That’s right, Koskue Fukudome, the apple of many Cubs fans’ eyes, graces the cover of the May 5 issue of Sports Illustrated, which hit the mailboxes of subscribers across the country today, and will be available on newsstands next Monday.
SI writer Lee Jenkins profiles Fukudome in his profile of the Cubs new slugger, “Koskue Fukudome Tastes Good.” (The title of the article makes sense once you’ve read the piece, I swear.) A few exerpts:
The fact that Kosuke Fukudome stuck around is making this 100th-anniversary season a whole lot easier to stomach. Instead of picking at old scabs, the Cubs are celebrating a new player who does not know Bartman from Bart Simpson. Fukudome has been a Cub for only a month, but he already gets the loudest pregame ovations at Wrigley Field. Every time he walks to home plate, the organist plays a catchy melody that inspires chants of “FOO-koo-DOUGH-may.” Vendors say his jersey is their best seller, by approximately two to one. He has also spawned a cottage industry outside the ballpark, where you can buy bandanas with Fukudome’s name spelled in Japanese characters or T-shirts with shout-outs such as FUKUDOME IS MY HOMIE. (The Cubs, though, did have to pull one unlicensed T-shirt from the outdoor marketplace because it featured their bear logo with slanted eyes and Harry Caray glasses, over the words HORRY KOW.)
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Wrigley field has seen plenty of one-day wonders over the years. Most famously, Cubs centerfielder Karl (Tuffy) Rhodes hit three home runs off Mets starting pitcher Dwight Gooden on Opening Day 1994, only to hit just five more during the rest of his major league career. (Coincidentally, Rhodes ended up in Japan, where he’s hit more homers — 412 — than any other foreign-born player.) But Fukudome’s staying power has nothing to do with the long ball. He will never hit as many home runs as Matsui. He won’t steal as many bases as Ichiro. What separates Fukudome is his eye.
From the beginning of spring training Cubs pitchers noticed something odd about Fukudome when they threw him batting practice. He took an inordinate amount of pitches. When games began, his approach was not much different. Most major league hitters, if behind in the count, will swing at any pitch they believe is a strike. Fukudome will only swing at a pitch he believes he can hit. The difference is subtle but significant. “I just try to focus on the pitches I can handle,” Fukudome says. “If it’s an outside strike that I can’t reach, I won’t swing at it. I’ll just say, ‘I’m sorry,’ and walk away.”
Even in Japan, where hitters are well-known for their plate discipline, Fukudome was unusually selective. His on-base percentage over the last three years was .443, .438 and .430, tops in the Central League each season. This spring he tied for the Cactus League lead with 15 walks in 23 games. And this season he has drawn 19 walks in 24 games, seeing 4.5 pitches per plate appearance, second most in the majors.
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Japanese players are often viewed as curiosities by their American teammates. But the Cubs have embraced Fukudome as thoroughly as their fans have. Theriot carries a Japanese-English dictionary. Ace starter Carlos Zambrano wrote his own name in Japanese characters on the back of his cleats. Shortstop Ronny Cedeño choreographed a handshake with Fukudome that includes a bow at the end. Though the Cubs have never had a Japanese player before, several are well acquainted with Japanese baseball. Outfielder Alfonso Soriano began his professional career in Japan. Lee’s father, Leon, played 10 years in Japan before becoming the first black manager there.
The Cubs also appreciate that Fukudome makes an effort. During a bus ride from Phoenix to Tucson in spring training, Theriot sat in the back row of the bus with Mark DeRosa and Daryle Ward, having a private conversation. Fukudome sat one row in front of them. After about 45 minutes Theriot noticed Fukudome typing feverishly into a small keyboard. “I looked closer, and I saw that it was his little electronic translator,” Theriot says. “He was keeping track of every word we were saying.”
Full story available:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/04/29/fukudome0505/index.html
Mets righty Joe Smith had a few choice words for the Cubs fans who were heckling him before a game last week at Wrigley Field. Very professional Mr. Smith, very professional. This is, after all Major League baseball, not a high school game.
Warning: The video contains foul language and an annoying running commentary by a fan
Also, in the video, it looks like it’s a father and his two sons who are doing the “heckling” (most of the fans aren’t saying much in the video clip). I love Wrigley.
Editor’s Note:“Red Line to Wrigley” is a new column authored by CubbySwagger co-founder, Dan Biederman. “The Closer” will offer opinions on all-things Cubs-related (and some things not). Check back often, as “The Closer” will run multiple times per week.
The Cubs kicked off a road trip tonight in Colorado looking for the 10,000 victory in the franchises history. In true Cub fashion it was a struggle but they did become the second franchise in American sports (the San Francisco Giants are the first). It took a couple of comebacks and two tries at the save but in the end it was white flag time
The boys in blue opened up the scoring in the second inning with a Kosuke Fukudome triple followed by a Mark DeRosa sacrifice fly and a Geovany Soto solo home run. Then in the fifth inning the Cubs extended the lead with another triple, this time by Derrek Lee. Aramis Ramirez then doubled bringing in Lee making it a 3-1 game.
The Rockies then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a big five run inning chasing Cubs starter Rich Hill. Hill had gone five scoreless innings allowing only a pair of hit to the Rocks, until Clint Barmes lead off the sixth with a homer. Hill walked the next batter, Todd Helton, and was pulled in favor of Michael Wuertz. Wuertz continued to struggle giving up a pair of hits and a pair of runs. Sean Marshall was then brought in to face lefty Brad Hawpe; who he struck out for the first out of the inning. Jon Leiber was then brought in to finish the inning and gave up a three-run shot to the first batter he faced – Troy Tulowitzki. Leiber then retired the next two batters that he faced but at that point the damage had been done; the Cubs trailed 5-3.
The Cubs got one run back in the top of the seventh when they strung together three hits to start the inning capped by Lee driving in Reed Johnson with an R.B.I. single. However after a Ramirez strikeout and a Kosuke walk the Cubbies left them loaded when DeRosa lined to the shortstop who flipped to second to double up Lee.
The Cubs then took the lead in the top of the ninth when Aramis Ramirez hit a two run homer. However, Kerry Wood blew his second save in six chances. But the Cubs picked him up in the top of the tenth when Ryan Theriot, drove in Mike Fontenot, who had pitch run for Geovany Soto who lead off the inning with a single. Carlos Marmol came in to pitch the bottom of the tenth and he was perfect to record his second save.
Number and Notes
W: Wood (2-0, 3.75, 2H, 1R, 3K)
L: Wells (1-1, 2.12, 2H, 1R, 1BB, 1K)
S: Marmol (2, 1.76, 0H, 0R, 0K)
Most Valuable Cub: Geovany Soto 4-5, 2B (7), HR (3), and lead off the top of the tenth with a single.
Number of the Day: 2 – The Cubs hit that many doubles, triples, and home runs. The second home run was a two-run shot temporarily giving the Cubs the lead. Also it took two tries to get the save resulting in Kerry Wood getting his second win of the season and Marmol his second save. Lastly the Cubs became the second team to reach 10,000 victories.
Bob Howry pitched a perfect eighth inning. Lou Pinella put Felix Pie into run for Derrek Lee after Lee’s one-out single in the top of the ninth. The move turned out to be moot as Ramirez homered allowing Pie to walk around the bases. At the time the move seemed questionable as Lee has good speed for a first basemen having stolen as many as 21 bases in a year, and had one tonight. The Cubs played their fifth extra inning game of the year tonight and moved their record to 4-1 in extras. Overall they have played 12 extra innings. The current six game winning streak has improved the club’s record to 15-6.
By this time, basically any person halfway following 2008 MLB baseball can tell you the Arizona Diamondbacks are not only the biggest surprise, but also the team with the best record in all of baseball. Their story doesn’t start and stop by looking at their 15-5 record. Timely hitting or flawless pitching isn’t the sole cause of their best-in-the-bigs record. No, the D-Backs have completely and utterly dominated baseball for the first three weeks of 2008. They have scored the most runs, tallied the most RBI, boasted the highest slugging percentage, recorded the fourth highest team average, lead the league in team ERA, and their staff has surrendered the fewest hits throughout the league. Like I said, complete and utter domination on the MLB that has nevertheless carried over to the fantasy realm.
No fantasy expert would have ever predicted that 5 of the top 30 Yahoo fantasy hitters would represent the snakes from the desert. The top-notch corps consist of Mark Reynolds (5), Conor Jackson (12), Eric Byrnes (20), Justin Upton (21), and Chris Young (30). Aside from the rejuvenated, 32-years-young Byrnes, all of these fantasy gems are 25 or younger. It is phenomenal that these guys are making such a fantasy impact at such a young age. Scouts criticized the Arizona organization for calling these young guns up to the show during the heat of a pennant race last year, but fighting through tough games and winning a playoff series may prove to be the perfect experience needed to increase their confidence from start to finish in 2008. They know they are good, they know they can beat good teams, and now they are not one bit scared to do so. Kind of a been there, done that mentality.
On the pitching side, it is not uber-shocking to see Brandon Webb and Dan Haren near the top of the fantasy rankings. But ranked THIS high wasn’t entirely anticipated. ESPN the Magazine predicted that Webb and Haren would be the best one-two punch in the NL. Currently ranked 3 and 8, respectively, the duo is undoubtedly exceeding the Mag’s expectations. However, who could have guessed that teammate Micah Owings’ mound performance would be equally impressive? Ranked 6th among all pitchers, the 25-year-old is 4-0 with a 2.44 ERA and just shy of one K per inning pitched. These stats far surpass his last year’s rookie campaign where Owings posted a 4.30 ERA and 8 total wins in 27 starts. Owings, a highly-esteemed prospect since his 2007 debut, may be on the verge of a huge, breakout year, a year or two prior to anyone’s estimation.
So it all comes down to the Rattlers being able to sustain this production throughout the duration of the season. By the end of 2008. will we still see 5 D-Backs in the top 25? Will 3 D-Back hurlers remain in the top 10? It is hard to say yes, but at the same time, there is no reason to make me think they won’t. No doubt, it is still very early into the season, and much can vary throughout the upcoming weeks. In the past, we’ve even witnessed teams that have dominated their individual divisions for the majority of the season, produce noteworthy fantasy numbers, then fold late in the year. A prime example is last season’s Milwaukee Brewer debacle. They were more than poised to win the central but could not keep it together. The 2007 Brew Crew was comprised of talented rookies (Ryan Braun, Cory Hart) and promising, yet inexperienced players (Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, JJ Hardy) none of which felt the effects of a full MLB season prior to 2007. In other words, playing a full season’s worth of games can be problematic for a team that relies very heavily on a group of inexperienced ballplayers. The Brewers kind of disappeared. It is difficult to remain completely cohesive as Milwaukee appeared to be during the first half when success is entirely contingent upon the promise of a inexperienced group.
On the exterior, the D-Backs have a similar montage to the 2007 Brewers. They have group of young players at the core, and most of their offensive production is being generated from guys 25 and younger. Just like the young talent guiding the 2007 Brewer campaign. After taking a closer look, however, the nucleus of Arizona’s offense differs from the 2007 Brewers. Byrnes, Jackson, Young, Stephen Drew, Reynolds have all experienced full seasons with approximately 500 plate appearances. This was a luxury the young Brewers lacked last season which ultimately factored into their demise. Couple the high-pressure post-season ball games with the corps’ endurance, and your looking at an offense with a combination that reeks of fantasy value. The same theory can be applied to the D-Back pitching rotation. Haren, Webb, and Randy Johnson have all tallied multiple 200-inning seasons and Owings started 27 games last year, which is just about 5 starts removed from a standard complete season. Their pitchers have the experience too. Arizona has both position players and pitchers that have felt the weight of a big-league season which should result in an NL West crown and numerous fantasy owners’ championships. I anticipate sustained success from both the D-Back batters and pitchers. Try and corral a snake or two if you can.
Tuesday was a day of firsts: Ronny Cedeno clubbed his first career grand slam, Ted Lilly picked up his first win of the season, and a Cubs played had to backtrack on a comment about the team and the World Series after the Cubs drilled the Mets 8-1 Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
On Tuesday, the player, Cedeno, recanted what he reportedly said Monday when he mentioned that the Cubs are “thinking about the World Series,” according to the Associated Press.
Although he took back what he said, the reserve infielder Cedeno played like he meant it Tuesday. Cedeno, who started the past two games at short while Ryan Theriot has been shelved with back pain, opened the scoring in the fourth by driving in Koskue Fukudome with a double to right, before blowing the game open with the grand slam in the eighth.
Cubs starter Lilly (1-3) had to work out of a few jams, but he was good enough Tuesday. In the fourth, Lilly escaped a 1-out, bases-loaded situation by inducing popouts from the Mets Carlos Delgado and Damien Easley. In the sixth, Lilly did surrender his only earned run of the day after he loaded the bases by giving up a walk to Carlos Beltran and base hits to Delgado and Easley. Brady Clark then hit a fielder’s choice to second, which scored Beltran.
Lilly was helped in large part by the Cubs offense, which has been amongst the best in the Majors of late. During the eight-game home stand, which the Cubs finished with a mark of 7-1 following Tuesday’s win, the team averaged just over eight runs per game. Although the Cubs have been hot lately, and they won by seven runs on Tuesday, the team could have scored a lot more as the Cubs left 13 runners on base.
The win moved the Cubs to 14-6 on the season, 1.5 games ahead of Saint Louis, and 2.0 games in front of Milwaukee. The Cubs last started 14-6 in 1975, but that team went on to finish fifth in the N.L. East with a record of 75-87. Tuesday’s win also gave the franchise 9,999 total wins, second in the Major Leauges, behind the Giants.
Looking ahead, the Cubs will hit the road for a 5-game trip, before ending April at home against the Brewers. Due to a scheduling querk, the Cubs will head to Denver for a brief 2-game series Wednesday and Thursday, before going to Washington D.C. to take on the Nationals in the new Nationals Park for a 3-game weekend series.
Carlos Zambrano and John Maine were locked in a pitchers duel through six innings, but the Cubs were able to get to the Mets’ bullpen in the bottom of the eighth to put tonight’s game away. Zambrano continued his strong start to the season he has struck out 27 batters and walked only five. Big “Z,” advanced his record to 3-1 with a 2.67 E.R.A.. At the plate the Cubs continued their hot hitting with a big eighth inning.
The Cubs platted the first runs of the game on the strength of their three and four hitters. Derrek Lee lead off with a single to center followed by and Aramis Ramirez home run. Ramirez is starting to heat up with the rest of the Cubby bats, homering in each of the last two games, he is 6-9 over the last three games with three walks, and has been hit by a pair of pitches. The Mets then cut the lead in half scoring a run on a Jose Reyes double play ball, the Cubs conceded the run in order to turn the double play.
Then in the bottom of the eighth inning with Kerry Wood warming in the pen, the Cubs put the game out of reach. Lee reached on an error to open the inning and Ramirez was hit by a pitch. Kosuke Fukudome then singled to left, after a ten pitch at bat, to load the bases with no outs. Mark DeRosa then struck out while clearly swing for the fence; and Geovany Soto was out on the infield fly rule. Ronny Cedeno, then had a strong seven pitch at-bat which ended with a sharp single to center scoring Lee and Ramirez. Chasing pitcher Aaron Heilman in favor of Jorge Sosa. Felix Pie, a defensive replacement in the top of the inning, greeted Sosa by taking a low fastball out of the yard to put the Cubbies up 7-1 and close out the scoring on the night. Kerry Wood, came into pitch the ninth, even though it was no longer a save situation; and retired the Metropolitans in order on five pitches.
Numbers and Notes:
W: Carlos Zambrano (3-1, 2.67 E.R.A., 5H, 4K, 2BB, 1R)
L: John Maine (1-2, 3.57 E.R.A., 5H, 6K, 1BB, 2R)
Most Valuable Cub: Ronny Cedeno. Cedeno only went 1-4 but that one hit was a big one. After falling behind in the count 1-2 Cedeno fouled off three pitches before lining a single to center driving in two and putting the game away. Had Cedeno not hit safely the New Yorkers would have escaped a bases loaded no out situation without surrendering a run. Instead, Cedeno, pushed the lead to 4-1 in the Cubs favor and kept the lead alive for Pie’s three run homer.
Number of the Night: 3 – Over the last 3 games the Cubs have score 33 runs; the last 3 of which came on Pie’s (a 3 letter last name) 3 run homer which came on the 3rd pitch of the at-bat. The Cubs used 3 pitchers, who induced 3 double plays, and stranded 3 runners. Lastly, the Cubs will go for their 3rd series sweep of the season tomorrow.
Shortstop Ryan Theriot, was a last minute scratch due to back spasms making way for hero-of-for-day Ronny Cedeno to start. Theriot had been hitting .481 over the last week and is on a seven game hitting streak, he is listed as day to day. Tomorrow sees the last game of the two game set with the Mets. Ted Lilly (0-3, 9.16) faces Nelson Figueroa (1-0, 3.16). The Cubs improved to 13-6 and are a half game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals; the Mets fell to 10-8 and are a game and a half behind the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Cubs found their swagger at the plate last week putting up 52 runs over six home games against division rivals the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs opened an eight game home-stand in style last Tuesday with 9-5 victory over the Reds their former manager Dusty “Dude Man” Baker. The Cubs pick up where they left off the next day with a 12-3 victory. The boys in blue were not able to complete the sweep however losing 9-2 allowing Baker to get his first win against the team he managed to a 322-326 record from 2003-2006.
After the Reds left town the lowly Pirates came in for a three game set which was more of a formality than any actual contest. The home team put three “W’s” on the board in impressive fashion, beating Pirate “ace” Ian Snell 3-2 on Friday. Then they posted thirteen runs each of the next two days with a 13-1 victory on Saturday and a 13-6 on Sunday to complete the Cubs’ second sweep of the Pirates this season and third in a row.
Notes and Numbers
The Cubs bats were red hot over the last week as they doubled up opponents 52-26. The 26 runs given up works out to a 4.33 E.R.A. Overall the Cubs’ starters turned in their best week of the young season. That said Ted Lilly still needs to get back on track. Lilly gave up five runs in his six innings of work in his only start last week; the only good news is that he managed to lower his E.R.A. (9.16). Lilly probably should have been pulled after the fifth at which point he had given up only three runs. Rich Hill got back on track with six innings of three hit, one run, ball against the Pirates on Friday.
Reed Johnson has been on a tear at the plate hitting .450 last week with a pair of doubles and four runs scored. Kosuke Fukudome has continued his strong start going 6-19 with five walks, a triple, double, and six runs scored. Fukudome only has four outs to the outfield, compared to 13 hits, this season. Ryan Theriot, on a seven game hit streak, hit .481 last week.
Cub of the Week: Derrek Lee 9-20, 3HR, 8R.B.I., 7R,
Next Week
The Cubs finish out the home-stand with a pair against the Mets, and are lucky enough to avoid ace Johan Santana. Then go on a five game road trip with a pair in Colorado and three in Washington’s new stadium. A 5-3 record this week is not out of the question the way that this team has been hitting the ball. The Cubs’ hot bats should do some damage in the thin air of Colorado. Thankfully Ted Lilly is slated for Tuesday and will not pitch in Colorado.
Jason Marquis contributed on the mound and at the plate Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field, helping the Cubs demolish the Pirates, 13-1.
On the mound, Marquis (1-0) turned in a solid performance, striking out seven and allowing only one earned run in six innings of work. In the batters box, Marquis made up for the one earned run he surrendered by smacking an RBI double.
Derrek Lee continued his incredible start by burying a line drive over the left center field wall for a home run in the bottom of the first to give the Cubs an early 2-0 lead. The homer was Lee’s seventh of the season, best in the Major Leagues.
Up 2-0 thanks to Lee, the Cubs put the game away in the third inning.
Mark DeRosa started things off in the third by singling home Aramis Ramirez. The Cubs then capitalized on two mistakes by the Pirates. Koskue Fukudome scored and DeRosa advanced to third on a throwing error by Pittsburgh catcher Ryan Doumit, who threw the ball into left field while trying to catch Fukudome at third base on a double steal by the pair. DeRosa scored a short time later when Pittsburgh starter Tom Gorzelanny threw a wild pitch to the next hitter, Ronny Cedeno. Marquis capped the third inning by smoking a double to deep right field, scoring Cedeno. By the time the third was over, it was 7-0 Cubs.
The Pirates lone run of the day came in the fifth when Nate McLouth scored on a Freddy Sanchez double to make it 7-1 Cubs.
The Cubs answered in the bottom-half of the fifth, hanging another three on the Pirates thanks to a based-loaded walk to Fukudome, a Mark DeRosa sacrifice fly, and a Ronny Cedeno single, to put the Cubs up 11-1.
Daryle Ward, who replaced Lee at first base in the sixth inning after Lee left the game with minor stiffness in his neck, smacked a two-run homer to right field in the seventh to put an exclamation point on the 13-1 win. The home run was Ward’s first of the season.
Matt Murton, who has seen a lot of time in the Majors during his career, was called up from Triple-A Iowa prior to the game. Murton, who was 0-for-2 on the day, pinch-hit for Marquis in the sixth, before staying in the game and playing left field.
Most Valuable Cub
Jason Marquis:
6.0 IP, 6 H, ER, 7 K
1-3, 2B, RBI
The Chicago Cubs grabbed their tenth victory, in sixteen tries, today. A big fourth inning paired with solid pitching help the boys in blue down the Pittsburgh Pirates who fell to 7-9. The Cubs continued their dominance of the Buccos extending their season record to 4-0 against their division “rival,” outscoring them 26-17 in their four meetings. Rich Hill was able to pitch five strong innings to qualify for the win and perhaps has started to turn around his slow start.
The Pirates opened the scoring in the second inning when Jason Bay scored on Xavier Nady’s single. The Cubs then took the lead with a three spot in the third. Kosuke Fukudome lead off the inning with a triple, which Mark DeRosa followed with a single. Catcher Geovany Soto, the third hitter of the inning, doubled to center putting runners at second and third. Reed Johnson then came to the plate and drove in DeRosa with an infield single. Hill, and second baseman Eric Patterson followed with a pair of Fielder’s Choice grounders. Patterson’s F.C. brought Soto home for the third run closing out the Cubs’ scoring.
Rich Hill made the best of his first start in eight days going five innings and allowing only one run on three hits. Hill picked up his first decision of the year and is now 1-0, the CUbs are 2-1 in games that he starts. Jon Lieber, who is the primary candidate to replace Hill if his struggles continue, and Sean Marshall combine to get the Cubs out of the sixth. Carlos Marmol then threw the seventh and eighth recording five strikeouts but did give up a home run. Kerry Wood came in to pitch the ninth and earn his fourth save.
Numbers and Notes:
W: Hill (1-0, 3.86 E.R.A., 3H, 1R, 4K, 3BB)
L: Snell (2-1, 4.07 E.R.A., 9H, 3R, 5K, 1BB)
S: Wood (4S, 3.60 E.R.A., 0H, 0R, 1K)
Most Valuable Cub: DeRosa, (2-4, 1R.B.I., 1R, 0 L.O.B.)
Number of the Day – 2 – the Cubs had two doubles and two triples today, Carlos Marmol pitched two innings.
Posted by danbiederman 
Posted by danbiederman 
Posted by danbiederman 
The Cubs kicked off a road trip tonight in Colorado looking for the 10,000 victory in the franchises history. In true Cub fashion it was a struggle but they did become the second franchise in American sports (the San Francisco Giants are the first). It took a couple of comebacks and two tries at the save but in the end it was white flag time
