Fukudome is a Cub!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Cubfansince1957 on Dec 12, 2007 12:02 AM CST

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-071211cubs,1,1236143.story?coll=cs-h ome-headlines

Here is the URL on the Chicago Tribune website. We all better learn to pronounce his name.

Sad to hear the part in here about the Cubs probably non-tendering Mark Prior. I have a feeling that may come back to haunt us.

Go Cubs!!!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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i just saw

they signed him on the ticker on espn news

by massey1984 on Dec 11, 2007 11:59 PM CST reply actions

I just saw it on ESPN News channel.

This ought to liven the place up! :)

"I lof to hit de home ron!"

by Tekboy on Dec 12, 2007 12:19 AM CST reply actions

HEY!!

We got our guy!!!

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Dec 12, 2007 12:21 AM CST reply actions

This is great news

And I'm truly excited about this.

But we should remember--this guy isn't Ichiro and he's not Hideki Matsui. Keith Law compares him to Bobby Abreu, and I'd honestly be stoked if he turned out like Bobby Abreu.

He's not likely to be a superstar like Ichiro. But he's a quality player and he fits our needs perfectly. Bat him in the two hole behind Soriano (assuming Fonzie still wants to lead off) and that gives us a lineup as good as any in the National League.

You could bat him in the five hole, but that wastes his OBP a bit.

(Of course, acquiring Brian Roberts would change all that, and likely move Soriano to the five hole where he really belongs.)

Soriano LF
Fukudome RF
Lee 1B
Ramirez 3B
DeRosa 2B
Pie CF
Soto C
Theriot SS

Something like that.

Against lefties Pie sits and Murton moves into the lineup.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 12, 2007 12:39 AM CST reply actions

Soto really ought to bat higher...

...than Pie, and probably higher than DeRosa.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Dec 12, 2007 12:50 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed

He should be at least 6th in that lineup.

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Dec 12, 2007 12:53 AM CST up reply actions

Probably

but I imagine that Piniella will be reluctant to bat a rookie that high.

And he'd bat behind Pie in order to break up the run of right handers. Piniella likes that.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 12, 2007 12:53 AM CST up reply actions

Sweet!!!!

If he turns out to be the real thing we could have a pretty nice lineup, especially if Soto doesn't regress and if Pie finds it. Personally I'm still in favor of Brian Roberts. DeRosa's bat doesn't play as well in right field but why not move him to short instead? Replace Theriot with Pie in that scenario? Either way, sounds good to me. Too much to think about now, I'm just glad we got KFuk. Now when someone says "F*ck the Cubs!" I'll say "Hell Yeah!!!"

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Dec 12, 2007 12:52 AM CST reply actions

We'd be sacrificing

too much defense putting DeRosa at short, IMO.

DeRosa came up as a shortstop, but he got moved off that position for a reason. I think he can still play it once in a while, but to make him the everyday SS would really be hurting our pitching staff.

Yeah, I know. It's still a problem in that Theriot is really more of a backup than a starter, but the only other shortstop we have is Ronny Cedeno. Getting Roberts doesn't solve that problem, although it gives us another great bat.

If we get Roberts now, then DeRosa moves to right, Fukudome moves to center and we're stretching defensively everywhere (although DeRosa's a good right fielder, actually.)

But Soriano, Pie and Fukudome gives us a top-notch defensive outfield, which should help our pitching staff.

Hey! You know, Fukudome came up as a shortstop!

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 12, 2007 1:01 AM CST up reply actions

DeRo at SS

The reason that DeRo was "moved" off of SS was Furcal's bat, not his glove. Furcal was not that good of a SS when he first came up. In fact, Bobby Cox moved Furcal to 2B in order to insert DeRo at SS in 2002. DeRo proceeded to tear up his ankle 10 games later and end up on the DL for 2 months. Bobby's statement was that he liked that arrangement and had planned to stick with it. Furcal moved back to SS, because Bobby had only 2Bmen with which to replace DeRo. Furcal didn't really become a good defensive SS until his last two years in Atlanta.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 12, 2007 1:16 PM CST up reply actions

All together now...

FOO-KOO-DOH-MAY!

I'm not afraid of anything. to be honest with you, I kicked some dirt on a guy and that was it.

by bmeteor on Dec 12, 2007 1:07 AM CST reply actions

Gesundheit

n/t

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 12, 2007 1:25 AM CST up reply actions

Robothal

Loves the signing. Likes it even better if he's accompanied by Brian Roberts or Chone Figgins.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 12, 2007 1:46 AM CST reply actions

Makes me a little nervous

Down in that article it mentions how the Reds are pushing hard for both Haren and Bedard. If they get one of those guys, that is gonna be a pretty darn good rotation to go with a good offense and solid closer.

The Reds could be really good in '08.

by WittyUserName on Dec 12, 2007 2:13 AM CST up reply actions