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« Odds and Ends: Glavine, Millar, Uehara | Main | Ken Rosenthal Interview »
Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker is relaying a report from Japanese-based Sports Hochi that states the Cubs are close to inking a one-year deal with left-handed pitcher Ken Takahashi. However, Newman translates quotes from Takahashi that suggest he has not yet chosen a team.
Newman calls it "very early speculation," but it's definitely a situation worth eying. Sports Hochi believes that Takahashi would be used mostly in middle relief by the Cubs and could be in line for some spot starts. According to the report, the Cubs are looking for emotional support for Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Others have drummed up a similar idea in the past.
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maybe he can teach fukudome how to hit?
Posted by: marlinsman1120 | January 11, 2009 at 09:58 PM
Is a Cubs fan seriously telling some other fan/team how to win?
Posted by: ramaboy28 | January 11, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Hey if all it takes to make him hit is to have another guy from Japan on the team then give him a couple million even if he can't pitch!!
Posted by: masciob2003 | January 11, 2009 at 10:10 PM
For the Cubs I would say he would be a decent pickup. He will be 40 years old next April but the only left handers they have who might be in the pen are Marshall, who will most likely be starting, and Cotts, who blows the big one.
Posted by: 123456789 | January 11, 2009 at 10:10 PM
i said it b4,they need to swoop up a japanese pitcher.kosuke needs a friend.and he is lefty.wonder for how much?
Posted by: cubbie75 | January 11, 2009 at 10:11 PM
A Cubs fan making fan a of a Marlin fan about winning. How long has it been? 100 years?
Posted by: Twins777 | January 11, 2009 at 10:11 PM
40?lol oh god.
Posted by: cubbie75 | January 11, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Ummmm..I umm..Don't suppose that....ummm...they would be interested in a guy bu the name of......ummm...Kei Igawa?
We'll trade you Igawa, gift certificates to the Benihana on N. State St, all the collector's editions of Naruto and all the Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z cards his kids want
for
.......a dozen baseballs and a case of Gatorade.
I will deliver and exchange all the goods myself.
Posted by: YanksFanSince78 | January 11, 2009 at 10:19 PM
As if what a fan's baseball team has anything to do with his knowledge of how to win baseball games.
It isn't like Cub fans and Marlin fans get to vote on what the moves their teams make and their collective baseball wisdom controls how their teams perform in the playoffs.
How do people get so stupid?
Posted by: maynardgilmour | January 11, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Twins, yes it has been 100 years. Im surpised you didnt know that.
Posted by: chicubs25 | January 11, 2009 at 10:32 PM
It still makes me laugh when people say the 100 years line. Unless your 100, or im 100 it doesnt make a difference. If the cubs has won the world series in 1963 would it make a difference?
Posted by: chicubs25 | January 11, 2009 at 10:34 PM
It goes both ways. I'm tired of hearing fans who aren't even 40 years old whine about how hard life is because it's been 100 years.
My grandpa's been a fan longer than most of us have been alive and he doesn't cry about it being 100 years or act like the Cubs owe him something.
Posted by: maynardgilmour | January 11, 2009 at 10:42 PM
The question is not how many WS have you won but how many times you have been to the playoffs to win. Ancient chinese secret.
40!? Really Hendry!?
Posted by: BLEEDINGCUBBIEBLUE | January 11, 2009 at 10:45 PM
I find the idea of recruiting one Japanese player to support another kind of odd. If I were working abroad, and my boss brought in someone and expected us to get along just because he happened to be American, that would be weird to me.
Posted by: Bad Andy | January 11, 2009 at 10:47 PM
So FDome needs an entrouge to swing the stick?
Posted by: bookies710 | January 11, 2009 at 10:48 PM
cubs land,
the marlins won 84 games last year (22mil payroll), that the same as the dodger, who knocked the cubbie and the cubs haven't won anything for 100 years. don't talk. also we were 4-2 or 5-2 against the cubs
masciob2003, at least you have a sense of humor.
Posted by: marlinsman1120 | January 11, 2009 at 10:56 PM
bt we going to start a marlins-cubs war, just because my username? would you have the same reaction with a cubman1120?
Posted by: marlinsman1120 | January 11, 2009 at 10:57 PM
How a rumor about the Cubs possibly adding a lefty MRP with a small contract sparked all of this insanity, I'll never know.
Did everybody just have a bad weekend or something?
Only an idiot thinks how many games a team wins or how long a team goes without winning a World Series has anything to do the baseball knowledge of the team's fans.
Also, the Marlins aren't better than the Cubs. Not even close.
Posted by: maynardgilmour | January 11, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Hey you gotta have a sense of humor if you are a Cubs fan. I have always said I trust in Jim Hendry and I am sure he has a very good reason to sign a 40 year old. I do remember hearing last year that Fukudome and his interpreter were not the best of friends and that he was struggling mentally with the language and cultural barrier. Maybe this kind of thing will help keep his mind on baseball.
Posted by: masciob2003 | January 11, 2009 at 11:23 PM
hee sop choi is still an all star. can we have nolassco back though so we can stop the peavy nonsense and just get b rob
Posted by: sanders20 | January 11, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Maybe this pitcher and Fukudome were friends back on the island. Could be Kosuke's idea. But I do like the fact he is left handed...
Posted by: uww1 | January 11, 2009 at 11:38 PM
What kind of splits does this Takahashi guy have? The Cubs could use a genuine LOOGY, they haven't had one since they booted Will Ohman out of town. All they have right now is Neal Cotts, who really isn't much of a LOOGY, he's just a plain vanilla middle reliever who happens to throw LH.
The 40yo thing doesn't bother me when it comes to a LOOGY, they rarely pitch to more than a couple batters anyway. Shoot, Jesse Orosco pitched until he was what, 46?
Posted by: Johnny Rotten | January 12, 2009 at 12:24 AM
one what the hell is a LOOGY? two are you seriously insinuating at all that will ohman was good bcuz that was terrible for the cubs.
what would the harm be in signing this guy it's only a one year contract and he's only a relief pitcher and if he helps fuku out in the process by all means sign him.
and lastly idk how a debate between the marlins and cubs got started but its simple cubs despite their shortcomings in the post season are one of the top teams in baseball and the marlins are not near the cubs level no offense to anyone but come on would anyone disagree with that?
Posted by: Chris French | January 12, 2009 at 03:38 AM
I don't know what the acronym for LOOGY means, but it is a pitcher who is left-handed, and their specialty is getting left-handed batters out.
Posted by: AdamU | January 12, 2009 at 04:11 AM
Did Hendry consider getting him a puppy...that would keep him company for alot less money
Posted by: rfro | January 12, 2009 at 05:05 AM
For Chris French, who'd like to know what a LOOGY is:
http://tinyurl.com/628j8d
but also
http://tinyurl.com/6b6ueu
Posted by: Sour Bob | January 12, 2009 at 07:42 AM
rfro i actually laughed out loud for that one. Anyone have any idea how much $ this guy is gonna make to be a fukudome's friend?
Posted by: Mike | January 12, 2009 at 07:50 AM
First. It would be nice to have a solid lefty out of the pen, and I would think a pitcher new to the league would have better odds at being successful than a new hitter to the league.
Second. Why not put someone in the dugout that fukudome can talk to. Have you ever lived in another country where no one spoke english...well very few of those places exist now, but it gets hard to NEVER know what people are talking about. But if he just needs someone to drink some Sake bombs with, call me.
Posted by: SouthernFriedCub | January 12, 2009 at 08:23 AM
I doubt Fukudome is thinking up roster moves for Chicago.
I think the Cubs are just trying to help Kosuke feel more comfortable in Chicago, and considering he was the only Japanese player on the the team, it could have some major benefits.
The Cubs did this last spring with Shingo Takatsu, I believe, but he failed to make the deal out of spring training.
Posted by: scribbletone | January 12, 2009 at 09:24 AM
On Fukudome, I think people need to cut him some slack. He came to the Cubs with huge expectations built around all the hype of Fuku breaking the 100 year drought, etc. etc. Now, here's a guy who comes to a foreign country, can't really speak with any of his teammates, needs to play at a higher level than he ever has and then sees his early success only increase the demand from fans, and oh, I believe he had a new born child at home that he rarely got to see. I'm sure that would do in most of us. Fukudome is a professional player and I expect him to bounce back nicely this season. He won't be an all-star, but should deliver a .280/15/75/.370 line.
Posted by: jonred | January 12, 2009 at 09:27 AM
Hendry's Logic:
Ken Takahashi is to Kosuke Fukudome as Dennis Haysbert was to Tom Selleck
Posted by: Zambrano Want Bat | January 12, 2009 at 09:31 AM
Did anyone even notice the interpretor last season... the guy was always out there in his wind breaker and khaki pants shagging fly balls and running around like a chicken with his head cut off... that dude was having a blast (wouldn't you ?) I have also heard rumors that they are bringing over his personal hitting coach to be with the team next year... couldn't hurt... getting someone else in there is a good idea hope they dont over pay him...
Posted by: BlueCatuli | January 12, 2009 at 09:39 AM
Why not? We need a lefty reliever anyway, its pretty obvious. its not like Hendry is costing someone else deserving a roster spot by trying to get Kosuke a friend...he is simply getting something that was a need anyway, the fact that he is from the same place as Fukudome is a bonus.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | January 12, 2009 at 09:45 AM
yeah but I'd rather have Haysbert playing Pedro Cerrano instead.
Posted by: Pinky29 | January 12, 2009 at 09:51 AM
If this guy is the 2nd lefty in the bullpen what does that mean for Marshall? Is he the 5th starter? What happens if they acquire another starter?
Posted by: MPM | January 12, 2009 at 09:51 AM
I'm with Aduncaroo on this.
People keep talking like adding a lefty was an extravagance. Considering that Marshall is likely headed to the rotation and Cotts (who is no great shakes) is the only lefty left for the pen, it makes total sense for strategic, as well as clubhouse reasons.
Posted by: Sour Bob | January 12, 2009 at 09:51 AM
There have already been a couple of precedents here. About a month after Hendry signed Fukudome, he signed former WhiteSox closer, Shingo Takatsu, to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Takatsu was 39 at the time, and had nothing left.
He was also in the bidding for Kaz Matsui... after signing Fukudome. With Takatsu, the hope was that he might be able to come out of the pen once in a while... but act as someone to help Fukudome adjust to life in the States and the MLB. They hung out together and got along very well. There were even reports of Fukudome being disappointed when Takatsu was eventually cut shortly before the end of ST. Kaz was pursued after the Brian Roberts fiasco came to a close. This was a two-pronged attempt to pick up an additional lefty bat (switch hitter actually) that could leadoff. The additional motive was to have someone around to help Fukudome on a personal level. Matsui's agent even tried using Kaz's Japanese heritage as a tool to increase his client's value with the Cubs.
Posted by: Unlitedsoul | January 12, 2009 at 09:58 AM
I'd actually like to see his stats, rather than see this idiocy in these posts. I didn't realize there were actually Marlin fans. Judging by the stands at Dolphin stadium there are none. "Fair weather" was invented for you and the L.A. fan bases (or lack thereof in your case). If this guy can get lefties out, then whatever...I don't care about a "pal" for Fukudome.
Posted by: rockstrongo | January 12, 2009 at 10:18 AM
They no doubt know each other, but as to how well.... who knows. Takahashi has pitched his entire career for Hiroshima... which is in the Central Division... the same as Fukudome's former Chunichi team. Considering both are lefties, I'm certain they have faced each other a few dozen times.
IF you look at his career numbers, it appears that Takahashi has been as much of a reliever as anything else with a career 4.23 ERA. He had neck issues that sidelined him for a few games this past season. His past two seasons, he's managed 3.7 and 3.5 ERAs.
http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=281
I can't seem to find any splits on him, but there are a good number of videos on youtube where he looks rather dominant against lefties. Some show him dominating lefties like both Matsui's, Fukudome, and Ichiro. The problem is, most of these videos come from the 2000-2004 period.
Posted by: Unlitedsoul | January 12, 2009 at 10:22 AM
As far as I'm concerned, if this guy can fill the role of a LOOGY out of the pen... great. We certainly need one. I was hoping that Clay Rapada or Carmen Pignatiello would manage to fill that role, but Rapada was traded for Craig Monroe in 2007, and Pigs basically fell apart due to injuries this past year. If Takahashi can fill the role that we haven't had anyone around for since Ohman was sent packing... then great. If he can also provide some sort of clubhouse and beyond figure to help Fukudome, even better.
Posted by: Unlitedsoul | January 12, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Why not Beimel or bring Ohman back? Those are two pricier options, but certainly would be worth it since the Cubs pen doesn't have a lefty stopper.
Posted by: rockstrongo | January 12, 2009 at 10:53 AM
I am sure Fukudome would love to have a person on the team he can talk to and be able to relate to beyond the baseball diamond. Maybe it will take some of the spotlight off of him, as well as getting him focused on just hitting. I don't see how this lefty hurts the Cubs, and if it comes at a good price I am all for it.
Posted by: HeyChicagoWhatDoYaSay | January 12, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Ohman and Lou don't mix, that will never happen.
Beimel would be great, but likely very expensive.
Posted by: Aduncaroo | January 12, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Wasn't Takahashi the Japanese guy in Revenge of the Nerds?
Posted by: coryjwilson | January 12, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Cubs have officially denied this, check out cubs.com for details
Posted by: weeha004 | January 12, 2009 at 02:32 PM
They decided on the puppy...a labradoodle
Posted by: rfro | January 12, 2009 at 02:58 PM
Sweet. I wonder if the dog will shag the balls for the team...
Posted by: Aduncaroo | January 12, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Fukodome was dissapointing at the last half of the season, I'll give you that, but its not fair to write him off so soon. Japan is about the size of Illinois, playing road games there has to be a hell of alot easier than in a country this size.Being the only Japanese player on the team has to take its toll too. It was his first year. If he sucks this year, then bench him, trade him, whatever until then give the guy a chance.
Posted by: jamalhornsby | January 12, 2009 at 09:09 PM
For the record, Toshiro Takashi was the Japanese guy on Revenge of the Nerds. Hair Pie!
Posted by: jamalhornsby | January 12, 2009 at 09:12 PM
jamalhornsby- actually Japan is roughly the size of California, so your assessment is a bit inflated. Although, I do believe Fukudome will be more consistent this year.
Posted by: rockstrongo | January 13, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Wouldnt it be cheaper to get him a pet. I am thinking a purebread Akita. We can name it Loogy if you want?
On a serious note. Fukudome actually hit very well the first half. Remember that the Japanese season has less games and more time between them. He will just take some getting used to the grind of MLB season. I think he will be fine.
He did have a season obp of .359 or something like that. He is an excellent fielder and a good baserunner. I think he will be fine.
Posted by: Bleacher_Buddha | January 13, 2009 at 04:55 PM
What does Dennis Haysbert have to do with Tom Selleck? Did you mean Tom Berenger?
Posted by: lostinthevines | January 15, 2009 at 09:11 AM
The best part of being a Cub fan is that you learn that it is not all about winning the Series...We have won 3 Division Championships in the last 6 years...We as fans are very lucky that we get to see winning and entertaining baseball all season...
Posted by: Rob | January 15, 2009 at 12:03 PM
That being said if the Cubs cannot get there this season after all of the changes Hendry should be fired...My guess is that the loss of Derosa, Jim Edmonds, and Kerry Wood will make them less of a contender.. Kerry Wood had a compelling story that energized fans, Derosa and Edmonds were the only ones that came through in the playoffs....Seems like they are missing some critical pieces now...
Posted by: Rob | January 15, 2009 at 12:06 PM
The Cubs are missing the boat right now..They need to sign Jon Garland or Ben Sheets...Garland has been a consistent performer in the better hitting American League, moving him the the National League would not only allow him to face guys who are unfamiliar with him; and the NL has pitchers batting instead of DH's...Ben Sheets has been a perennial cub killer...They need to sign him even if they just use him for middle relief...
Posted by: Rob | January 15, 2009 at 12:33 PM