Fukudome Fever To Descend On Wrigley?

There has been talk about the new Japanese free agent Kosuke Fukudome joining the major league ranks, with the Cubs in particular showing much interest. Sports Illustrated's John Donovan wrote a piece on the slugger's credentials and his transfer and performance potential should he cross the Pacific.

In all aspects according to SI.com, Fukudome's career statistics in Japan are highly impressive. He had a hitting percentage better than .340 twice, has led the Central League in hitting on a couple of occasions, and a career on-base percentage of .400. To top it off, his career slugging percentage is better than .500.

Patience at the plate is also a virtue that major league teams treasure and Fukudome squeezes walks out of pitchers like water from a sponge. 93 walks in 142 games in 2005, 76 walks from 130 games in 2006.

However, those are still in a relatively less taxing league compared to the MLB, and with some health issues in 2007, there will be a few question marks over his ability to acclimatise on a bigger stage.

Still, Japanese players have shown a marked trend of performing better as a hitter and outfielder, than a pitcher. There have been much better showcases in recent years with Boston benefiting most (Matsuzaka and Okajima come to mind), but it is the Yankees's Matsui and Seattle's Ichiro whom you hear of more often. Even Kaz Matsui of the Rockies garnered some attention this year. So there is more than a fair chance that Fukudome Fever might descend on the MLB, with the Cubs enjoying a possible rise in temperatures if they pull off a coup with Kosuke.