Today's daily herald story on Fukudome

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=98190

"To answer that and a few of other questions regarding baseball's latest Japanese import, we contacted sports writer Naoko Sato of Nikkan Sports News.

Sato has been a regular in the press box at U.S. Cellular Field the past few seasons covering Tadahito Iguchi and the White Sox. Here is her assessment, via e-mail, of the reaction in Japan to the left-handed hitting Fukudome joining the Cubs.

Q. A lot of people are saying Fukudome plays like a mix between Ichiro and Matsui. Do you agree, or is there another player or players in the majors you'd compare him to?

A. I agree, but Fukudome might be a little bit smaller scale than Ichiro and Matsui. He has a great arm, and his hitting ability has no problem.

He has a little concern that he had surgery on his right elbow, but it should be OK. If everything is going well for him and he can play as well as in Japan, he will be the type of outfielder like Aaron Rowand."

When your ceiling is Rowand, you are not that good.

Enjoy .290, 15, 75 for your 14 million Cubs fans.

Thank you for your heartfelt good wishes during this Holiday season. It is kind of you to reach out to your fellow human and wish them happy baseball viewing this season. Terribly gracious of you.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Are there no workhouses? Are there no prisons?

Well played Scrooge. May the ghost of the Cubs future give you fitful sleep this Holiday Season.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

There is more gravy than grave in those specters.

Fixed.
Throw in 25 steals, .385 obp, solid right field and I certainly will enjoy it...at least moreso than Cliff Floyd/Jacque Jones/Jeromy Burnitz or other RFs of the past 3 years for the Cubs.

I also think the Cubs should bring back Corey Patterson so he can tutor Felix Pie on how to be a complete bust.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Don't count on those steals or OBP just yet. Japanese catchers are notorious for weak arms (I believe I heard that from KW or Stoney) and he will need time to learn the pitchers. As far as OBP, I imagine it will be good but not comparable to the Japanese league. I predict he will have less than 20 steals and an OBP around .350.

So now you have paid big money for a corner outfielder without power and only moderately good speed/avg. to compensate. You will be booing him by August.

So since it came from KW or Stoney, it must be written in stone .

I see one japanse catcher in a league that is starving for players at the position.

Now now...not every team is lucky enough to start half a dozen different catchers in a season. If only there were more Hank Whites in MLB.

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Go back to your own section and brag about the backstoppers on your team .

toby hall rules!!

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You may be right. I may be crazy. But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for.

In an era when JD Drew has 4 more years and $60M to do exactly what they're paying Fukodome 4/$48M to do, I'll live with it. If he plays great D and gets on base at a .375 clip, I'll live with 15 HRs and 20 steals. I don't think these are unrealistic expectations. He will be an upgrade over what was there last year, and that should make the Cubs (a little) better.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

I'll take the under.

good dolphin, this is MLB. Who gives a shit about the money? His stat projections aren't flooring me, but if he does you suggest it will be better and more consistent than what we had before, plus better defense.

Which position is The Unintelligible One going to try him out at this year?

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Rowand's career breakdowns are 18 HRs, 66 RBIs and a .286 avg.

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President of Blake Shetlon fan club