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Kosuke Fukudome News & Rumors

Kosuke Fukudome, Justin Masterson lead Cleveland Indians to victory over Chicago White Sox
August 19
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Before the game, Tribe manager Manny Acta sat down on the dugout bench next to Kosuke Fukudome to hold his daily meeting with reporters. He put his arm around Fukudome and pulled him close. "Do this interview with me," said Acta. "I'll answer the questions in Spanish, then you can translate them into Japanese." Fukudome corrected his manager, saying, "No, I'll tell them to Hiro [Aoyama, Fukudome's interpreter], and he can say them in English." Whatever the language, Fukudome is helping the Indians in their quest to win the American League Central. He had three hits Thursday night, including tripling home Shin-Soo Choo with the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, in the Indians' 4-2 victory"
Fukudome's pain proves to be Tribe's pleasure: Indians Insider
August 11
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Before Wednesday morning, not only had Kosuke Fukudome never been hit by a pitch to win a game, he'd never seen it happen. "That might be the only time I've gotten hit by a pitch and been happy about it," said Fukudome Wednesday afternoon, through his interpreter. Tigers reliever David Pauley started the 14th inning of Tuesday's rain-interrupted marathon with the score tied, 2-2. The Indians' bullpen had already pitched 12 scoreless innings following a 123-minute rain delay that knocked out starters Justin Masterson and Doug Fister. After the rain stopped, it was all great pitching and very little hitting. The Indians entered the 14th with six hits. Jason Kipnis struck out, but Asdrubal"
Fukudome's bases-loaded HBP gives Indians 3-2 victory over Detroit in 14 innings
August 10
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"There was enough built-in intrigue in the series opener between the Indians and the Tigers to fill a James Patterson novel. Then the elements revealed another plot line on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. After starters Justin Masterson and Doug Fister were rendered unpitchable because of a 2 hour and 3 minute rain delay, the game turned into a bullpen duel. The Indians had the better stats and nickname -- the Bullpen Mafia -- and in the end that may have made the difference. Following 12 scoreless innings of relief, Kosuke Fukudome made all that hard work pay off as he was hit by a David Pauley pitch with the bases loaded to score Asdrubal Cabrera and give the Indians a 3-2 victory over"
Indians trade for Kosuke Fukudome to boost offense, but he is not big-time run-producer
July 29
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Is Kosuke Fukudome the answer or does his acquisition raise more questions for the Indians? In announcing the acquiring of Fukudome, a right fielder, from the Chicago Cubs, Indians General Manager Chris Antonetti said Thursday, "Generally speaking, I think we're a better team today than we were yesterday. Kosuke has a history of getting on base and putting up good at-bats." Antonetti added that Fukudome is a solid outfielder, who has played right field almost exclusively this season but frequently has played center in the past. He does not have the kind of statistics that engender excitement among the fans. In 293 at-bats, Fukudome is batting .273 with 15 doubles, three home runs and 13"
Cleveland Indians trade for Kosuke Fukudome; GM open to adding pitcher, another hitter
July 29
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"If newly acquired Indians outfielder Kosuke Fukudome didn't ring your bell, don't burn your Chief Wahoo jersey just yet. GM Chris Antonetti is still trying to improve his second-place ballclub, which picked up a half-game on the AL Central-leading Tigers on Thursday without even playing. "We feel we're better today than we were yesterday," said Antonetti, talking Thursday about the trade that brought the 34-year-old Fukudome to Cleveland from the Cubs for prospects Abner Abreu and right-hander Carlton Smith. "We improved incrementally." The deadline for making deals without waivers is Sunday at 4 p.m. Should the Indians stay in contention through the heat of August, the next deadline to"
Cubs complete deal sending Fukudome to Indians
July 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs have finalized a deal that sends outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to the Cleveland Indians for two minor-league prospects. The Cubs will pick up most of the estimated $4.5 million remaining this season on Fukudome's contract. In return, they received Triple-A right-handed reliever Carlton Smith, who has a 4.50 earned-run average, and Class-A outfielder Abner Abreu, who is hitting .244. The Cubs will promote Tyler Colvin from Triple-A Iowa to play right field. The Indians were interested in Fukudome to help revive an offense that was no-hit Wednesday by the Angels' Ervin Santana and is without injured regulars Grady Sizemore andShin-Soo Choo"
Indians acquire Cubs Kosuke Fukudome for 2 prospects
July 28
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Indians acquired Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome for two prospects. The Indians sent outfielder Abrner Abreu and pitcher Carlton Smith to the Cubs. MLB had to approve how the Indians and Cubs pay the remainder of Fukudome's $13.5 million salary for this year. There is about $4.7 million left on the deal and the Indians will pay only $775,000, with the Cubs picking up the rest. Fukudome, 34, is hitting .273 (80-for-293) with three homers and 13 RBI this season.. The left-handed hitting Fukudome has 46 walks, 57 strikeouts and a .742 OPS. The Indians, no-hit on Wednesday by the Angels, are strapped for offense and outfielders with Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo on the disabled list."
Indians acquire Kosuke Fukudome of Cubs
July 28
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Cleveland Indians acquired outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, 34, of the Chicago Cubs, according to several reports. The Indians have been looking for a bat for several weeks now. Matthew Hays of SBNation.com writes that Fukudome is a fourth-year veteran from Japan who is in the final year of his contract, Fukudome is hitting .273 with three homers and 13 RBI."
Cubs close to deal sending Fukudome to Indians
July 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs are close to finalizing a deal that would send outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to the Cleveland Indians for two prospects, according to a major-league source. The Cubs would pick up a portion of the estimated $4 million remaining this season on Fukudome's contract, said the source, adding that the deal could be completed Thursday. The Indians are interested in Fukudome to help revive an offense that was no-hit Wednesday by the Angels' Ervin Santana and is without injured regulars Grady Sizemore andShin-Soo Choo"
Five Cubs most likely on contenders' radar
July 18
ESPN.com
 
"Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry should be a busy man, fielding calls on some of his more desirable players, as the trading deadline quickly approaches on July 31. Here's a list of players who are most likely to be sought after by contending teams. Aramis Ramirez: There is lots of interest in the 33-year-old first baseman. The Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Indians are his most likely suitors. This weekend, one of the Tigers' top scouts is watching the Cubs, and in particular, Ramirez. The Tigers have had interest in Ramirez for six weeks. The Yankees have had at least one scout watching the Cubs for at least three series in a row. With the"
Cubs' Fukudome confident he can keep it going after red-hot April
May 4
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Kosuke Fukudome hasn't turned into a pumpkin yet, but according to North Side urban legend, he should be getting a little orange around the gills any minute now, with three days already passed since April. Not that new Cubs manager Mike Quade is buying it this time around. ''I'm expecting him to stay hot for six months,'' Quade said. That's a long shot if history means anything, considering the Cubs' hottest April hitter for the last four seasons has also been one of its most inconsistent hitters over the five months that have followed each of the last three. Fukudome went 0-for-3 on Tuesday night in the Cubs' 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, dropping his batting average to .358."
Fukudome hoping to play well, bring some joy to Japan
March 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"Every morning Kosuke Fukudome wakes up and checks out the latest news from Japan, where the nuclear crisis continues on the heels of the devastating earthquake and tsunami. It's a helpless feeling, being so far from home and thinking about the daily nightmares his countrymen are experiencing. Playing baseball seems like a trivial pursuit in the larger scheme of things, but Fukudome hopes he can succeed on the field and bring some joy back to Japan. "There are only a few things I can do from here," he said Monday through his interpreter "There's not much. The only thing I can do is to just try to play the best I can to give them some good news from the United States — that I'm doing well.""
Fukudome's family OK after earthquake in Japan
March 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kosuke Fukudome and three other Japanese personnel on the Cubs' staff said their families were OK after a devastating earthquake in Japan. The Cubs spent part of Friday morning watching the tragedy on television. "The game has become international and all of a sudden these things happen all over the world, be it (in the) Dominican or Japan or wherever," manager Mike Quade said. "You get to the ballpark and the first thing your asking is 'Are your people in Tokyo or wherever OK?'" Rivalry continues: The Cubs-White Sox rivalry is big during the regular season, but not so much in the Cactus League."
Many trade possibilities for the Cubs
December 15
Foxsports.com
 (scroll down)
"Right-hander Carl Pavano is the best remaining free-agent starting pitcher. The trade market offers more numerous options, and we're not just talking about the Royals' Zack Greinke and Rays' Matt Garza — or even the Phillies' Joe Blanton, who is suddenly expendable due to the signing of you-know-who. Consider the Cubs. They boast enough starting-pitching depth in the minors to put together a package for a veteran such as Garza. If they pulled off such a deal — and combined it with a move of talented youngster Andrew Cashner to the rotation — they then could trade one of their back-end major league starters. Lefty Tom Gorzelanny and righty Randy Wells aren't as exciting as Greinke and"
Cubs seem a lot less inclined to deal Fukudome, Zambrano
November 17
ESPN.com
 
"All of a sudden, the Cubs seem a lot less inclined to deal players like Kosuke Fukudome and Carlos Zambrano than they were a few months ago. And for that, you can credit the Mike Quade Effect. How much difference did Quade make? Well, the Cubs went 24-16 in the 40 games he managed -- after going 24-42 over the final 66 games Lou Piniella managed. And the changes didn't just show up in the standings. Scouts who followed the Cubs said they saw young players and the bullpen crew, in particular, relax and perform without the high-strung Piniella around. And Fukudome was also a different guy, hitting .277/.390/.482 (with more walks than strikeouts) from Aug. 20 on -- after hitting"
Fukudome may played last game for Cubs
October 1
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kosuke Fukudome sat out Thursday with a left knee sprain he suffered while sliding into third base Wednesday night, and may be unable to play during the final series in Houston. "He's a tough guy," manager Mike Quade said. "… We'll be careful, and if he's ready he'll let us know." If Fukudome can't play, Wednesday may have been his last game as a Cub because they are likely to trade him this winter to open up right field for Tyler Colvin. The Cubs probably will have to eat a good portion of the remaining $13.5 million on his contract to find a taker. Stepping up: The Cubs bullpen has a 1.31 ERA over the last 22 games, led by closer Carlos Marmol and set-up man Sean Marshall. The two"
Fukudome gets Cubs started with homer
July 6
Chicago Tribune
 
"When Alfonso Soriano was batting first for the Cubs, he led off games with a home run 22 times from 2007 to the middle of 2009, leaving him second to Rickey Henderson on the all-time list with 54 career leadoff homers. Soriano's ability to provide instant offense was one of the big factors in the Cubs' back-to-back playoff appearances, but manager Lou Piniella finally decided to move him from the top spot on July 4, 2009 after a prolonged slump. One year later, in the 83rd game of the season, Kosuke Fukudome cranked the Cubs' first leadoff home run in 2010 to kick-start a 9-4 win over Arizona at Chase Field. It was Fukudome's first home run since May 20, and his first RBI since June 17."
Cubs contacted Red Sox about Fukudome
June 18
NBC Sports
 
"Multiple sources tell Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com that the Cubs recently approached the Red Sox to "gauge their interest" in Kosuke Fukudome. McAdam writes that the Red Sox have walked away from talks, at least for now, because the Cubs have refused to take on a significant part of Fukudome's remaining salary. Fukudome, 33, will earn $13 million this season and another $13.5 million in 2011."
Sliding Kosuke sits, brings help
June 16
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Since April, when he hit .344, Kosuke Fukudome has seen his average decline steadily, opening a door for manager Lou Piniella to find playing time for rookie Tyler Colvin. Hitting only .222 since May 16, Fukudome now has his Japanese hitting coach, Kyosuke Sasaki, here to help him work on his problems. The left-handed-hitting Colvin was in the lineup a second straight day as the Cubs opened a three-game interleague series against Oakland. ''We're giving [Fukudome] a little time off,'' Piniella said. ''He's been struggling. With his coach here, it gives him some time to work with him. We'll give Colvin a chance to play a little.'' Colvin, hitting .313 (25-for-80) in his last 37 games with"
If Cubs don't change losing ways, changes on the way
June 15
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs have not spoken to teams about trading anyone, sources said Monday, though things could change drastically over the next two or three weeks if they don't come out of their slump. Despite Sunday's intense 1-0 win over the White Sox, the Cubs are still 7½ games behind division-leading Cincinnati and have lost eight of their last 12 games against four sub-.500 teams in Pittsburgh, Houston, Milwaukee and the Sox. There is no good reason to play out the string with the current roster if they're out of contention in July, especially with a bloated payroll that's in dire need of trimming. Among those considered prime trade bait are Derrek Lee, Ted Lilly, Kosuke Fukudome, Tom Gorzelanny"
Fukudome hopes to build off great start
May 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"Very quietly, Kosuke Fukudome has settled right in this season with the Cubs. Not only did he finish April with a .344 batting average, but he started May with a 2-for-4 afternoon Saturday that included an RBI double that gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in their eventual 7-5 victory over the Diamondbacks. He also lined out hard to third base and drew a walk in the winning two-run rally. For the season, his average with runners in scoring position is .444 (8-for-18). The reason he looks so comfortable? He finally is becoming accustomed to the culture in the United States and the big leagues after his all-star years in Japan. Get more stories like this. Sign up for home delivery >> "I do think I'm"
First up, Theriot vs. Fukudome
February 21
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Could a leadoff controversy be brewing? Three days after manager Lou Piniella said he preferred Ryan Theriot in the top spot, Kosuke Fukudome arrived in camp Saturday and said, ''If I can pick, I would like to bat first.'' Not that Fukudome's going to make a big deal out of it. But it's a reminder that in a camp without a perfect leadoff candidate, the guy who performed best in that spot last year also feels comfortable there and has his eye on the job. Theriot arrived within a few hours of Fukudome, saying he also is ready for the leadoff job. He showed he meant business by getting to work in Arizona barely 24 hours after he lost his arbitration hearing in Florida."
Cubs staying afloat, thanks to Fukudome
June 9
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"By the middle of last season, Kosuke Fukudome was the only Cubs hitter in a steady, lengthy slump. By the time the season ended, the Cubs were the top offensive team in the National League, and Fukudome was their biggest disappointment -- a $48 million Japanese All-Star relegated to September bench player. He finished so poorly the Cubs felt they couldn't rely on him anymore and signed Milton Bradley to play Fukudome's position and take his lefty role in the lineup. But look at those guys now. Bradley, who was arguably the best hitter in the American League last year, was the Cubs' worst- hitting regular until the last week of May, and then he got hurt again the first game in June."
Tip of cap for helping hand
April 19
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Center fielder Kosuke Fukudome spent most of the spring with the Japanese national team, which won the World Baseball Classic. His missed time with the Cubs might have been a concern after he struggled in the second half of last season, but he has opened 2009 with a vengeance. Fukudome is batting .375 with six doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI. He also has drawn nine walks and is among the National League leaders in on-base percentage (.480) and slugging percentage (.750). Manager Lou Piniella credited third-base coach Mike Quade for working overtime with Fukudome when he finally did join the team in Arizona after the WBC. ''Fukudome only had a portion of spring training with us, and"
ESPN's Steve Phillips apologizes to Lou Piniella
April 13
Chicago Tribune
 
"ESPN analyst Steve Phillips sought out Lou Piniella in the clubhouse before Sunday's game to clarify his criticism of the manager's handling of outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Phillips told Piniella not to believe what had been written or said, although the tapes suggest otherwise. In an interview on WMVP-AM 1000 this spring, Phillips told Chet Coppock: "My view is Lou doesn't have a great deal of patience for assimilation into culture, assimilation into the team. He is just not the most patient guy around, and he also tends to verbalize his frustrations in an angry way. I think that may have affected Fukudome a little bit." The comment upset Piniella, who later told the Tribune: "I don't"
Fukudome in the swing
April 12
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Manager Lou Piniella talked about pitching karma after the Cubs' 6-5 victory Saturday in Milwaukee. But something even more mystical seems to have taken over No. 2 hitter Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome, a free-falling rookie last season, seems to have settled down his hitting mechanics and has become more aggressive earlier in the count. So far, that has resulted in an 8-for-19 start that includes five extra-base hits. Two of those extra-base hits -- a home run in the fourth inning and a run-scoring double in the sixth -- came Saturday. In a four-hit game against the Houston Astros, his first three hits, including a homer, were on first pitches. ''He looks like the hitter he was early in the"
Kosuke Fukudome learns from last year's struggles
March 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"He looked a lot like Kosuke Fukudome and wore the same uniform number. But the Kosuke Fukudome who showed up at HoHoKam Park on Thursday didn't sound at all like the Japanese star who fizzled in the second half of his debut season in Chicago. Appearing relaxed and confident after missing the first six weeks of camp while playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, Fukudome was at times self-deprecating, boastful and a bit introspective. What caused him to have so much trouble adjusting in the second half? "My stupidity," he said, through his new interpreter. Fukudome then laughed, something he rarely did in public last summer. He said he had learned from last year's struggles and"
Can Kosuke Fukodome still fit Chicago Cubs to a T?
March 25
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Rick Morrissey
"As the weather improves, the Fukudome T-shirts are starting to reappear, ghostlike, around town. If they had been given proper burials at the bottom of drawers after last season, this wouldn't be a problem. You wouldn't have scary reminders that the guy who hit .188 in the final two months is returning soon to a batter's box near you. But no. People plunked down good money for the shirts; they might as well wear them. So now you see fans, heads down, floating around in No. 1 shirts and jerseys. They would prefer you pay attention to the Cubs logo on the front, although, let's face it, some of them are self-conscious about that, too, given the haste with which the team left the postseason."
New Year's wish
March 24
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Any day now, Kosuke Fukudome starts over with the Cubs, looking for a rising sun in the land of his fallen star. Cubs manager Lou Piniella has said he is confident Fukudome will rebound from his four-month nosedive after a strong start last season. General manager Jim Hendry has said several times he believes Fukudome's 2009 season will resemble the first part of his rookie year more than the last part. The Cubs are betting what's left of a $48 million contract on it. But in the small sampling of World Baseball Classic games with Team Japan, Fukudome has shown little to inspire confidence that his offseason core-conditioning program and extra hitting have given him the power to turn around"
Hard to predict what Fukudome will bring in 2009
March 14
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Lou Piniella admitted he never has seen a player's performance free fall the way Kosuke Fukudome's did last season. In the next breath, the Cubs manager expressed confidence in a player who personified the boom and bust Cubs of 2008. "He probably learned a lot last year," Piniella said. "He's obviously a talented young man. He'll figure it out." It's a cheery prediction, and with a month left before Opening Day, why not be cheery? It's the manager's job to inspire confidence, even when the organization hedged its $48 million bet on Fukudome by acquiring Milton Bradley during the offseason. Fukudome went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in Team Japan's 3-2 win over the Cubs on Thursday. The"
Last season's fade not easy for Fukudome to forget
March 13
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who earned an All-Star start based on his sizzling first two months in the majors before spiraling the rest of the season, made his first stop in the Cubs' clubhouse Thursday before Japan's World Baseball Classic team played an exhibition game at HoHoKam Park. Fukudome said that for the first time in his professional career, he began the offseason immediately with a hitting program. He also said he plans to speak up more about his situation during Year 2 in America. As for being benched down the stretch and in the playoffs, the former Japanese star still is smarting. ''It didn't feel good at all,'' he said. ''But I understand what my condition was at the end of"
Chicago Cubs hoping Kosuke Fukudome comes back strong
March 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"When Carlos Zambrano saw Kosuke Fukudome on Tuesday at HoHoKam Park, he told his teammate how he would pitch to him Thursday in the Cubs' exhibition against Team Japan. Straight fastballs. No movement. That was Zambrano's way of saying hello to his friend, who will be playing in front of his teammates, coaches and manager Lou Piniella for the first time since the Cubs bowed out of the playoffs last October. Fukudome will never be the biggest star on Japan's World Baseball Classic team as long as Ichiro Suzuki is on the roster. But he will be in the spotlight Thursday as Japan warms up for the WBC's second round. After working out all off-season to get in better shape for the long"
Cubs manager Lou Piniella promises spot to Kosuke Fukudome
March 11
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kosuke Fukudome stopped by the Cubs' clubhouse Tuesday before working out with Team Japan in Scottsdale. Though ESPN analyst Steve Phillips recently said manager Lou Piniella mishandled the Japanese outfielder in his rookie season in the majors, Fukudome and Piniella embraced like old friends. They say they've never had any problems, which is why Piniella was so upset with the characterization. "He looks wonderful, in really good shape," Piniella said. "I told him we're holding a spot for him. I'm going to put him out in center field, and I'm going to try him in the No. 2 hole in the lineup. "It was nice seeing him. He said he has been working hard. He's excited about this World Baseball"
Cubs hope Kosuke Fukudome gets good start—in Japan
February 19
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Phil Rogers
"You didn't have to be Bob Woodward to catch this clue. Right there in full view, before the Cubs' first workout Wednesday morning, a pair of athletic shoes sat in front of Kosuke Fukudome's locker. A pair of blue jeans hung neatly inside the cubicle. For a few minutes it looked as if a big story might have broken out—perhaps Fukudome had rethought the commitment he had made to his country's baseball team. Perhaps he had decided to report to Arizona rather than to Miyazaki, Japan, where his national team is training for the World Baseball Classic. Media bloodhounds—one, anyway—sniffed around. The clothes belonged to Derrek Lee. He was just borrowing space from Fukudome, who isn't expected"
Fukudome is Cubs' mystery man
November 7
Chicago Tribune
 
"Call it the Fukudome Funk. Whatever caused Kosuke Fukudome to go from phenom to failure, all in his first major-league season, has put the Cubs in a quandary. With manager Lou Piniella insisting on more pop from the left side of the plate and with Fukudome still unproven, the Cubs made no secret about their desire for another right fielder at the just-concluded general managers' meetings. Fukudome's crash has cooled the Cubs' confidence that he will be an everyday player. Right now he is probably a platoon center fielder, meaning the Cubs have to spend more money to protect themselves. That will make GM Jim Hendry's job even more difficult. While Hendry tries to put a positive spin on"
Fukudome on a short leash
October 8
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"In barely six months, he went from hero to goat -- from T-shirts, headbands, a Sports Illustrated cover and the All-Star Game to a .217 hitter in the second half, a bench player in September and the target of boos in October. But even as he prepared to head home to Japan, with his starting job in doubt and his major-league status being questioned, outfielder Kosuke Fukudome said Tuesday he has no regrets about signing with the Cubs last winter. ''Not at all,'' said Fukudome, whose four-year, $48 million contract still has three years and $38million to come. If he can't reverse his stunning four-month slide that became a tailspin in the final two months of the season, he might not feel so"
Fukudome will have competition in right field
October 8
Chicago Tribune
 
"The answer was so stunning and out of character that the first thought on everyone's mind was there must have been some problem with the translation. Before leaving for Japan, Kosuke Fukudome spoke with reporters Tuesday at Wrigley Field and was asked how he would feel if he went into spring training next year without assurances of a starting job. "I could not care less," he said through a translator. The man who signed for $48 million over four years would not care if he wasn't starting? Fukudome then was asked to clarify. "If it means that there will be competition in right field, all I have to do is win that competition," he replied. Fukudome's confidence in himself has obviously never"
Piniella OK with Kosuke's day off
October 5
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Cubs manager Lou Piniella had no problem with slumping Kosuke Fukudome -- or any other absentees -- missing Friday's optional workout before Saturday night's Game 3. And he said he wasn't surprised by his absence. ''I don't really care if some people didn't show up,'' Piniella said. ''You don't need workouts in October. If we had wanted it to be mandatory, we would have made it mandatory.'' Piniella also said he hadn't talked to Fukudome since deciding to bench him for the rest of the series after Thursday night's game and didn't feel the need to. ''No, look, you just let him sit for a while and see what happens,'' said Piniella of the right fielder who hit .217 after starting in the"
Little interest in Kosuke Fukudome in Japan
October 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"Even before they knew if the Cubs were going to survive their first-round playoff series with the Dodgers, some members of the Japanese media contingent were thinking of abandoning the team. Nothing personal, they said. "They have to leave because there's no demand anymore," Hiroshige Ichioka explained. Ichioka is a reporter with the Jiji Press Japanese News Agency. He covers Major League Baseball on the West Coast, concentrating on the Dodgers and their two Japanese pitchers, Takashi Saito and Game 3 starter Hiroki Kuroda. And he knows that since Lou Piniella's proclamation that Kosuke Fukudome is out as a regular this postseason, so too is Japan's interest in the Cubs. Naoko Sato knows"
No need for Cubs to rush decision on Kosuke Fukudome
October 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"This isn't the time for Kosuke Fukudome to make any decisions. Here's hoping the Cubs don't rush to one either. Fukudome boarded the Cubs' charter flight and flew four hours to Los Angeles on Friday, then was bussed to the team hotel and then to Dodger Stadium with his teammates. He trotted out to the first-base line to be introduced before Saturday night's first-round playoff game. He left the dugout immediately after special coach Ivan DeJesus and before Ronny Cedeno, two minutes before the guys in the Game 3 lineup. But if it were up to Fukudome, would he have preferred to change planes in Los Angeles and continue westward for Tokyo? Does the Cubs' first high-profile Japanese import"
Is Fukudome a dirty word?
October 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"What's in a name? Ask Chicago Cubs fan Jill Howe, 15. The Elgin High School sophomore had to remove her Kosuke Fukudome jersey and wear a gym T-shirt to class Wednesday because of a misunderstanding about how to pronounce the All-Star right-fielder's last name. "Someone stopped me in the hall and asked me what the back of my jersey said," Jill said. She replied that it was the name of Cubs player, pronounced foo-koo-DOUGH-may. The school staffer wasn't so sure and consulted others. Then a dean, Susan Matei, told Howe the jersey was inappropriate. Matei made Jill take it off and wear a gym shirt instead. Jill called her mother after school to tell her what happened. "She's a big Cubs fan,"
Piniella: Fukudome likely to sit out Game 3
October 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"Mike Fontenot hit .360 in the second half of the season, or more than 140 points higher than right fielder Kosuke Fukudome did after the All-Star break. But manager Lou Piniella played Fukudome in right Thursday night and Mark DeRosa at second base again in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, leaving Fontenot to pinch-hit for the second straight night. "Look, we need offense," Piniella said before the game. "He's swinging the bat well, I recognize that. We get to L.A., the weather is a little warmer, it'll be a few more days [of rest] for DeRosa, and [playing Fontenot] is certainly a viable option. Right now Fontenot is our best bat coming off the bench." Fukudome, whom"
2nd shot likely for Fukudome
October 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kosuke Fukudome may get a second chance to prove himself in the postseason because Cubs manager Lou Piniella said before Game 1 he would like to start Fukudome in every game of the National League Division Series. "I'd like to stay just the way we are," Piniella said. "Fukudome is very capable of having a nice postseason, so let's see. With the wind blowing and everything else, we went with good defense in the outfield." Fukudome started in right field and batted second Wednesday night but went 0-for-4 in the 7-2 loss to the Dodgers, which may cause Piniella to change his mind Thursday. "I'm not sure," he said afterward. "Let's wait until [Thursday] and see." Fukudome started in right the"
Hendry stands by Fukudome
September 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs have no regrets about signing Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year, $48 million deal, despite the lackluster numbers put up by the Japanese star in his rookie year in the majors. Fukudome wound up hitting .257 with 10 home runs and 58 RBIs, including a .207 average after July 1, losing his starting job in right field down the stretch. At times he has looked overmatched at the plate after a good start in April and May. "Obviously, he's got the ability," general manager Jim Hendry said. "Unfortunately, he's in a real tough snag and I'm of the belief that he will figure it out and get better again. I don't have a doubt that he'll be back next year playing well. He's not an out-of-shape"
Lou giving Fukudome chance to find swing
September 22
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Kosuke Fukudome was at the top of the Cubs' batting order Sunday, and not just because Alfonso Soriano was among the regulars getting a day off. Manager Lou Piniella has talked for weeks about the need for Fukudome to hit again as he did in the first part of the season. ''I'm just trying to get him some at-bats and see if he can get more hits,'' Piniella said. The move brought instant results, with Fukudome doubling in his first at-bat and finishing 2-for-4. Fukudome led off 12 other games this season while Soriano was on the disabled list. He's assured of a spot on the playoff roster, though he might remain in a reserve role if he continues to struggle at the plate. He hit .193"
Fukudome's Hitting Is Downside on the North Side
September 18
New York Times
 columnist Alan Schwarz
"Almost six months ago, on opening day here at Wrigley Field, Kosuke Fukudome became an instant Cubs legend. Fukudome, a rookie outfielder from Japan, went 3 for 3 and took a curtain call after his ninth-inning, game-tying home run. Sheffield Avenue bleacherites chanted "Fu-ku-do-me!" in inebriated reverence, and the Cubs had found their new right fielder, perhaps even a talisman, in their 100th season since last winning the World Series. The fairy tale has long ended. After riding an excellent first month into a starting spot in the All-Star Game, Fukudome has so disintegrated offensively that he has become a defensive specialist now booed occasionally. After providing all that sunshine"
Fukudome gets reduced workload
September 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Looking for a way to find production for two left-handed spots in the order and focusing on right and center field, Cubs manager Lou Piniella settled for now on giving struggling right fielder Kosuke Fukudome three days out of the starting lineup. Fukudome, who's getting his longest break of the season, hit .193 in August and is 4 for his last 21. About a week ago, Piniella and hitting coach Gerald Perry had him shorten his stride, which he has done with short-lived results. Beyond that, it's hard to tinker much more with the hitting mechanics of a 31-year-old, nine-year veteran of the Japanese major leagues -- especially in the final four weeks of the season. ''We feel by giving him a"
Fukudome gets more time off
September 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"Manager Lou Piniella is trying something more drastic to get Kosuke Fukudome out of his prolonged hitting slump after giving him sporadic days off and working to cut down on his stride. Fukudome sat Tuesday night against Houston right-hander Brandon Backe and will sit again Wednesday against lefty Randy Wolf. With Thursday's off day, Fukudome will have rested for three straight games, assuming he starts Friday in Cincinnati. "By giving him a little time off, he might start hitting the way he wants to hit and the way we expect him to hit. That's all," Piniella said. Fukudome batted .296 through the end of June and started in the All-Star Game. Starting July 1, he has hit .210, which"
Fukudome still making progress
August 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Just like that, Kosuke Fukudome might be on his way back to becoming an every-day fixture in the Cubs' lineup. And if manager Lou Piniella has his way, back to the No. 5 spot in the order. Just one day after Piniella and hitting coach Gerald Perry had the Cubs' right fielder shorten his stride at the plate -- not to mention one day after a pinch homer into the wind -- Fukudome delivered a three-hit game that included a season-high four RBI for the rookie. ''He looked pretty impressive to me,'' Piniella said. ''He drove the ball. Hit hit hard. Hit it to all fields, too. ... He looks very 'hitterish' right now. ''When you're a good hitter, you can make adjustments quick. And we didn't really"