With the first month of the Major League Baseball season on the verge of being over, the Chicago Cubs sit atop the standings in the National League Central Division at 16 and 10. The Cubs have put up runs in bunches through out the month. And a key contributor to the run production has been the rookie from Japan, Kosuke Fukudome.

In the first week of the season, Kosuke Fukudome won over the fans of Chicago. After struggling through a tough first spring training, Fukudome charged out of the gates. In his Major League debut, Kosuke Fukudome reached base over and over, as other Cubs struggled to get a hit. And in the bottom of the ninth, Kosuke Fukudome delivered his first Major League home run, one that will not be forgot. With the Cubs trailing by 3, Fukudome tied the game with his blast, and received his first curtain call from the Cubbie faithful.

Kosuke Fukudome did not stop there. During the two weeks Kosuke was continually in contention for the Major League lead in batting average. Fukudome reached base over and over again, being very patient, and taking what pitchers would give him.

Over the next couple series, pitchers would begin to figure out the Japanese import, as Kosuke Fukudome went on a little drought and struggled to get on base. But it wasn’t long before Cubs fans saw Fukudome doing what they knew he would do best, hit and reach base safely.

During the first month Kosuke Fukudome appeared to be worth every cent of the $48 million the Chicago Cubs signed him to. Fukudome is batting .319, with an on base percentage of .434. As Kosuke Fukudome continues to perform well, and the Chicago Cubs continue to win, this is going to be a summer to remember for Cubs nation.

Kosuke Fukudome broke out of a little slump earlier tonight. Fukudome had his first two runs batted in in the last seven games and his first double in nine games. Now, Kosuke Fukudome was not in any major slump and not getting any hits, Fukudome was just not what he was the first week and a half of the season

Tonight, Kosuke Fukudome gathered two hits in three at bats, drove in two runs, scored twice, and walked twice. Kosuke was not the only Chicago Cub who had a great day, as the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-3.

Kosuke Fukudome had stuggled over the weekend against the Phillies, gathering only one hit. Fukudome moved up to the number two hole on Friday, where he went hitless, and was given the day off Saturday. On Saturday Fukudome did pinch hit though, but was walked. On Sunday he moved back to his number five spot, but went one for four.

Kosuke Fukudome is having a great first month of his major league career no questions asked though. Kosuke is batting .353, and continues to get on base and perform in the clutch. There is not much more a team with a 100 year drought could as for.

We are three series into the Major League Baseball season, and Kosuke Fukudome’s rookie season. We’ve seen a lot from the Japanese import:

• A game tying home run
• Game winning double
• A poor fielding play and base running mistake
• And a lot of hits and walks

So far everything has looked pretty good. And you’ve read what we think, but we want to know what you think. Let us know what you think about Kosuke Fukudome’s play, spot in the batting order, whatever is on your mind!

Kosuke Fukudome and the Chicago Cubs played another exhausting fifteen inning game. The Cubs scraped out a 6-4 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates in their second extra inning game of the series.

Kosuke Fukudome did not has his most effective day, going getting 2 for 7. This was a very long game though for everyone, and the back to back extra inning games may have had an effect on Fukudome and the rest of the Cubs. Fukudome was also caught stealing once in the game, the first time that has happened this year.

Kosuke Fukudome did bat 5th, despite rumors he may be moved up in the order against lefties. There are still a few rumors that Kosuke may move up at some point against lefties, and possibly right handed pitchers, in partial to his high on base percentage and knack for getting on base. Fukudome did not walk at all yesterday, but has continued his streak of getting on base, which he has done in all 8 games.

On a long day for the Chicago Cubs, Kosuke Fukudome is back on track after a tough 0-3 day Sunday.

Kosuke Fukudome went 3-5 and drove in one run. The Cubs pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates early, getting an early 7-0 lead. Only to see it dissapear as the Pirates came back and tied it. The game went into 12 innings before the Cubs won 10-8.

As for Fukudome, he added a two more walks and a stolen base to his numbers for the season. Entering the day, Kosuke Fukduome was tied for 6th in the NL for batting average, but after tonights games, Kosuke should be move up.

Kosuke Fukudome also continues to get one base, higher his on base percentage about .550, which has caused for rumors that Lou Piniella may move Fukudome up to the number two spot Wednesday night against lefty Zach Duke. The Cubs also faced a lefty today though and he still batted 5th and performed well. Kosuke Fukudome was second amond all NL batters for on base percentage, trailing Albert Pujols who had a .560 OBP compared to Fukudome’s .542.

After one week of Major League Baseball, Kosuke Fukudome has shown he is worth every penny of the $48 million, four year contract he signed with the Chicago Cubs in early December.

Kosuke Fukudome has delivered an opening day game tying home run in the bottom of the ninth, and a game winning double two days later, also the Cubs first win of the season. Kosuke has gotten on base in every game thus far, and is the most patient hitter for the Cubs in years. Fukudome is batting over .400 and has an on base percentage over .500.

kosuke Fukudome is recieveing love from Cubs fans everywhere. Fans have chanted the name ‘Fukudome’ in unison on several occasions during the first week, and seen their new right fielder deliever as well. Fans have also showed their love threw bows and signs, although some signs have been lost in translation.

So although we may only be through one week, and the Cubs are only 3-3, things are looking bright on the North Side. Kosuke Fukudome may be the Cubs savior. Welcome to Fukudome Mania!

Kosuke Fukudome’s first week of baseball did not end as well as it started. All in all it was a great week though. Fukudome ended the week going 0-3 against the Astros in a game the Chicago Cubs won 3-2.

Kosuke Fukudome came up in a few key situations but feel short, striking out twice. One strike out it appeared that Kosuke did not agree with the call. The next pitch he swung at and appeared to ask the up if that pitch was a strike too. Although going hitless on the day, Kosuke Fukudome did walk on time. With this walk, Fukudome has gotten on base in all six games to start of his Major League Career.

Phil Velasquez

Kosuke Fukudome’s played comeback kid once again. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Kosuke came up to bat with two on and the Cubs trailing the Astros. The chants of ‘Fukudome’ from the Cubs faithful shook the Wrigley Field bricks once again. Once again, Fukudome delivered the go ahead run. A two run double to left field put the Cubs ahead on their way to the second win of the season.

On the day Kosuke Fukudome was 2-4, scored two runs and provided the two go ahead RBIs. The rest of the Cubs bats came alive as well. The Cubs won 9-7, and the team combined for 14 hits. Derrek Lee went 4-4 with his first home run of the season, Kerry Wood recorded his second save of the season and Reed Johnson made his first Cubs start.

Kosuke Fukudome continues to show no signs of slowing down. Fukudome gathered two hits in four at bats today, scoring one run.

Spring training was tough for Kosuke Fukudome, hitting below .225 for the spring, but Kosuke is showing spring means nothing. In four games thus far he has six hits in twelve at bats and continues to see the ball well. Fukudome is proving once again that Japanese players especially should not be judge by their first spring training, as Ichiro and Akinori Iwamura each struggled in their first spring trainings and went on to have great first seasons

As for the Chicago Cubs as a whole, game four was nothing special. The bats were quiet for the first six innings before making a come back that fell short in the bottom of the ninth. The Cubs dropped the first game of a three game series to the Astros 4-3. Alfonso Soriano made an error in left that cause the Cubs a couple runs and later played a little second base, Rich Hill started good before losing his control, and Jon Lieber made his first appearance as a Cubs since 2002.

Phil Valesquez

Kosuke Fukudome started out his first MLB season with a roar. On opening day the Japanese import went 3-3, with a game tying home run in the bottom of the 9th inning. In game two the Milwaukee Brewers got to him a little, and he went 0-3 despite one walk. And in game three Fukudome showed his patience. Kosuke went 1-2 with a double, steal and two walks, while scoring twice. Fukudome finished the series 4-8 with four base on balls and three extra base hits. The walks are what Lou Piniella likes, as Fukudome has been the most patient Cubs batter in awhile:

“He’s very patient,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “He works the count very well. He’s just a professional hitter. He probably takes more pitches than anybody else on the team. He’s in a three-ball count a heck of a lot.”

Kosuke Fukudome has also won over the Chicago Cubs fans, and ended the complaints and questions of spring training.

Kosuke has left the name of a former Cubs right fielder in the past (Sammy Sosa), and given the bleacher bums of right field someone else to bow to. Although the translation of signs from English to Japanese have been “lost in translation.” Cubs.com reported that fans held up signs which read “Its going to happen” in Japanese, but there is no real translation for the phrase in Japanese and Kosuke’s translator said the signs said “Its an accident” instead. Kosuke Fukudome’s translator suggested signs say, “kotoshi koso,” which means: “They will win this year.” This was also noticed by the many Japanese reporters at Wrigley Field, something not seen their before.

Fans have also waved Japanese flags, and on Thursday, eight young men sat shirtless in the 43 degree weather with “Fukudome” painted on their chests.

The chants of “Fukudome” have already been heard in several at bats, and a curtain call has already taken place for Kosuke. This looks to be a fun summer for Kosuke Fukudome and the Chicago Cubs and their fans.