Chicago Cubs Game One Recap: Time's Up For Fukudome

OK, so maybe I'm being a little harsh.

We're all of nine innings into 2009, and I'm already calling for Kosuke Fukudome to be somewhere other than center field for the Chicago Cubs. Certainly I can't be rational, or am I?

The pressure is obviously on Fukudome, after he saw more pine than a beaver's teeth in September last year and then was benched by his home country in the World Baseball Classic. He barely hit above Tony LaRussa's blood alcohol content last year in August and September, when the Cubs needed him most.

On Monday's Opening Night, Fukudome played center field and batted second for Lou Piniella, who continues to show an unwarranted faith in the imported disappointment. So how did his first chance to earn that faith go?

Nothing.

Fukudome went 0-4 with a strikeout and a double play, leaving a man on base and, despite moving to center because his defense has never been an issue, being replaced defensively by Joey Gathright in the ninth inning.

He was replaced by Joey Gathright... and not in a car-jumping contest on YouTube.

Meanwhile, Reed Johnson patiently sat on the bench knowing that being next to Fukudome makes him the most popular man in the city, taking the place that had been reserved for the Bears' backup quarterback for the past 50 years. Simply by being someone other than Fukudome automatically makes him good in the eyes of many fans, and his hard-nosed play makes him more popular.

Fukudome needs to get off to a good start and he certainly didn't help himself on Opening Day. Not only was he mediocre at the plate, but no more than five pitches after the Cubs' broadcast partnership of Len Kasper and Bob Brenly made a point of him playing too deep did a punch-and-judy single fall in front of him, drawing the ire of Carlos Zambrano.

On Sunday, the Cubs saw no problem with releasing veteran relief pitcher Chad Gaudin because he wasn't performing, costing the Cubs $2 million. With new ownership coming into place soon, and the obvious desire to win in the near future, would it be beyond the Cubs to look into buying out Fukudome if he continues to struggle? Or is Iowa that far outside the realm of possibilities?

Maybe it's a knee-jerk reaction on Opening Day, or maybe I'm warranted in my continued frustration after seeing everything that was wrong with an overpaid disappointment on the day he was supposed to show the world he changed things over the winter come right back into focus.

Either way, Fukudome needs to get his stuff together or he needs to pack his bags. The honeymoon ended in July last year, and the confines won't be so friendly if he doesn't perform this year.