Kosuke Fukudome is flourshing in his first ‘Crosstown Classisc.’ When both theses teams bid for Kosuke in December the Cubs came out on top, just as they have in the first two games of the series. Kosuke if 4-9 in the two games, adding one rbi and one run scored.

In game one, the Cubs won 4-3. They came back in the 7th innings off back to back home runs in the bottom of the inning by Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee. Kerry Wood also picked up his 17th save of the season. In came two the Cubs feel behind early, down 4-1 heading into the bottom of the 4th inning. That wouldn’t last long though, as the Cubs scored 9 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Back to back home runs once again to center stage, twice, as Edmonds and Theriot hit back to back first, followed by Ramirez and Edmonds last on. The Cubbies would go on to win 11-7, Wood also picked up his 18th save. Read the rest of this entry »

Kosuke Fukudome is about to make is first appearance in the Crosstown Classic between the Cubs and White Sox. The Cubs are heading into the series at home after being swept by the Rays and dropping 4 out of 6 on an inter league road trip. Kosuke went 1-4 on Thursday in his second game leading off driving in one run.

Kosuke Fukudome has moved a top the batting order with Alfonso Soriano out for at least six weeks. Fukudome went 1-4 with an RBI double and a drew a walk. The Cubs lost their second straight to the Rays 5-4.

The upcoming series agianst the Los Angeles Dodgers is shaping up to potentially be a good one for Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome has played much better at home this season, and will be facing a fellow native in Hiroki Kuroda, whom he has past success against.

There is not question that the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field have been friendly to Fukudome. At home Kosuke is batting .393 at home, compared to just .207 away. Wrigley Field is also were Fukudome has is only two home runs.

The Cubs will also be facing Hiroki Kuroda the second game of the series. Kuroda is another Japanese star. Fukudome has faced Kurado in the past, as Kurado played for the Hiroshima Carp in the Japan baseball league. Fukudome is a career .330 batter against the righty, with four home runs. This is sure to be an interesting match-up for many reasons, and should definitely get a lot of attention from the Japanese media.

As far as Fukudome’s woes go on the road, it is more of a team trend. The Cubs record at home is 19-8 versus a 10-13 road record.

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.

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.

Kosuke Fukudome is definitely seeing the ball well to start of the season. Through the first two games Fukudome gathered 2 walks, and he added 2 more today. Kosuke Fukudome gotten on base in all but four of his 12 plate appearances.

Today Kosuke Fukudome was 1-2 with a double as well as those two walks. Kosuke also stole second base after being walked once and later scored in the inning.

Fukudome definitely looks to be seeing the ball well, putting behind all questions of a poor spring training. And as for those right field fans, well they have completely fallen in love with their new right fielder. Welcome to the summer of Fukudome Mania!

The Chicago Cubs also won their first game of the season, a 6-3 victory over the Brewers to keep for getting swept. Kerry Wood also recieved his first save of the season, Ryan Dempster his win as a starter in a few years, and Aramis Rameriz hit his first home run.