Lots of "baseball experts" (Paul Sullivan ) might need to write a full apology column about this guy.

every ball he hit yesterday was a line shot, including his HR. He just had great at bats.

so with the stories of how Ichiro did nothing in his first camp and how he explained he was working just on contact, not actual hitting, did any of these "REPORTERS" ask Fuku, or his people, if that is what he was doing?

All I heard Paul Sullivan talk about was how this could be a huge bust as the guy did nothing much in spring training.

proves how lazy even the reporters get when they go out to Spring Training.

This does not mean Fuku is Ichiro, but it seems quite obvious they have a different understanding of practice games than we do.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

It's one game. I'm not calling him a bust or an all-star, but let's give him some time to see how he does before we label him.

i agree with BD, but one thing that i definitely like about him is his patience at the plate. he doesnt swing at too much shit. he forced gagne to throw 2 straight fastballs down the middle after laying off his weak-assed breaking stuff he was trying to nibble with.

I know it is one game, but Sullivan questioned his ability and I think the guy showed his ability.

Of course he needs to show it all the time as any player does, but the guy lived up to what he was billed as.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I hope the rest of the Cubs didn't show their ability at the plate yesterday as well...

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@audioidkid

let's hope he's not the 2nd coming of Tuffy.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I need more of a sample size than 4 MLB plate appearances.

bigfan, since you seem to be ready to engrave Fukudome's name on the MVP trophy, are you planning on Jim Thome hitting 206 Homers this season too?

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He looked pretty damned good yesterday. The only Cub on offense who felt like showing up.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Jim Thome will hit 324 home runs but is still far behind Tuffy Rhodes' pace.

Most Japanese players will have trouble hitting the cut fastball. Japanese pitchers are not taught to throw the 2 seamers, the cutters, etc. Some adjust and remain elite hitters (Ichiro, H Matsui) some don't, and far fall off their superstar status, but might turn into servicable major league hitters like Kaz Matsui, Iwamura, Iguchi, Taguchi, etc etc.

Sheets' fastball is straight.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

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"Having Adam Dunn as your Designated Hitter is like Having Billy Joel as your Designated Driver"
The Great Stephen Colbert

How Big is Your Buona?

David Haugh WHO ARE YO CRAPPIN??

FukuDomeU BigFan!

Kosuke san will deliver steady wallops of pain all season long.

Get a jersey already! Also, Marmol will be the closer in six weeks. Hakuna matata.

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CSFMB: Home of the small minded

Can you imagine if Kosuke was on the Southside? they would have brought the Gong back out and already began the statue.

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Think before you speak

Or get one of these. My buddy is hawking them outside of Wrigley.



"Ichi Ban," or "number 1" in Japanese.

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I'm like a carpenter building stairs.......Always thinking one step ahead.

Im a Sox fan and Ive been very impressed with Fuku. I wish we had gotten him. I think hes gonna be a great player. I know its very early but he seems to be pretty patient and a good hitter. Just my gut feeling.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

every at-bat he forces the pitcher to come to him. a couple of times already he has been sitting on the first pitch and taken a hack at it and fouled it off, and then has had the ability to work the count to 3-1 or 3-2 anyway. you can see this guy knows what he is doing at the plate.

Wonder what Reggie White would have said about Fukudome?

And he might have been right

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""I am now done at the Score."
Mike North, June 24, 2008

I havent sipped that Kool Aid yet but he is very fun to watch. Definitely my favorite Cub so far(not sayin much).

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

i cant remember any cubs player work a count the way this guy does. he really does look great right now. and it is a good thing; the rest of the teams hitting has left a lot to be desired.

No doubt the guys approach to an at bat is the best I have ever seen. Some of those pitches he took in his last bat were so close most players would have hacked away.

I think the last strike he took, which was far outside showed the umpires ego, as the umpire did not want to have Fuku dictating the at bat, that if he doesn't swing he has to be a ball. I think that was the umpire was trying to show him who is boss.

I honestly dont think he will get an MVP award for many reasons, such as his numbers wont be classic MVP numbers, but he has been the most impressive player in baseball to date and by far has had the most impact on his team. I mean outside oif the Cuban K, Alexi Ramirez. ( ETA of Frank C comment 2 hours 4 minutes)

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Japanese imports > Cuban imports

Well, outside of cigars that is. The Japs have infiltrated everything, probably even that computer you are typing on now. They are even competitive in Nascar. Pass the wasabi.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

If fukudome was on the sox they would have the sushi stand in every section.

and what is so great about a Cuban cigar, had once once and I got a headache

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Think before you speak

As one who frequents cigar establishments, Cuban cigars are typically very good, but in many cases, it's the case of the forbidden fruit.

I would gladly trade Contreras for a case of rum and a box of Cubans.


Alexei, he may well develop to be worth 2 boxes. And a barrel

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Fukudome is a Godsend. He has already made a couple catches on balls hit in the gap, that would have gone for extra bases last year, with Jacque Jones out there. Also, his arm is outstanding. Many fewer runners will try scoring on a medium deep fly to right, as they know he has a plus arm. Those that do try, will often be sorry. That's another plus over last year already. Plus he has already shown that he runs the bases well and can steal a base-something that too few Cub's do very often. Then you look at his offense and see a guy who has the ability to hit to all fields and has shown pretty good pop too. Not to mention that he works the count and does not swing at crap out of the strike zone. Guys who hit their pitches-not the pitcher's pitches, and don't get themselves out by trying to pull everything, but hit the ball where it's pitched, have a great chance to succeed. I like this guys chances and am very happy he's a Cub. I thing indeed there are writers who need to revise their predictions.

one thing i have noticed - when he swings and misses, he looks terrible. all those japanese hitters seem to have that bailout "im-on-my-way-to-first-base-while-i-swing-the-bat" thing going on. he looks completely fooled and overmatched when that happens, but you know he isnt. that is just the way he swings. his knowledge of the strike zone is great. the umpires seem to respect it too, because he gets the benefit on a lot of the really close pitches.

He has exceeded my expectations

not me, i want a triple crown.

Behind Lee, the best non-hurler on the team. Lock him up now. Lenny Dykestra on roid's w/o being on roids.

Then again, I wanted Scot Thompson and Mike Vail to be the core of our team for the next 10 years.

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"In an insane world, only the sane will seem insane"