2010 BCB Community Projections: Kosuke Fukudome

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 8:00 AM CST in Community Projections

We know that -- at least once Xavier Nady is healthy -- Kosuke Fukudome will be platooned in RF, facing few LHP. This will likely be good for him, as his career splits are pretty bad against lefties:

vs. LHP: .242/.343/.324
vs. RHP: .262/.372/.417

Last year, he hit .270/.387/.441 against RHP (.828 OPS) with 84 walks, 36 doubles and 10 HR in 444 AB. We'd all be real happy with a performance like that. There's a special category in the projection spreadsheet just for Kosuke, too.

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"Revolutions in Batters Box"?

I thought Al said no politics…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Feb 16, 2010 10:29 AM CST reply actions

I'm betting

Dome really takes off this year.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Feb 16, 2010 10:29 AM CST up reply actions

I hope so too,

Depending on what you mean by “takes off”.

Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.

Go Pack!

by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Feb 16, 2010 12:02 PM CST up reply actions

well

either the ball off his bat, or his feet off the ground…

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Feb 16, 2010 2:54 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe we should have called it

“Helicopter Swings”.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 10:33 AM CST up reply actions

Up up & Away

then we would need a stat for average liftoff during helicopter swings

~Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs~ George F. Will

by unretrofied93 on Feb 16, 2010 10:35 AM CST up reply actions

yes should have

cuz the first thing I did was hum the skit from SNL D*CK IN A BOX

Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou

by Cubbie-Tim on Feb 16, 2010 9:37 PM CST up reply actions

For reference's sake

So Taguchi’s career MLB numbers are: .279/.332/.385, averaging 330 ABs, 47 Rs, 92 Hs, 18 2Bs, 5 HRs, and 39 RBIs.

"What a lot of people don’t see is the tremendous amount of progress that has been made in the organization over the last few years. We have a lot of very talented guys coming up through the system. Jim has built an incredible scouting organization." - Tom Ricketts

by DGU on Feb 16, 2010 11:11 AM CST reply actions

BLou thanks you.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

Platooning

It is hard to say if Fukudome really does need to platoon if you look at his vs. LHP numbers season by season:

2008: 127 AB, .276/.371/.354 (BA is .025 better than vs.RHP, though 0 HR)
2009: 55 AB, .164/.277/.255 (1 HR though)

The 2009 numbers are a very small sample size, so I have hope that he can return to numbers more resembling 2008 vs. LHP. It may be the initial intention by Lou to platoon Kosuke more, but I do still see him playing CF from time to time and I see Nady playing lots of LF when Soriano inevitably gets hurt (and maybe starting over there quite a bit if Soriano struggles once again). I still feel it is still safe to project the typical 500 ABs for Fukudome until consequences dictate otherwise.

by Qixotl on Feb 16, 2010 11:13 AM CST reply actions

Platooning Fukudome...

… not only gets him to be better by NOT facing LHP too much, but also gives him needed rest. He appeared to wear down late in the year in both 2008 and 2009.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

September

Yep, his September/October numbers were quite poor (.200/.338/.286) and fatigue may have been a factor. A bit more rest for him when the team has the depth to do it would be smart. In hindsight, he was rested vs. LHP quite a bit last year (only 55 AB over 51 games), so Lou would likely need to rest him vs. RHP a fair amount to lower his workload further. Though to be fair, very few Cub players were giving their all in September anyway since they had played themselves out of the playoffs early on. What was seen as fatigue may have been more lack of motivation. Hopefully we will see a September pennant chase this year so that won’t be a factor.

by Qixotl on Feb 16, 2010 11:37 AM CST up reply actions

I'd like that (a pennant chase), of course.

Resting players (Theriot is someone else who needs it) to have them be ready to go in September is important.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 11:42 AM CST up reply actions

sorry off topic

Al, are you going to Atlanta for opening day?

by imacubman on Feb 16, 2010 11:23 AM CST reply actions

No...

… I’ll be at spring training until the end of camp, too late to make it to Atlanta as well.

I’m considering some other road trips this year, will post when I know more.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions

I remain cautiously optimistic about Dome

and he’s best in right field. Taking him out last year was a big mistake IMHO. It’ll be good to have him back where he belongs.

you can’t get much by that #$%@ ballhawk -- LT

by Emelie on Feb 16, 2010 11:52 AM CST reply actions

Yes! And...

He also belongs in the leadoff spot.

"I tried to let Ryan know that [jumping over the dugout railing] was a thing that maybe just athletes should stick to." -- Ted Lilly, 28 July 2009

by CaughtInTheVines on Feb 16, 2010 2:09 PM CST up reply actions 4 recs

Agreed.

Rec’d.

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

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 2:10 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

vote

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Feb 17, 2010 9:38 PM CST up reply actions

Playing RF and sitting against LHers

should make him much more productive

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Feb 16, 2010 4:45 PM CST up reply actions

With Dome

Sitting against LHers is a wise move .Let alone rest , and raising his batting average in the process . It’s going to give playing time for Nady .. Really hoping this move works out for both players .. Sure would like to see what Nady has playing in Wrigley field . Should be exciting .. And inserting Nady in right field is not just putting a sub out there . Nady could when healthy . IMO , could knock Dome from being the starter . It could happen and just put Dome in for late inning D replacement

by CUBFANINAZ on Feb 16, 2010 7:26 PM CST up reply actions

Please clarify...

Does revolutions in batters box mean the TOTAL degrees of revolution he accumulates all year long…? Or does this refer to the total number of INDIVIDUAL helicopter swings he takes…? These are important differences, as 50 helicopter swings could mean 5400 degrees of total revolution…

Does this refer to the major change he’s going to make in his swing to finally have his career year we all expected and they’ll call it the “Japanese Revolution?”

Just curious…

by lswaidz on Feb 16, 2010 12:18 PM CST reply actions

Fortunately

…the new MLB SwingSpinFX system should be fully operational by midyear. We’ll be able to assess whether shortening up to a 270 degree spin is better than a full-on 450 degrees.

"I tried to let Ryan know that [jumping over the dugout railing] was a thing that maybe just athletes should stick to." -- Ted Lilly, 28 July 2009

by CaughtInTheVines on Feb 16, 2010 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

Tell you what - that photo of Dome explains everything...

No wonder he had a crappy season last year – look at him! His belly is looking positively Piniella-esque! Must be packing at least 20 extra pounds there. He’s either pregnant or just pulled a Delta Tau Chi pledge prank at the local grocery store.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Feb 16, 2010 1:58 PM CST reply actions

obviously

So Taguchi was providing him with steroids AND pregnancy hormones.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Feb 16, 2010 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

Is this his last year?

I can’t remember if we signed him for 3 or 4 years?

If this is his third year my head is already putting together a 2011 outfield….haha at least I’m not getting ahead of myself!

by ak123 on Feb 16, 2010 2:33 PM CST reply actions

per COTTS

it’s a 4 year contract; he’s in Chicago in 2011.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Feb 16, 2010 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

Nevermind then!

by ak123 on Feb 16, 2010 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

Cotts? Why would you listen to him? ....

…if he can’t even throw the ball straight, what would make you think he could talk straight?

Sarcasm

Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.

by Ryno Runner on Feb 16, 2010 7:14 PM CST up reply actions