Report: Execs think Kosuke headed back to Japan

I guess no big-league execs think that Kosuke could make their team more popular in Japan, or make the rest of their players more patient, or inspire new and better conditioning programs ...

4 months ago elgato 29 comments 0 recs |

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Kosuke's getting old

I’m sure that has something to do with that and the fact that there are a lot of cheap outfielders out there right now. I’m guessing he wouldn’t mess with a minor league deal since he could just go back to Japan.

by subtle on Jan 26, 2012 10:16 AM CST reply actions

Well then....

…..let me be the first to say SAYONARA!

by ZimFrey on Jan 26, 2012 11:32 AM CST up reply actions

I wonder if we would have experience a much better Kosuke if he came over at the beginning of his prime and not the end...

by ubercubsfan on Jan 26, 2012 10:24 AM CST reply actions

I think that was a big part of the problem.

He was on the wrong side of the aging curve, and the amount and length of his contract put expectations way too high.

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 26, 2012 10:49 AM CST up reply actions

True.

He also wasn’t helped by the fact that he was one of four contracts signed within two years (along with Soriano, Zambrano and Bradley) that looked absolutely atrocious by the mid-point of each deal.

In other words, Kosuke couldn’t quietly get overpaid because other guys were trying to get quietly overpaid.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 26, 2012 11:05 AM CST up reply actions

That's a good point.

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 26, 2012 11:17 AM CST up reply actions

My issue through the years ...

was that so many BCBers tried to defend the Kosuke contract as not as bad as the other three — and the crazy arguments used to mount that defense (see above). There’s no question that the Bradley deal was indefensible and that the Soriano deal (after year two) was really terrible.

But I always thought the Kosuke deal was third worst, because I understood Hendry locking up a homegrown pitcher allegedly entering his prime in Zambrano (particularly when Z’s money didn’t come close to Zito’s).

And, yes, the Cubs had to outbid other teams (some of whom reportedly would have paid more) for Kosuke. But, to me, that just means Hendry won the bidding among a bunch of other GMs who incorrectly evaluated Kosuke.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 26, 2012 11:31 AM CST up reply actions

I know we've had this discussion through the years.

I could agree 3rd worst even though I might slide Z’s in front it. I give Hendry slack with Fukudome because it wasn’t as apparently awful as the other two. Bradley’s deal was awful before it was even signed. Hendry picking up the check for the infamous dinner was awful. Soriano’s contract length made that one questionable (and I know Hendry may not have wanted that length).

With Fukudome, I don’t think it was as evident that it was bad when it was signed. In retrospect considering his age, it obviously was. I just didn’t see it as bad at the time.

John Grabow - Who will pay you $4.8 million in 2012?

by rlpete on Jan 26, 2012 4:15 PM CST up reply actions

No argument on Soriano.

And Bradley wouldn’t have been that bad if Hendry hadn’t given him three years.

But signing a pitcher in his late 20s coming off some very strong seasons versus an unknown Japanese outfielder (coming off a big injury) in his 30s?

I was excited about the Kosuke signing at the time, too. But international signings are almost impossible for us, as American fans, to gauge going in. At that point, I was willing to take what Hendry did on faith (at least, to a point).

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 27, 2012 8:09 AM CST up reply actions

If he's leaving... I know who will drive him to the airport!!

Again, I kid… cause I always thought it was a great line.

"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."

by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Jan 26, 2012 10:26 AM CST reply actions

elgato is going to rent the Concorde...

…and fly Kosuke back to Japan himself.

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 26, 2012 10:32 AM CST up reply actions

I believe the Concorde has been grounded, so here's Plan B.

Google Maps says it will take 35 days and 17 hours but they’re assuming a kayak for the Pacific Ocean part so I’m guessing it’ll be a bit shorter with this sweet ride. Still plenty of time for elgato and Kosuke to completely dissect and rehash his Cubs career, game by game, at bat by at bat…

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

by ballhawk on Jan 26, 2012 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

I raise

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jan 26, 2012 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

Nah, not anymore.

I just wanted him off the Cubs. He can stay in the states as long as he wants, as long as he’s not on my team.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 26, 2012 11:01 AM CST up reply actions

It was fun debating Kosuke's value over the years.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 26, 2012 11:00 AM CST up reply actions

I guess no big-league execs think that Kosuke could make their team more popular in Japan, or make the rest of their players more patient, or inspire new and better conditioning programs …

Not too bitter here, are you?

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by Al Yellon on Jan 26, 2012 10:50 AM CST reply actions

Well, I had my tongue firmly in my cheek.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 26, 2012 11:00 AM CST up reply actions

Whew!

Had me worried there for a moment.

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by Al Yellon on Jan 26, 2012 11:05 AM CST up reply actions

I still think it's laughable that ...

those excuses were used for SO LONG to try to justify the bust that was Kosuke Fukudome.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 26, 2012 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

Maybe the Mets.

TWEET!!!

"[The Cubs] have a very famous tradition in baseball, and it will be nice to be part of turning it around." ~ Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach

by daver on Jan 26, 2012 11:54 AM CST reply actions

LOL @ "diligently monitoring"

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by Al Yellon on Jan 26, 2012 12:35 PM CST up reply actions

Meh, I got no bitterness toward the guy.

Wish it would have worked out better. Oh well.

DUMP GARZA. CORRECT THE COSMIC WRONG.

by shoemile on Jan 27, 2012 1:55 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Same here

When he was signed, I was on board with it and after I went to the first days at Fitch Park to see him hit, I was even better with it.

What sucks is that the Cubs laid down in 07 and 08 in the playoffs when they had the pieces to win it all. If they did, no one would be talking about Soriano’s and Fukudome’s contracts so much today.

He was a class person and did his best. No one will forget his Opening Day HR and the patience at the plate that others adopted, for a little while. Thanks Kosuke. Good luck back home.

"IN THEO WE TRUST"

by BigJohnAZ on Jan 27, 2012 9:01 AM CST up reply actions

Kosuke signed after 2007.

So success that season wouldn’t have helped blunt the disappointment of his contract. As for this …

No one will forget his Opening Day HR and the patience at the plate that others adopted, for a little while.

Please, we need to stop perpetuating this. Kosuke did not make other Cubs more patient. The 2008 team was more patient than 2007 because new players (Kosuke, Soto, Edmonds, Theriot) replaced players who were less patient (Jones, the 2007 catcher carousel, the center-right carousel, Izturis). Also, several guys had career years (DeRosa, Soto, Theriot, Fontenot). And, yes, I know that I’m simplifying — Theriot was at short for much of 2007, etc. But Izturis/Theriot wasn’t as patient as Theriot (this was before Theriot stopped being patient in 2009).

The whole Kosuke-made-the-Cubs-more-patient meme is truly based on nothing and was used as a ridiculous reason to defend the contract when it became apparent that Kosuke was a bust. To believe the meme, you have to think that the Cubs, collectively, decided in 2009-11 to throw out the lessons Kosuke taught them in 2008. Why in the HELL would they do that?

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on Jan 27, 2012 9:35 AM CST up reply actions