Cubs welcome Dome's hitting coach

by leothelip on Jul 19, 2009 9:41 PM CDT

I found this reference to Kyosuke Sasaki, Kosuke Fukudome's former hitting coach in Japan who arrives for a week starting tomorrow in Philadelphia, to be very interesting:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-20-cubs-bits-chicago-jul20,0,897095.story

If nothing else it show Hendry's willingness to think outside the box and I, for one, welcome any help we can get. Can anyone remember bringing an "outside specialist" onboard during the middle of the season before?

I still believe in the player and love his baseball sense and defense. He was, however, simply too good a hitter in Japan to be spinning and slapping.

Domo arigato, Sasaki san, and good luck!

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Kyosuke, Kosuke

Angry Andy’s head just exploded.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Jul 19, 2009 9:43 PM CDT reply actions

You mean Kosike?

by daeviant on Jul 20, 2009 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe Andy was confusing Kosuke with Corey Koskie.

If so, I wholeheartedly agree that Koskie has not hit ~~well~~ with the Cubs this season.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

his stat line

.000/.000/.000/.000

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 20, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

That's just unacceptable production...

…for a guy we’re paying nothing.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd make more jokes

but I kinda wish he’d actually been able to come back.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 20, 2009 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh, so do I.

He probably would’ve at least eliminated a lot of the uncertainty that took place when Aramis went down. And, of course, I’m not making light of his medical problems. He made a very understandable choice not to play.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Kosuke had a great series.

He was on base 9 times (yes, 9!) in the three games he played in. Now THAT’s what we need out of a leadoff hitter!

by kanderber on Jul 19, 2009 10:17 PM CDT reply actions

good for him,

lets hope he can get back in gear like he did last year in the first half(lets ignore fuky’s post all star break performance for the most part)

by CubsFanInWisconsin on Jul 19, 2009 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Here's hoping

I gotta admit, part of me is expecting the worse from him, due to his collapse last year and his slippage this year the last couple of months. I want him to succeed, though, because that contract is a ridiculous burden if he isn’t doing squat.

by toonsterwu on Jul 20, 2009 3:45 AM CDT reply actions

I wouldn't say he isn't doing squat.

He has probably saved a run or two out there with his glove. He is a really good outfielder.

by cubsfaninatl on Jul 20, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions

He's batting .500 for the past week

OPS well over 1.4.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 20, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

I thought he was hitting well aswell

I Just wasn’t sure, as ive been on vacation.

by cubsfaninatl on Jul 20, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm trying to hold off on looking at Dome's numbers until the end of the month.

He does appear to be hitting much better thus far and I, too, applaud this move to bring his former hitting coach into the fold. Anything to make Kosuke more comfortable is likely to be a plus.

I suppose the only worry is that Sasaki could inadvertantly rekindle some bad habits that Kosuke has struggled to overcome in adapting to MLB pitching. But I have to think that both gentlemen are smart enough to avoid that rather obvious foible. In any case, I’m loving Dome in the leadoff spot.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 10:10 AM CDT reply actions

Kosuke is getting on base

which is what I’m liking. I honestly really do like what he brings to the team and until he truly does spin himself into the ground, I’ll back him up more than one should. I can’t remember, but is the hitting coach coming over from Japan part of the contract he signed with the Cubs?

"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth

by TkGoUWGB on Jul 20, 2009 10:31 AM CDT reply actions

one positive

he broke the streak he started last year where each month his stats were worse across the board than the one before it..

2009:
April: .338 .461 .592 1.052
May: .277 .415 .415 .830
June: .169 .266 .241 .507
July: .288 .377 .577 .954

absolutely miserable June, but every other month is respectable to good. just keep getting on base.

Lou: hit Aramis 3rd for the love of everything baseball.

by kylejo on Jul 20, 2009 10:38 AM CDT reply actions

if all it takes

is him seeing his hitting coach every other month, I’ll start a donation fund.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 20, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Nooooooooo!!!

I don’t want to look at his numbers until the end of the month!

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions

but you DID look....

didn’t you…

I haz comedy show in August. You come seez it please?: Hot Beans Delivers

by digitalbenjamin on Jul 20, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I glanced briefly - they were kinda blurry.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

you cheeky little monkey, you...

I haz comedy show in August. You come seez it please?: Hot Beans Delivers

by digitalbenjamin on Jul 20, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

The entire Cubs offense

had a miserable June. Maybe he’s just trending with the team.

by daeviant on Jul 20, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

if that's true

then it’s even BETTER news.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 20, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Those July numbers look really good.

Keep up the good work, Kosuke.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 20, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

The interesting things about this story to me are that A) Hendry is willing to go outside the organization for help and B) the current Cubs staff seems to be onboard.

by leothelip on Jul 20, 2009 12:06 PM CDT reply actions

Dome has surprised me in the leadoff role

He has filled in that role nicely, still he needs to do more than produce for a week.

You have to appreciate the irony of our two “left handed power bats” being the ideal 1-2 hitters in the lineup instead of 4-5 or 5-6.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Jul 20, 2009 1:03 PM CDT reply actions

I don't know if "appreciate" is the correct word there...

But the irony is definitely noted.

by SouthernCub on Jul 20, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions

perhaps it should be

shake our heads at the irony

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Jul 20, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I've had the same thought.

Maybe Hendry should just keep trying to pick up a middle of the order guy every offseason. In six years, we’ll have a complete lineup.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 20, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions