Kosuke Fukudome can play defense
Posted by: Richie Rich in 2008 MLB, Cubs, Japan, Kosuke Fukudome, White SoxSo last week, the North Side of Chicago got an early Christmas present (or a late Hanukkah gift) when Kosuke Fukudome was introduced at a press conference after he signed his four-year, $48 Million contract with the Chicago Cubs.
Contrary to prior speculation (and another wrong prediction by yours truly), Kosuke Fukudome will be wearing FUKUDOME on his jersey.
The Wrigley Bleachers will never be the same. Or just moreso anyway.
There’s lots of video out there of Fukudome hitting home runs and throwing tantrums after getting called out on strikes. But what we haven’t seen is any evidence about how he plays defense. Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus mentioned it the other day.
Well, that was enough of a challenge for HRD. And … here’s a little bit of Fukudome’s defense …
That would make the highlight reel of every nightly sports segment in America.
It’s been reported that the White Sox offered more money to Fukudome than the Cubs did, but he chose the Cubs because they guaranteed that he would play right field.
The White Sox should have let him play whatever field he wanted.
Entries (RSS)
December 26th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Any bets on how long it takes before FUKUDOME jerseys outsell Zambrano, Lee, and Ramirez….combined. My guess is not very long.
Last year shops outside of Wrigley told me the most requested shirts/jerseys were Theriot, Fontenot, and Pie. Everyone can have the stars, but having some of the lesser fan favorites seems to be what sells. Now just imagine of someone with a fun name and the novelty of being the first player from japan to play for the Cubs that can actually hit and play defense. It will be the Cubs version of Dice-K mania.