubs could either play DeRosa full-time in RF (with Fontenot at 2B) or pursue a FA like Abreu. Fukudome's contract won't get better, but his lack of power and run production would be better hidden in CF."

How would CF "hide" Fukudome's lousy offense? What do you mean by this? If your batting sucks it sucks regardless of your position and all the fans will know it.

"Soriano's real problem was pointed out on espn by Kurkjian, he became the default lead off hitter on a team without a lead off hitter. He's being misused. Well that and apparently he can't hit in the playoffs."

Soriano's real prob is that he really is only a star when it comes to hitting 3-star pitching and below. When it comes to hitting 4-star pitchers, the type one sees in the playoffs, he sucks. He's a good guy to help get a team into the playoffs, but he can't be counted on to win in the playoffs. Plus, from what I've seen of him, the guy is just a space cadet. Soriano routinely gets thrown out making stupid running decisions or getting picked off (or momentarily taking his eyes off the ball in the outfield and dropping it). If the Cubs use him next year, they should insist on him taking some medication for ADD.

What the Cubs really need is some consistent left-handed power (a guy who can hit good pitching). Are there any good lefty bats on the free-agent market this off season? If so, they should do all they can to get such a player, because w/out him they ain't going anywhere w/the roster they currently have.

Wow, this is quite an interesting thread. I'm still kind of numb about this, being in shock from the AA baseball I watched out of the Cubs in the first round...

"Soriano's real problem was pointed out on espn by Kurkjian, he became the default lead off hitter on a team without a lead off hitter. He's being misused. Well that and apparently he can't hit in the playoffs."

#1 - He didn't become the default leadoff hitter...he was signed to be exactly that! The guy stole 40 some bases the year before they signed him.

#2 - The Cubs recognized this last year in the playoffs, hence the Brian Roberts talks. Apparently, according to a Chicago sports writer, they are still interested and as a side note, will be involved in the Sabathia talks. (I don't believe that they have the money)

#3 - As far as Fukudome, I don't think you make the decision right now. I think you let him go home to Japan for a couple of months and try and get his head striaght. Then you bring him to ST and let him try and work it out. If things aren't going well there, THAT is when you make the decision. There will always be room for a lefty on the roster who plays great defense and STILL, being as bad as he was in the second half, ended up with a better on base percentage than a TON of major leaguers. For instance, just looking at Right Fielders, Kosuke STILL had a better OBP than Jermaine Dye, Ken Griffey Jr., Corey Hart, Xavier Nady, Hunter Pence....and so on, all of whom play the same position that he does, and most if not all of whom play much worse defense.

Also, Ryan Theriot is making next to nothing and has the 2nd highest OBP among SS in the majors, only benind Hanley freakin Ramirez. Theriot is not your problem here boys. Would Furcal be an upgrade? Maybe...probably. But that is when he is healthy and probably for at LEAST 10 mil more a year. I don't know about you, but I'd rather spend that 10-13 mil somewhere else.

How about letting Dempster slide and getting Sabathia (of course, get Sabathia first--assuming he'd agree to be on a team that seems forever destined to choke)? It would be nice if the Cubs could get an ace who can be counted on to be consistent, wouldn't it?

I agree w/the above comments. Theriot is definitely not the Cubs' prob (hell he's the only guy on the damn team who's played all year and has a .300 avg). Sure it would be nice if he could also hit homers, but this is all gravy, isn't it? What's important is that Theriot gets on base, and having guys on base is one of the things that has made the 2008 Cubs so much better than the teams of old--and Fukudome HAS helped in this, and will in the future unless the management decides to blame him for the whole season and playoffs. Let the guy go home, rest and cogitate upon what he needs to do to be better. Let him then play in ST, and if he still looks bad, then send him down to AAA to work stuff out.

The prob w/the Cubs isn't guys like Theriot. The prob (well one of the probs) is that the Cubs are heavily dependent on the base on balls--and stringing together singles and doubles w/these BB's. Against most teams this formula seems to work. Against teams w/good pitching, however, this recipe breaks down, for good pitchers (except if they're on the Cubs) aren't inclined to either giving away walks or letting the other team hit one hit after another. What the Cubs need are batters who can get the job done w/out having to wait for the pitcher to make 4 mistakes. They need consistent clutch slugging (and from the left side would be nice). Unfortunately, Ramirez and Soriano will never CONSISTENTLY fill this role against good pitching (and their no trade clauses just makes the matter worse). Lee can do it, but it would be nice if over the off-season he could rediscover how to hit homers again, for he definitely still has the strength to do it. The Cubs have got to go out and get a consistent MVP caliber hitter (and stay away from the "streaky" guys, Hendry!).

As for DeRosa, they should keep him if they can, but it would be foolish to expect him to repeat the career-year that he had this season.

studio,
where do they play this left handed bat with thump if Fukudome doesn't move to CF? Are you saying to just flat out bench him? Thats probably tough to swallow on a 48 million dollar investment.

I don't hate the Furcal ideal...but the thought of any more big, longterm contracts is really starting to scare me at this point. We already have Lee, Ramirez, Fukudome, Zambrano, Soriano, Lilly, and probably soon to be Dempster and Wood on the books for at least the next two years.

I am a huge Cub fan. I beleive we already have a left hander with pop in Hoffpauir and if given the chance would put up numbers much better than Lee's. Trade Lee for a premier center fielder to a team he would agree to play for or do a three team deal. The cubs also need to dump Blanco and Marquis to make room for courting another pitcher. Koyie Hill would be a suitable backup for Soto. As far as lead off why not give Reed Johnson the opportunity.