Sayonara: Why It’s Time To Bench Kosuke Fukudome

Adios. Ciao. Hasta La Vista. Au revoir. Sayonara.  No matter how you say it, someone needs to tell Chicago Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to take a seat.  After receiving massive praise and hype since the day he signed his four year, $48 million contract, Fukudome has been a major disappointment so far this season.  He tried to hook us all in with his dramatic game-tying home run in the bottom of the 9^th on Opening Day.  However, the only drama Fukudome has provided since is his potential reaction when manager Lou Piniella finally decides to sit his right fielder. 

Through August 22^nd, Fukudome was hitting .264 with eight home runs, 47 RBI’s, 69 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases.  His batting average for the month of August dropped to .153 after Friday, a game in which he didn't start.  On the road this season, his average is just .230, and against left-handers he has exactly zero home runs.  Since the All-Star break, Fukudome has hit a minuscule .217 with one home run, while posting a Jacque Jones-like on base percentage of .298.  The only thing keeping Fukudome in the lineup is his defense.  With only two errors, I guess you can consider him a $48 million defensive replacement.

Piniella, well aware of his right fielder’s slump, gave Fukudome an ultimatium to start hitting or he would look to “other options.”  Piniella has done his best to try and help the 31 year old, moving him all over the lineup, even experimenting with him in the lead-off spot.  Fukudome has found himself penciled in at least once this season in every spot in the lineup except third.  "I try to put my lineups together where he can stay in the ballgame and not have to face an abundance of left-hand [relievers]," Piniella said. "When he's hitting seventh or wherever, it's because I'm trying to keep him in the ballgame and get him right-handed pitching." 

The Cubs have one of the deepest teams in the league and would be better off playing hot-hitting Mark DeRosa in right field and inserting fan-favorite Mike Fontenot at second base.  Fontenot always seems to produce, and like Fukudome, bats left.  “Fontenot needs to get some at-bats, [Mark] DeRosa has been hitting. We need Fukudome to start hitting,'' said Piniella.

Another major issue with Fukudome is when he does succeed in making contact the ball barely has any life on it.  His singles are bloopers that either just make it over the infield or sneak right in between the second and first basemen.  Can anyone remember the last time he truly drove the ball to the gap? 

Here’s a few more numbers that should make Cubs fans worry about how much Fukudome could hurt the team in the post season:  With runners in scoring position and two outs, Fukudome is hitting .150 with 15 strikeouts in 60 at-bats.  After an 0-1 count, his average is only .227 with a staggering 54 strikeouts.  Imagine playing the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Division Series this October, down by two runs with two men on base, and Fukudome up.  What do the stats tell us about his average in a key situation like this one?  Try a .151 average with a pathetic 14 hits in 93 chances.  What happened to that clutch hitter from Opening Day?  ''He's not taking as many pitches,'' Piniella said. ''They might be throwing more strikes to him. But the bottom line is results.”

It would be one thing if Fukudome were a team leader, but with him needing a translator everywhere he goes, his impact on the rest of the team is minimal.  And does anyone look worse after a strikeout, with his obnoxious, full circle spin?

Are the Cubs a better team with Fukudome?  Absolutely, just as long as he is on the bench and nowhere near the batter’s box.