"KOZY-K"

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2007 11:00 AM CST in Chicago Cubs News

According to this Japanese-language article, for which I won't post the Google translation (again, if anyone wants to give me a better one, feel free to email me and I'll post it), Tribune columnist Mike Downey thinks we should tag Kosuke Fukudome with the nickname given in the title of this post.

The Japanese article goes on to say that "KOZY-K", in addition to being an English play on the pronunciation of Kosuke ("koh-SKAY") that we discussed here the other day, could refer to the "cozy" right-field corner he's going to patrol at Wrigley Field, as well as the "friendly" atmosphere at the ballpark. It also implies that "KOJI" is a nickname by which he's known in Japan and the English word "cozy" has a similar pronunciation.

Finally, the article mentions the possibility of problems with "FUKUDOME" having the, um, similarity to the English word that it simply renders -- as you can even see in the untranslated version -- as "F x x K", and goes on to say that it would be "much nicer" to have "KOZY-K" as his nickname.

What say you? Does this work?

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No more cute nicknames, please

The "Cubs" is cuddly enough.

I'm all for "Dome" as he is called in Japan.

Do-may! Do-may! Do-may!

Free the upper deck!

by cubzfan on Dec 15, 2007 10:47 AM CST reply actions

I second the emotion ..

Let the man's native tongue and culture be given free reign, except in the case of the questionable T-shirts already being shilled by some. Sad that they are going to be viewed as filled with double entendres by the more profane membership of the Cub Nation and I just don't know if Fukudome would really appreciate that.

Do-may sound great to me. If I ever get to the RF bleachers, I'll gladly lead the cheer.

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Dec 15, 2007 1:26 PM CST up reply actions

The song/cheer in the bkgrnd of this video,,,

...is in the background of a few other videos I've seen of The Dome. Maybe the Wrigley organist could learn how to play the trumpet too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFfGgSTZwfg

by mistersite on Dec 15, 2007 4:52 PM CST up reply actions

THAT would be just too cool ..

It doesn't sound like a hard one to do.

I am certain that somebody in the RF bleachers will lug in a trumpet and execute that trumpet riff perfectly. It now remains for a select group of RF bleacher creatures to memorize the chant phonetically and let it fly with the trumpet player. I'd give an arm and leg to be there to see it when it happens, and I hope someone has a video camera rolling and YouTubes it.

Looks like everyone in Japan was having as much fun cheering for the Dome as I hope we also have. It'll be a year of adjustment and he'll have some time getting productive ..

.. or maybe he will light up the league like Ichiro did. Boy that would be SWEET.

NOW, if only Pie can rise to his potential with glove and bat and Soriano apply a BIT more plate discipline .. man oh man, I think we'll finally have an outfield that will tear the NL up.

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Dec 15, 2007 10:58 PM CST up reply actions

I have no nickname recommendation...

just a request that someone start a "Fukudometer" in the bleachers.

by Clark B on Dec 15, 2007 10:48 AM CST reply actions

The Shawon-O-Meter needs to come back!

Make it happen Al! If not a Fuk-O-Meter in RF... how about an Alphons-O-Meter in LF? I found the personal webpage for the creator of the Shawon-O-Meter: http://davidcihla.com/s-o-m1.htm It's actually in the Baseball HOF!

Ed Lynch is STILL on the Cubs payroll, as our D-Backs scout in Phoenix. Lynch attends all 81 D-Back home games with a notepad in hand. Really paid off for us!

by SackMan on Dec 15, 2007 12:11 PM CST up reply actions

And

how about that sweet shirt Dunston is sportin'. Stylin'!!

"Dad gum right this games gonna be played under protest. . . I guarantee this is gonna be one protest that's upheld." --Hawk Harrelson, 6/24/07

by RynoHoF on Dec 15, 2007 2:52 PM CST up reply actions

Marriotti called him....

"The F-Bomb". I know we're trying to get away from the similarities to that word, as Al said, but I had to laugh at that.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Dec 15, 2007 10:51 AM CST reply actions

hmmm...

Ok, if Marriotti likes "The F-Bomb" I'm retracting my vote. :D

BIALIS!!!

by Modern Relic on Dec 15, 2007 11:02 AM CST up reply actions

Nah...

I still prefer "The F-Bomb." ;)

On a related note, I'm generally suspicious of Japanese power numbers (as are many), and I haven't really held much hope for Fukudome to bring his long -ball game over here with him. I've been scoffing at the notion of him batting anywhere near the middle of the order, seeing him as an ideal #2 hitter.

I must admit, though. Having watched more of his YouTube clips makes me reconsider. He was hitting some serious "bombs" in the clips I saw. Those would have been out of any MLB park.

But anyway, I vote no to Kozy-K.

BIALIS!!!

by Modern Relic on Dec 15, 2007 11:00 AM CST reply actions

I think most predictions I have seen....

have him in the 15-20 range here, but once he gets comfortable that could be a conservative estimate. Other traits of his, though, like speed, good defense, a great arm, and OBP will easily shift to any league.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Dec 15, 2007 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

I also think...

... that his batting stroke will allow him to hit a lot of doubles. His HR count may go down, but I'm guessing his SLG won't take that much of a hit.

And as you say, it's the OBA and the plus defense that we're most interested in.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2007 11:10 AM CST up reply actions

Nickname

I second "Dome" as he is called in Japan. No more cuddly nicknames - we mean business this year!

Do-may! Do-may! Do-may!

Aug 15 - Ted Lilly walked by the lineup card and said to nobody in particular "I can't believe I'm batting 9th again".

by mweil on Dec 15, 2007 11:08 AM CST reply actions

Sounds like...

... the Japanese paper is outvoted.

"Do-may" sounds fine to me, too.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2007 11:11 AM CST up reply actions

KOJI-san.

Keep his Japanese nickname, but add a little Japanese flair and respect to it.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Dec 15, 2007 11:15 AM CST reply actions

I don't care what we call him.

I just want him to produce.

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Dec 15, 2007 11:38 AM CST reply actions

Whatever...

If I has an OPS of 850 or greater, I'll call him Daddy if he wants me to.

by Chadnudj on Dec 15, 2007 11:42 AM CST reply actions

LMAO!

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2007 11:45 AM CST up reply actions

anyone know

when Fukudome's press conference is going to be?

by Rezze21 on Dec 15, 2007 12:20 PM CST reply actions

Not about nicknames

But about Fukudome.

There are some people <cough>brewerfans<cough> who are questioning the relatively rosy projections for Fukudome in the US. (Some of those projections can are discussed here. Essentially, Fukudome comes across as a .285 hitter with a .385 OBP and around 20 bombs.)

I did a little checking and one thing I noticed is that the Nagoya Dome, where Chunichi plays, is the NPB equivalent of Petco Park. In fact, according to BP, in 2006 the Nagoya Dome and Petco Park shared a ballpark factor of 928. (1000 being an average park.)

So everyone adjust your understandings of Fukudome's Japanese stats and read them as if he was playing in a AAAA Petco.

Of course, he's already taken a major league pitcher deep at the real Petco.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 15, 2007 1:11 PM CST reply actions

Absolutely not!

Aside from the cuddly/cute factor that's already been covered above, I'll give you two words why "Kozy K" should not be used - Mike Downey. No way should we propagate what he has suggested and give him even the slightest bit of feeling like he should get credit for it.

Did you read that article? (rhetorical question to you Al, as I'm sure you did) That has to be the lamest piece of drivel that's come out of the Tribune in a long time. And given the gradual decline of writing talent in the Tower, that's saying something. I counted no less than a dozen lame lame lame references/puns/wordplays. Lame, I tell you. Lame!

I've been mostly indifferent to Downey over the last several years so I don't quite understand my reaction to this article, but I was retching after the first sentence. The whole article just reminded me of a seedy, truck-stop strip club (not that I've ever been to one) and Downey's that guy in the shabby jacket and crumpled fedora that shuffles out on the stage before the "entertainment" begins, and tells a few one-liners that wouldn't even make the outtakes of Henny Youngman's outtake's reel...

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

by ballhawk on Dec 15, 2007 1:48 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, I know.

I did read Downey's article when it first appeared in the Tribune. I mostly posted this to show that it had been read overseas and that the Japanese press was responding to it.

That's only the first time -- I don't think any of us really has an idea of what the crush of Japanese media is going to be like following the Cubs all year.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2007 1:59 PM CST up reply actions

Henny Youngman ..

.. dude, you are a wordsmith. That was cool ..

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Dec 16, 2007 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

Would the censored word it resembles

have anything to do with this kinda tasteless shirt?

by morgane on Dec 15, 2007 2:23 PM CST reply actions

Pretty much, yeah.

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2007 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

The girl's tank-top

Is the only one that's profane. But, it's pretty bad.

by Snake Plissken on Dec 15, 2007 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

I saw something in the Sun..

They Suggested "The Domer", I like the ring of that one, but needless to say, I'm looking forward to the first on air name butchering, and I wonder if we may have to put an age range on those bleachers, once the old styles start getting downed, the chants should be amusing

by Walker71421 on Dec 15, 2007 2:29 PM CST reply actions

if he bobbles a ball in RF

I know certaintely was the drunk fans in the bleachers will yell at him, and its not cozy-k..

Live is boring until March 31st strolls by..

by Chanman25 on Dec 15, 2007 3:31 PM CST reply actions

SUKE SUKE NOW!

Or maybe K-Fuk (pronounced "K-FOOK")

"I got mad hits like I was Rod Carew!"

by lostinthevines on Dec 15, 2007 4:21 PM CST reply actions

OT

my offseason fa signing picks are 5 of 15 so far. terrible!! anyone near perfect??

GO CUBS GO!!!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 15, 2007 6:59 PM CST reply actions

somebody

needs to make T-shirts that say "Dome is my homey."

by elgato on Dec 15, 2007 7:57 PM CST reply actions

How about this for a novel idea...

We call him Kosuke? The rampant need for nicknames when it comes to athletes and celebrities is ridiculous to begin with. When people feel the need to give a famous person a nickname just because "that's how we roll," then we know the trend has passed and we should look towards something better to do with our time.

by chicagojosh on Dec 15, 2007 11:23 PM CST reply actions

K?

I don't know about you guys, but I don't K anywhere in his nickname. Now if he was a pitcher it would be a different story.

by Trade Yourself In on Dec 16, 2007 12:05 AM CST reply actions

Received another email....

... from BCB reader joekun, whose girlfriend translated the last article.

A couple of notes from him:

... the title of the article translates to, "Fukudome (is) "Kozy-k", Don't call me Fxxk Dome".

Pretty funny...

Another note - this wasn't in the article but it's quite interesting - the Kanji character for "Fuku" stands for good fortune or good luck.

Note: The Kanji character he refers to was in the email, but the software this site uses to post it cannot replicate it.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2007 4:21 AM CST reply actions

one of these?

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Dec 16, 2007 12:07 PM CST up reply actions

I don't have the email handy...

... but I believe so.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2007 12:35 PM CST up reply actions

shirts!

Shirts with the cubs logo on the front and one of those on the back could be quite rockin'...

I wonder which one it is...

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Dec 16, 2007 1:10 PM CST up reply actions

stop the presses!!!

here is the correct character that kosuke uses for the "fuku" part of his name.

by joekun on Dec 16, 2007 1:56 PM CST up reply actions

Thank you!

I knew you had sent this to me, but I couldn't read it in my webmail.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 16, 2007 2:54 PM CST up reply actions

that looks

totally different. Yeesh.

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Dec 16, 2007 5:44 PM CST up reply actions

I think Al or someone here

said that there are two different sets of characters for the Japanese alphabet.

by BlueSox on Dec 17, 2007 7:36 AM CST up reply actions

Correct.

Here's a site that explains all of it.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 17, 2007 10:14 AM CST up reply actions

in the end...

isn't it all in the hands of the sox/yankees network... i mean espn anyway? whatever the sc gang decides to start using is usually what ends up sticking no?

FUKU!!!

by sweethomechicago on Dec 16, 2007 8:32 AM CST reply actions

At least this makes it easier for RF Bleacher Bums

Now they will only have to remember one word for their cheering efforts for both teams -- Fuku.

Of course, depending on who's in the field, they will have to remember two different pronunciations...

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

by ballhawk on Dec 16, 2007 10:07 AM CST reply actions

I'm looking forward to...

the new WGN sitcom featuring three Chicago Cubs outfielders living in an apartment together titled, "The Fook, Felix, and the Fons."

Hilarity ensues!

by Four and Twenty on Dec 16, 2007 6:28 PM CST reply actions

Fonzie

would be in the hilarious position of having to translate everything Fukudome said in Japanese into Spanish for Pie. Then he'd have to tell us what he really said in English.

Most of the jokes would probably revolve around games of Telephone.

The artist formerly known as JoshinLA

by Josh Timmers on Dec 16, 2007 8:38 PM CST up reply actions