Out with the French, In with the Japanese

As you hopefully know by now, the Cubs have signed Japanese slugger Kosuke Fukudome, “Big” Jim Henry’s first off season prize, and the lefty outfield bat he was reportedly jonesing for. I use the term “jonesing” not just because I’m a fan of 1960’s slang, but also because ‘round Cubscast parts, you can’t mention Fukudome without departed ex-Cub lefty outfielder Jacque Jones’ name coming up in conversation. The primary offender is, of course, Lou, Cubscast president and all around Jacque Jones fan, two things that, even independently of one another, perhaps only one man in the world can claim to be.

I’m not saying Jones doesn’t have his fans… Wait, actually that’s exactly what I’m saying. Let me try again. I’m not saying everyone hates Jacque Jones, but at times it certainly felt that way, didn’t it? And as someone not as smitten with Mr. Jones as el presidente Lou, I’m not ashamed to admit that at times I wanted to see Jones go, another move that “Big” Jim Hendry made possible this off season. But (and here is the point that I’d like to make today) did you ever notice how most Cub fans didn’t like or think much of Jones from the start? In stark contrast to today’s excitement over a guy most of us have never even seen swing a bat on television, the Jacque Jones signing was met with at best ambivalence and at worst flat out anger, and I think that skewed our impressions of Jones throughout his time on the Windy City.

Moving back to the present, the Cubs have just signed a Japanese baseball star who was the 2006 Central League MVP, batting .351 with 31 dingers and 104 RBIs. His ’07 season was cut short by season ending elbow surgery, which of course makes him a natural fit for the Cubs. The Dome, as I will call him in public (in private it’s hard to call him anything sans expletive) has a career OBP just under .400. He may not hit as many HRs as we’d like (then again, who on the Cubs has recently?) but he should be a pretty solid addition to the team and the key building block “Big” Jim Hendry needed to make his off season a success.

How will The Dome’s Japanese numbers translate in his first MLB season? I have no idea. But for arguments sake, let’s say he puts up a .285 avg. with 27 HRs and 81 driven in. Would you be happy with that? Well that’s what Jones put up in his first season with the Cubs. Whether those numbers are worth what Fukudome will be paid (and granted, I failed to mention Jones’s ’06 OBP of .334, which I think The Dome will best) I can guarantee that Cub fans, myself included, will greet Fukudome with cheers throughout the ’08 season, the likes of which J.J. never received. And even if he’s a flop and the cheers do turn to boos, at least it’ll be harder to tell. Are fans cursing the Japanese lefty, or simply calling out his name?

All kidding aside, good luck Mr. Fukudome (or is it Mr. Kosuke?) and welcome to the Cubs! I for one love you already. As for Mr. Jones, best of luck in D town…I know one podcasting president who will be cheering you for sure.