Cubs to sign OF Gathright

[ColoradoCub]

<!--quoteo(post=5269:date=Dec 16 2008, 05:57 PM:name=sleepyhead)-->QUOTE (sleepyhead @ Dec 16 2008, 05:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I can't believe people are talking about DFA'ing Fuk. I know someone pointed it out already, but this isn't football. We'd be on the hook.

I have to ask, am I the only one that holds out hope for Fuk? He started off last season good enough that I can't believe he's total crap. New year, platoon situation, it could be just what he needs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

He started off well enough because nobody had really seen him play. Once the book was out on him, it was pretty much over. Pitchers adjusted to him, and he was completely unable to adjust to the pitching. There was nothing more maddening to me last season than watching him swing and miss to a breaking pitch or slider on the outside corner of the plate while doing that retarded pirouette. If I never see him do that again wearing a Cubs uniform, I wouldn't be disappointed.

[jeffy]

<!--quoteo(post=5269:date=Dec 16 2008, 07:57 PM:name=sleepyhead)-->QUOTE (sleepyhead @ Dec 16 2008, 07:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I have to ask, am I the only one that holds out hope for Fuk? He started off last season good enough that I can't believe he's total crap. New year, platoon situation, it could be just what he needs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'm not sure what the future holds for Fukudome. I'd like to think he can settle in and excel in MLB. As ColoradoCub said, a lot of his success early last season can be attributed to the fact that other teams didn't really know how to pitch to him at first. Once they figured him out and started zeroing in on his weaknesses, he struggled to even draw a walk.

Coming to a new country and a new league has it's challenges, plus he didn't play as much in 07 because of his elbow injury, so hopefully he'll get beyond all that and spring back to his former glory. Only time will tell.

[Lance]

<!--quoteo(post=5274:date=Dec 16 2008, 08:06 PM:name=ColoradoCub)-->QUOTE (ColoradoCub @ Dec 16 2008, 08:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5269:date=Dec 16 2008, 05:57 PM:name=sleepyhead)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (sleepyhead @ Dec 16 2008, 05:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I can't believe people are talking about DFA'ing Fuk. I know someone pointed it out already, but this isn't football. We'd be on the hook.

I have to ask, am I the only one that holds out hope for Fuk? He started off last season good enough that I can't believe he's total crap. New year, platoon situation, it could be just what he needs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

He started off well enough because nobody had really seen him play. Once the book was out on him, it was pretty much over. Pitchers adjusted to him, and he was completely unable to adjust to the pitching. There was nothing more maddening to me last season than watching him swing and miss to a breaking pitch or slider on the outside corner of the plate while doing that retarded pirouette. If I never see him do that again wearing a Cubs uniform, I wouldn't be disappointed.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Sadly, I think you are right on the money. If he has a bad 2 months of next season, it's time to bite the bullet and let him go.

[Giff]

There's way more signs that point to Fuk being a good baseball player than a bad one.

[Ace]

Even if Fuk is only facing righties, all it takes is a mediocre changeup away, and he's fuk'd.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=5279:date=Dec 16 2008, 07:16 PM:name=Giff)-->QUOTE (Giff @ Dec 16 2008, 07:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There's way more signs that point to Fuk being a good baseball player than a bad one.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree.

[sleepyhead]

<!--quoteo(post=5279:date=Dec 16 2008, 07:16 PM:name=Giff)-->QUOTE (Giff @ Dec 16 2008, 07:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There's way more signs that point to Fuk being a good baseball player than a bad one.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That's all I'm saying.

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=5279:date=Dec 16 2008, 08:16 PM:name=Giff)-->QUOTE (Giff @ Dec 16 2008, 08:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There's way more signs that point to Fuk being a good baseball player than a bad one.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'd love to know what some of them were after MAY.

[Lance]

<!--quoteo(post=5288:date=Dec 16 2008, 08:29 PM:name=sleepyhead)-->QUOTE (sleepyhead @ Dec 16 2008, 08:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5279:date=Dec 16 2008, 07:16 PM:name=Giff)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Giff @ Dec 16 2008, 07:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There's way more signs that point to Fuk being a good baseball player than a bad one.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That's all I'm saying.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I think we'll find the truth fairly quickly. His defense did not suffer despite his offensive collapse. Still, if he doesn't hit early next year, he's toast.

[Giff]

<!--quoteo(post=5292:date=Dec 16 2008, 07:32 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 16 2008, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5279:date=Dec 16 2008, 08:16 PM:name=Giff)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Giff @ Dec 16 2008, 08:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There's way more signs that point to Fuk being a good baseball player than a bad one.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'd love to know what some of them were after MAY.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
After May, there were pretty much none (as a hitter, anyway). But that doesn't erase the entire rest of his career. And a guy doesn't do what he did over the course of 9 years without being a good hitter. Sure, it's possible he just all of a sudden lost it, but that isn't very likely at all.

[Clapp]

I think maybe his biggest problem was his lack of confidence and forgetting what he was good at earlier in the year. He had a couple big weakneses exposed(fastball inside, offspeed away), but his plate approach changed and he just got all sorts out of whack. The Fuk man can be fixed. I wouldn't bet on it, but it's possible. He's still a superb baserunner and right fielder, and he can be adequate in center.

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=5299:date=Dec 16 2008, 08:38 PM:name=Giff)-->QUOTE (Giff @ Dec 16 2008, 08:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5292:date=Dec 16 2008, 07:32 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 16 2008, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5279:date=Dec 16 2008, 08:16 PM:name=Giff)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Giff @ Dec 16 2008, 08:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There's way more signs that point to Fuk being a good baseball player than a bad one.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'd love to know what some of them were after MAY.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
After May, there were pretty much none (as a hitter, anyway). But that doesn't erase the entire rest of his career. And a guy doesn't do what he did over the course of 9 years without being a good hitter. Sure, it's possible he just all of a sudden lost it, but that isn't very likely at all.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Were his previous numbers in MLB, I'd agree with you. But I never thought his Japan numbers meant much ("Fuk-Flop"), and his season line was pretty much exactly what I expected.

I love his defense, I'll give you that.

[Ace]

Oh, and the other thing I'll give Fuk is that he gave me the highlight of my Cubs year - his pinch hit homer at SOITOW was fucking AWESOME.

[Giff]

<!--quoteo(post=5304:date=Dec 16 2008, 07:41 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 16 2008, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5299:date=Dec 16 2008, 08:38 PM:name=Giff)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Giff @ Dec 16 2008, 08:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5292:date=Dec 16 2008, 07:32 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 16 2008, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=5279:date=Dec 16 2008, 08:16 PM:name=Giff)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Giff @ Dec 16 2008, 08:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->There's way more signs that point to Fuk being a good baseball player than a bad one.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'd love to know what some of them were after MAY.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
After May, there were pretty much none (as a hitter, anyway). But that doesn't erase the entire rest of his career. And a guy doesn't do what he did over the course of 9 years without being a good hitter. Sure, it's possible he just all of a sudden lost it, but that isn't very likely at all.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Were his previous numbers in MLB, I'd agree with you. But I never thought his Japan numbers meant much ("Fuk-Flop"), and his season line was pretty much exactly what I expected.

I love his defense, I'll give you that.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I understand that. And I surely don't think he'll come close to matching his Japan numbers, because it's clearly an inferior league. But I can tell you Jose Macias or Manny Alexander aren't going put up a .305/.397/.543 clip over 9 seasons in Japan. I don't care what country you're in, it takes talent to be able to do that.

[Lance]

<!--quoteo(post=5305:date=Dec 16 2008, 08:42 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Dec 16 2008, 08:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Oh, and the other thing I'll give Fuk is that he gave me the highlight of my Cubs year - his pinch hit homer at SOITOW was fucking AWESOME.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


You know what? That was personally awesome to me because Logan had begged a Fuk headband out of me outside of the park and kept telling me that he was going to homer. And he did--it was really cool. This is him telling me that he had a good feeling about that at bat:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v608/cub...nt=CIMG8222.jpg