Full Court Press

I am not, I repeat, I am not a Cubs fan, but my 16 year old plays high school baseball, and breathes Cubbie Blue; therefore I'm committed, occasionally, to endure the play of the Northsiders. The concentration on this mans face when in the batters box is phenomenal. Haven't seen enough of his overall play, but you can see right away he possesses the traits of a consummate professional. What more can you ask for?

What impresses me most about Fukudome is his ability to eat with chopsticks, something I've not been able to master in 30 years on this planet.

Well aside from the constant updates on the pronunciation of his name? The fact that he came right out of the box playing like the press said he should. Normally, a great player must be traded from the Cubs before he shows signs of his potential.

I am liking your lead-off man spot for him Roman, however I think the middle of the lineup, mostly due to Fukudome, is looking good right now. If Soriano gets on track I like him where he is. The season is young and ole Lou likes to play with the lineup so I am sure we will see him up there in the 1,2,or 3 spot at some point.

J Rossi...with the cheap joke.

Anthony sez: "I am not, I repeat, I am not a Cubs fan, but my 16 year old plays high school baseball, and breathes Cubbie Blue"

I'd disown him.

I've been impressed with the total package so far and that he has been a difference maker in the first week of the season.

They say it's the little things can make you or break you.

On opening day, I was impressed with the way Fukudome quickly ran in from right when he saw Ryan Theriot making a throw to first to make sure he could back up Derrick Lee in case the ball got away.

If some of the infield players could stop being so nonchalant, and error prone, the Cubs would be in better shape.

Wait Roman, if we are supposed to be patient about the Sox's fast start, why do we have to be impatient about K.F. Iguchi had a fast start with the sox, now he is a retread. Not saying Kouske is a terrible player, but it's only been a week, let's talk about his impressive season in at least september, or how about october.

Mark, It's a no wonder you're on wifey number three!

Basic character and the way one carries himself are important for today's baseball player, and Fukodome seems able to do both very well, maybe because he's a little older than most MBL rookie players. It also may be in his favor that he hasn't mastered the English language yet, which sort of adds a bit of mystery to him. At least that way he can't be misquoted.

Anyway, the Cubs want him to do well and they need him to do well. He's started out like gangbusters, that's true, but as the scouting of Fukodome continues and all his nuances are seen, he may or may not slow the pace. As a realistic Cub fan of many years, I can't help but think of a guy that played for the Mets a few years ago named Benny Agbayana (not sure if that's spelled correctly). He started out with something like 9 homers in his first 11 games, then eventually faded into oblivion. I'm sure hoping that doesn't happen with Fukodome, but my cynical side still gets in the way sometimes.

Villano is right. Tha kid should disown you!

Roman....said....something......right? ::faints::

Fukudome absolutely belongs in the leadoff spot, and nothing about him is more impressive than his plate discipline.

I think he has lived up to all the hype. He has all the skills: patience, power, speed, arm, eye, and attitude. I don't go along with the lead-off scenario. Certainly the on-base percentage and other elements nicely fit, but protection for Ramirez is fundamental. Ramirez is the perennial R.B.I. leader, and walking him is not a good option with Fukudome on deck.I still think Theriot is the best bet to lead off, but have no idea where Soriano should bat, maybe ninth?

There have been many horses that were great right out of the gate only to fade in the stretch. A true measure of how good he is will be if he is able to adjust to the league as the league makes adjustments to him. His lifetime stats would suggest he will.

Villano, last saturday my daughter-in-law gave birth to my first grandson and monday I recieved pics of him leaving the hospital dressed in Cubbie blue and so begins the fourth generation of Cubs fans in of all places NYC. I would have been just as proud if he had been dressed in a Sox uni....you don't disown offspring for their opinions.

orphaning your kid cuz he a cub fan???..............the guy has the "it" factor i can see it. he is the real deal, in the face of tremendous pressure the guy is playing at an all world pace so far..... hope i didnt jinx him any one know japanese baseball? if so who is gonna be the next real good one so we can tell jim hendry.

Mr. BearsfanSteve, do you walk backwards too?

I knew I was making a mistake getting into a Cubs blog. 100 years of futility would scramble the greatest of minds.

Kosuke, you go boy!

But I'm outta here.

Anthony sez: "Mark, It's a no wonder you're on wifey number three!"

I gotta tell ya ... I've had just about all the "happiness" I can stand.

He's the best player the Cubs have...hopefully Fuku's baseball IQ will rub off.....'I'm a Fuker, he's a Fuker, she's a Fuker, they're all fukers.....wouldn't ya like to be a Fuker too?...Be a Fuker...Drink Fuker Kool Ade

Tim sez: "you don't disown offspring for their opinions"

If I had any children stricken with whatever illness it is that afflicts Cubs fans, I'd first take them to a psychiatrist, and then disown them.

Good find Culz, J Rossi with the DUMB racist joke.

Does anyone dare say it? It is starting to feel, it really somehow feels like a much-different kind of year for the Cubs, as in, "Could this be the year?", and maybe all the positives Fukudome brings, are helping to over-power and blot out the perennial ghosts of doubt that have lingered in the background in past Cubs seasons like silent and invisible maligning vibrations sitting in the grandstands somewhere, and having lent themselves to in many seasons past to mugging the Cubs' collective fate or one way or another. to keep them short of the ultimate goal.
Maybe like Pete Rose's introduction and transplantation to the perennial also-rans Phillies in 1979, and his power of positive thinking stood down the ghosts of past inabilities to get over the top.

I am impressed with the fact that he politely puts up with the idiot Cub fans display of ignorance of Eastern culture by wearing Coolie hats (which have nothing to do with Japan) bowing like Buggs Bunny cartoon characters or dressing like Ralph Machio in The Karate Kid.

Why don't you just do the whole slant eye Charlie Chan thing with your fingers and say Ah-so! Ah-so! (Actually something that sounds very much like “ah-so” comes to mind)

Roman responds: My first laugh of the day, thank you.