Kosuke Fukudome: What's Japanese for Overrated?

Before all you Cubs’ fans start sending mean comments, let me get my point through. Kosuke Fukudome is a very solid athlete, but he should not be starting in the outfield for the National League in this year's All-Star Game.

Aaron Rowand is have a better year that Fukudome. Rowand has the fourth-highest batting average in the majors. He also has the highest road batting-average, somewhere around .400. He's also a solid outfielder.

Let’s look at Fukudome’s stats compared to Rowand's, as of June 13, 2008.

                   AVG.   HR  SLG%   R.B.I.   OPS     2B

Fukudome: .296       5    .435      28      .839     13

Rowand:    .320       8     .507      38     .892      18

The only areas that Fukudome is better in is stolen bases and fewer strikeouts. Oh, and Fukudome has one less error than Rowand (2-1).

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