Is Fukudome a good baseball player?

by radiohix on Oct 23, 2009 5:16 PM EDT Comment 28 comments

First of all let me put this straight: I'm just exploring the Red Sox other options if they don't succeed to resign Bay or land Holiday, a plan B if you will.

This plan B has to be Financially sound AND compensate the loss of power that the departure of Jay Bay will generate by a tighter defense and a similar OBP.

I tried to look at Fukudome at the 3 aspects of the game: Hitting, fielding and running. So let's try to break this baby down:

Hitting:

Let's give a look at Kosuke's (I love those Nippon names) line versus RHP: .270/.387/.828 with a sexy .91 BB/K ratio!

But considering that 2 seasons is a relatively small sample size, let's forget about the results (the avg/OBP/OPS) and focus on the process: plate discipline/batted balls/Isolated power.

When you look deeper into those numbers, you'll be impressed by his plate discipline: He swings at 17.8% at pitches out of the zone, that's almost JD Drew-like plate discipline (15.3% O-Swing%). And how 'bout them batted balls? Again, the numbers are impressive: 24% LD (4th in MLB) 46.2% GB and 30% FB.

The power is nothing to write home about (I love those expressions you have in English) but decent at .142 ISO.

So to recapitulate: You have a hitter who ks as much as he walks (excellent Plate discipline), hits a lot line drives and has a decent power. that's a good to very good hitter.

Base running:

Fangraph's speed score (a 4 component metric) gives Fukodome an above avg Spd at 4.5 almost the same score averaged by JD Drew (a good base runner) during his 3 years as a Red Sock.

Fielding:

DD mentioned that Fukodome was worth 4.2 WAR in his 2 seasons, that's not very good but when you look deeper into those numbers you'll find out that: His 2009 2.4 WAR is the result of bad fielding (-2.0 UZR) not his batting: So he's a bad fielder? No, not in the corner OF where he's 18.0 career UZR in 181 games. But this year, due to the Milton bradley signing, he's been confined to CF duties.

So he's a glove upgrade compared to Bay.

I'll end up this with an other post of the honorable Dave Camron about Fukodome San. I hope I added another option worth exploring. Because I think that a Jackson or Kapler/Fukudome platoon in LF is a good (maybe not great) option until the talent in minors flourish or another option (The rays moving Upton or Texas trading Cruz) present it self.

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I think he costs too much.

For a guy who’s not bringing power to the table, even if he does bring OBP, and who we’re only expecting to play 4/5 of a season or so even ignoring injuries, we damn well better not be paying him $13 million.

Also, generally if a player’s peripherals are out of synch with their results over 2 seasons and 1,000 at bats—that being their whole career in the MLB—then there’s a reason for it beyond bad luck.

by USG on Oct 23, 2009 5:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Sox simply cannot go into 2010 platooning LF and expecting to compete with NY

There are plenty of options within platoon situations but the reality is the need grade A solutions here. This is a key position offensively and defensively, I don’t think you can duct tape a viable solution with spare parts and expect to win

by JonnyNYC on Oct 23, 2009 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you can get two guys to produce just as well as Bay does against LHP & RHP

And both play better defense, I’m not sure why it wouldn’t work. Nobody’s saying we should play bad players, just that it may be viable to platoon good ones.

by USG on Oct 23, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The only problem with a platoon

is if one of the players gets hurt. Otherwise, they’re fine.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Oct 24, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with getting a guy like Holliday

Is if he gets hurt. Otherwise, he’s fine.

by USG on Oct 24, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

True

But guys like Kapler, etc., are huge injury risks. Also, it’ll be hard to find two players that equal the production of a Holliday or Bay.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Oct 24, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha. Rec'd.

@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Oct 24, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you should use career stats

i think you think you are, but those numbers are just this year. career against righties he’s .262/.372/.789. still ok but a little more average.

by revived0103 on Oct 24, 2009 4:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And he's way overpaid

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Oct 24, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Waaaaaaaaaaay

by USG on Oct 24, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he must have been amazing in japan

by revived0103 on Oct 24, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still convinced that he's a good player but you guys are right the price tag doesn't make trading for him worth it.

So me:

Submitted by Leiber Bmx

"That was a lot of fun… You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." Jeff Francoeur

by radiohix on Oct 24, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

... Oh... kay, Hix.

@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Oct 24, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

YOU ARE NOW BANNED

by USG on Oct 25, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't be a dictator USG please!

Our president/dictator is expected to be re-elected tomorrow with 92% OF THE VOTES!!! I don’t need another here too =D

"That was a lot of fun… You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." Jeff Francoeur

by radiohix on Oct 25, 2009 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where are you from?

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Oct 25, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tunisia

An Arab country in North Africa.

"That was a lot of fun… You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." Jeff Francoeur

by radiohix on Oct 25, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cool.

Never been to Africa. I saw the continent once. Thats where Hanibal was from, right?

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Oct 25, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hannibal?

From the A-Team?? :P

Goddamn that DeMarlo Hale.

by Bloggy on Oct 25, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes Sir

The great Hanibal Barca (his full name) is from Tunisia, preciously from the north: Carthage.
It’s amazing that he’s still a big hero in the collective mind of the people here.

"That was a lot of fun… You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." Jeff Francoeur

by radiohix on Oct 25, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone who brings elephants through the Alps is okay with me.

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Oct 25, 2009 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

See, we'd come to help y'all...

But we’re having too many issues with our own government at the moment to be effective – see other recent American efforts to remove dictators.
Good luck with that, Hix.

@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Oct 25, 2009 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to turn this into political discussion, but let me say this:

We certainly don’t wish to get the “help” of any other country, we need to deal with our own problems.
He’s not a terrible dictator (See Saddam, those kings in the golf region…)
This is his last mandate (5 years)
During his 22 years, he’s done great things for the economy, the education system, health care without any natural resources (We’re one of the only 3-4 Arab countries that don’t have oil): We’re rated at the top of the continent in terms of individual incomes, life expectancy, education level…
It’s frustrating sometimes to not have political debate or freedom of speech but I think that I’m gonna miss the motherfucker after he’s gone :)

"That was a lot of fun… You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." Jeff Francoeur

by radiohix on Oct 25, 2009 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too bad. All countries want our help!

ACCEPT OUR HELP AS AWESOME HELP OR BE BANNED

by USG on Oct 25, 2009 4:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey USG, did someone hack your account?

Blink twice for “Yes,” three times for “No.”

"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.

by 0157H7 on Oct 25, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah.

Perhaps he’ll see that he doesn’t have to fear his people sometime before he leaves office. In the meantime, I hope he isn’t a MFY fan and decides to block OTM. :)

@bs_uf15bosox9be 12 pieces of bacon, a Red Bull, and go get 'em; Learn to use SB Nation

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Oct 25, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

IF HE BLOCKS OTM I SWEAR TO GOD, I'LL PLAN A COUP D'ETAT AGAINST HIM!!

Not OTM, I need my NG skepticism: IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ME!

"That was a lot of fun… You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer." Jeff Francoeur

by radiohix on Oct 25, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs