Interesting note on Fukudome [Archive]

TheBenjamin

Apr 8th 2009, 10:34 am

Phil Rogers was on 670 The Score this morning talking about Fukudome. Something he mentioned made me think, and i will write about this later (maybe tomorrow's off day will make sense)

1. Fukudome MUST approve any demotion to Triple A, so if you are thinking demote him so we can get him off the roster, things may not be that easy. Most of us knew this though.

2. What you might not have known, which i didn't until Rogers talked about it, if he refuses a demotion he becomes a FA, and the Cubs dont owe him anything more then they have already paid him.

quite an interesting fact, if it proves to be true. Could be a win win win for us

Win-he actually plays as we expected him from the begining and dont have to worry about it
Win- he accepts the demotion, and we never have to see him again until he regains his form of old
Win- he says no, becomes a FA and we get all that money back for a trade which could cost a pretty penny (PEAVY!!!) not to name names.

cubbie_kern

Apr 8th 2009, 11:55 am

hmmm. .. didn't know about the fa thing

KingKong10

Apr 8th 2009, 1:03 pm

they'll give him until June and if he's not producing he'll be gone.

Doba

Apr 8th 2009, 1:32 pm

I like the sounds of that.

maadhatter

Apr 8th 2009, 1:43 pm

How does that work? Why would any team release anyone then if they can demote or get a free release if they decline a demotion? There has to be more to it.

ryno4ever

Apr 8th 2009, 2:14 pm

If that's the case, what in the world are they waiting for? HE CAN'T HIT! He can drill one helluva hole in the dirt in the batters box with his corkscrew swing, though!

ryno4ever

Apr 8th 2009, 2:16 pm

Here is the interview:

http://www.670thescore.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=3619167

TheBenjamin

Apr 8th 2009, 2:20 pm

not entirely sure hatter, just know what I hear and passing it along

ryno4ever

Apr 8th 2009, 2:26 pm

Phil Rogers makes it sound as if that option is a given in any big player contract... in HIS understanding of how contracts are written, not Fukudome's contract in particular.

Hendry told him sending him to the minors is not going to happen.

"Clearly this guy has lost his confidence, and his footing..."

He compares Fukudome to Matsui's start, and Matsui spent a couple years in the minors and came back strong.

TheBenjamin

Apr 8th 2009, 2:28 pm

if what Mr. Rogers says is true, give him the option. if he walks away, thats 36M that we have to spend

ryno4ever

Apr 8th 2009, 2:35 pm

If Fukudome accepts a trip to the minors, the Cubs still owe him his salary, right? That's an awful expensive minor league player... especially with Samardzja in the minors with his big old contract. And there is no guarantee that a trip to the minors will do him any good. They had him training with a Cubs hitting coach in the offseason and were hoping the WBC would help him get on track and that didn't work. Hendry's hands may be tied.

That being said, I'm all for sending him to Iowa if that's what it takes to get him on track. Other than a few weeks last April, he hasn't shown much of anything as far as being a major league baseball player.

TheBenjamin

Apr 8th 2009, 2:42 pm

yes, we still owe him if he goes to the minors. but i would rather pay him all that money to be in the minors hopefully learnign there, then pay him to sit on the bench here or hurt the team.

cubbie_kern

Apr 8th 2009, 3:06 pm

TheBenjamin

Apr 8th 2009, 3:07 pm

i call it like i see it.

he looks lost in CF, doesnt look like he cares, his swing is still as ugly as ever.

I dont see him improving

ryno4ever

Apr 8th 2009, 3:32 pm

I just don't like the fact there is a player sitting on the bench who is 110% better offensively and defensively that isn't getting playing time because the management feels they OWE it to Fukudome to give him a chance.

TheBenjamin

Apr 8th 2009, 3:35 pm

they arent playing him because they owe it to him, they are playing him because they have to so they dont all get fired.

Even though thre were alot of teams bidding on him, we won. If he flops, and they have to eat that money, heads will roll

maadhatter

Apr 8th 2009, 5:26 pm

yes, we still owe him if he goes to the minors. but i would rather pay him all that money to be in the minors hopefully learnign there, then pay him to sit on the bench here or hurt the team.

Vouch this..

However he should be given the chance to improve. We are not going to lose the season in April, give him is AB's in April and hope something clicks. he needs to be told he does not need to hit HR's. Keep in the 2 hole, and his job will be to bunt Soriano over, or try Slapping the ball into left. As long as he keep making contact it will come around. it when his OBP drops is when we have a problem.

If May comes around and he is not doing his part, then yeah hopefully he goes to AAA and gets some confidence back.

TheBenjamin

Apr 8th 2009, 5:34 pm

thats the thing... he cant hit.

they pitch him inside to get him off theplate, then go outside and he whiffs

maadhatter

Apr 8th 2009, 7:18 pm

thats the thing... he cant hit.

they pitch him inside to get him off theplate, then go outside and he whiffs

3 for 3 so far. We need more positive thinking here and create a some good mojo karma :cool:

TheBenjamin

Apr 8th 2009, 8:16 pm

i must say I am surprised

ryno4ever

Apr 8th 2009, 8:35 pm

maadhatter

Apr 8th 2009, 9:52 pm

I'm surprised...but one game isn't going to prove much yet for me. If he can consistently do this, then I'll eat my words! However, my other frustration is now DeeLee... he looks as horrible at the plate as he did the second half of last year.

I agree there, they could trade him while hes got value, and get Micha in there every day.

TheBenjamin

Apr 9th 2009, 3:59 am

problem, Lee can void any trade

and why the hell do you want Hoffpauir everyday? He looks good in short stints, but you dont know if he can do it full time. Id rather keep Lee.

cubbie_kern

Apr 9th 2009, 6:59 am

Can we not talk trade until at least a month goes by. You've got to give guys more than a couple of games.

Jntg4

Apr 9th 2009, 7:10 am

Fukudome has a no-trade clause anyway.

ICcubfan

Apr 9th 2009, 7:37 am

He looked like a different hitter last night. He wasn't flailing at the ball or completely off balance and falling away. If he stays back a bit he seems to be able to drive the ball rather than trying to guide it, flick it or slap at it. Who knows? I hope he sticks to that approach.

Bockstock

Apr 9th 2009, 8:45 am

Can we not talk trade until at least a month goes by. You've got to give guys more than a couple of games.

true that

TheBenjamin

Apr 9th 2009, 10:04 am

i agree. if you want to pounce on Lee cause his bat hasnt showed up... one example.. Carlos Lee is off to a worse start. I wouldnt bench him either. Chill out, its 3 games

LeeEila's/rant

Apr 9th 2009, 12:45 pm

I'm surprised...but one game isn't going to prove much yet for me. If he can consistently do this, then I'll eat my words! However, my other frustration is now DeeLee... he looks as horrible at the plate as he did the second half of last year.

Fukudome was not that surprising , he was never pitched the " formula " , jammed inside then away away . Let's see how he does when he gets an inside pitch. ( that is why I called Mike Murphy and suggested he hit lead off , he didn't even listen to me just called me an idiot and kept saying " he can't hit " . In the lead off spot he will get at least one at bat where they can not pitch the formula at him. This will give him a 25% more of a chance for success. )
D Lee has a slow bat and it does not look like it will be speeding back up soon. Drop him down to six or seven and he may see more off speed stuff and maybe let him catch up.

Doba

Apr 9th 2009, 1:17 pm

For the most part of Lee's career he has started off slow.

Does Bradley have a hit yet? Is it too early to tag him as a failure?

3 games into the season........

LeeEila's/rant

Apr 9th 2009, 1:32 pm

For the most part of Lee's career he has started off slow.

Does Bradley have a hit yet? Is it too early to tag him as a failure?

3 games into the season........

Good point , I think the end of last year left such a bad taste in our mouths we may be getting carried away here.

KingKong10

Apr 9th 2009, 1:39 pm

they had a 4 run lead going into the 8th last night.

the news was littered with "D-Lee is old" yesterday and he had to respond saying he's not and doesn't want time off.

that's a sticky situation

but if Lou is serious about resting his regulars - why not pull Lee and put Hoffpair at 1B last night in the bottom of the 8th. or he could have rested Soriano or Ramirez.

that gives them rest and their defensive replacements a chance to play.

VanMan

Apr 9th 2009, 1:46 pm

Why in the heck are we criticizing our players on April 8 and 9? The Cubs only played three freaking games, and won two of them! You cannot go 162-0 in baseball. We need to be a bit patient with the hitters. Usually, the pitchers are ahead of the hitters in the first week or two. D-Lee will snap out of it. Give him time.

TheBenjamin

Apr 9th 2009, 2:37 pm

Fukudome was not that surprising , he was never pitched the " formula " , jammed inside then away away . Let's see how he does when he gets an inside pitch. ( that is why I called Mike Murphy and suggested he hit lead off , he didn't even listen to me just called me an idiot and kept saying " he can't hit " . In the lead off spot he will get at least one at bat where they can not pitch the formula at him. This will give him a 25% more of a chance for success. )
D Lee has a slow bat and it does not look like it will be speeding back up soon. Drop him down to six or seven and he may see more off speed stuff and maybe let him catch up.

that was you? heard that call. Murph is an idiot.

For the most part of Lee's career he has started off slow.

Does Bradley have a hit yet? Is it too early to tag him as a failure?

3 games into the season........

bradley doesnt have a hit, but he is getting walks

but yes, its only 3 games. my series wrap up talks about this, working on it now, and should have it up later

Bockstock

Apr 9th 2009, 3:48 pm

Does Bradley have a hit yet? Is it too early to tag him as a failure?

3 games into the season........

He's doing better than everybody's Hero and 2008 cubs mvp Mark DeRosa, who is 0-12 with 5 strikeouts

cubbyfanforever

Apr 9th 2009, 4:57 pm

1908-2008

Apr 9th 2009, 6:52 pm

im not sure anybody would take him,especially for that price tag

TheBenjamin

Apr 9th 2009, 7:43 pm

if he plays like he did last night, anyone would

if he keeps that up, I dont want to get rid of him

that being said, now might be the best time to trade him, shows teams he might be able to be saved

Doba

Apr 9th 2009, 9:43 pm

My Bradly comment was intended to be sarcastic. I'm not judging or slamming players yet.

LilMissCub

Apr 9th 2009, 10:03 pm

For the most part of Lee's career he has started off slow.

Does Bradley have a hit yet? Is it too early to tag him as a failure?

3 games into the season........

I hesitate to call anyone a failure this early in the season, but he has to step it up, seriously.

Fukudome at least had the last half of last season to suck, it's not so much that he's failing (yet) this season, but that there isn't much there to feel confident in.

I like him as a player but I don't know that he's helping us out much overall.

ryno4ever

Apr 9th 2009, 10:25 pm

Welcome to the board LittleMissCub!

LilMissCub

Apr 9th 2009, 10:37 pm

Thanks I hope to be an acceptable contributor. :)

LeeEila's/rant

Apr 10th 2009, 9:07 am

that was you? heard that call. Murph is an idiot.

Yep , that was me " Doug form Peoria " I sometimes tell them Metamora but , that usually forces me to tell them where the hell that is , then I always tag it with Class 5A State Footballl champs , my son was on that team :) ( I hope we can repeat this year , his senior year ) :cool: