Kosuke Fukudome guns another runner down
Posted by: Richie Rich in Cubs, Japan, Kosuke Fukudome
We might as well rename this website Fukudome Derby. Because here come another post about the Chicago Cubs’ new right fielder, Kosuke Fukudome.
A while back, we found video of Fukudome completing the ever-so-rare 9-3 putout.
So that proved Fukudome has a cannon arm. … But right field to first base is one thing …
Can Dome (pronounced Dough-May) throw with that kind of power and accuracy across the diamond?
Let’s watch as the Hanshin Tigers find out … the hard way.
Unfortunately, we never see the ump call the runner out at third, but wow. That looks like a putout to me - the throw is right on the money.. That’s 9-5 for you youngsters scoring at home.
Coupled with Alfonso Soriano in left field, opposing teams might want to think twice about running against the Cubs’ outfielders. Soriano has 41 assists from LF over the last two seasons.
My guess is that MLB teams will test Fukudome’s arm (he had bone chips removed from his elbow last season) before they don’t run on him anymore. If he’s 100% healthy … you’ll be seeing a variant of that clip on ESPN.
Now, I have to stop posting about Fukudome before I completely jinx him and he tears his ACL on his first day of spring training.
Entries (RSS)
February 1st, 2008 at 9:43 am
They show the runner (#35) jogging off the field.
Out!
Great clip, thanks.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Soriano’s 41 assists are a misleading number. The guy has that many outfield assists because he’s widely judged to have an average arm and baserunners challenge it frequently.
Just because he has more outfield assists than Jeff Francouer doesn’t mean that he’s got the same high caliber arm.
Understand stats before believing them.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:58 am
My guess is that Soriano has a ton of assists also because he misplays a lot of balls which an average fielder would catch.
Which makes a 3rd base coach send the runner.