After a Hot Start For The Cubs, Fukudome Seems To Be Cooling Down

During the offseason, when the Chicago Cubs first acquired Fukudome, the North side of Chicago could smell the faint scent of the World Series coming to Wrigley Field. After playing 9 seasons with Chunichi Dragons, Fukudome accumulated a batting average of .305, with 647 RBIs and 192 home runs. With all the hype Fukudome brought to Chicago, he portrayed the image of a North Side messiah.  In his MLB debut he went 3-3 with a three-run homer. Things were certainly looking up for the Cubs and their newly acquired prospect. But would all the hype and early success hold true through the season?

After a hot start for the Cubs, Fukudome's numbers began to predominately fall after the All Star break. After starting with a batting average of .305 in April, his average plummeted to .236 in July, while batting only .153 in the entire month of August. It is obvious that the National League pitchers have started to make adjustments to his unique swing style and if Fukudome doesn't make adjustments of his own he will inevitably lose his spot in the starting line up. 

With the strength and flexibility of his bench, Manager Lou Piniella has many viable options if he decides to bench Fukudome. Veteran Mark Derosa, who is having the best season of his career batting .281 with 20 homers and 83 RBIs, can shift from second base to play right field. With Derosa playing right field, Mike Fontenot could be added to the line up to play second base, who's batting .294 with 37 RBI's with only 218 plate appearances. Reed Johnson is batting .299 for the season with 6 homers and 46 RBI's, can easily be added to the line up to directly substitute Fukudome in right field. 

Fukudome hasn't started since September 10, and the Cubs have won all 5 of those games. Although, Fukudome has came in as a defensive replacement late in the game raises the question, did the Cubs pay $48 million for a defensive replacement? Although, with the Cubs' magic number now at 4 it's hard to complain but what will be interesting to see is how the post-season line ups will look and how Fukudome and the Cubs will respond with the possible changes.