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  • July 06, 2008 01:54 PM ET

Kosuke Fukudome does not deserve to be starting on the All Star team.

snora (17-5-1) vs Detroit Steel (41-11-6)
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I don't even know what to say here. .285, 7 HRs, 35 RBI are not all star starting numbers for an outfielder. They just aren't. I know that Cubs fans are very passionate about their club, but selections such as this just make the All Star game absurd. The fact that he is a "rookie" does not make his stats "better" than other players who have been in the league for longer.


Way to be original, I have already seen a TD with this same exact topic start just a few minutes before this one.

.285 average with seven home runs and 35 rruns batted in are pretty good numbers - but he also has some other numbers that helped him make the All-Star Game.

He is leading all NL center fielders (he's a right fielder but playing center) in base on balls with 53 which has helped him become the leader in OBP. Fukodome also has the second highest average, sixth in runs batted in, third in runs, all with a pretty high OPS.

Sure, Fukodome's stats aren't amazing but who else is there? Not a great year for center fielders which is why Fukodome is playing center.

The only other center fielders somewhat deserving are Aaron Rowand and Nate McClouth. Rowand has a .303 average but not much else, less runs, OBP, stolen bases and a few others than Fukodome. McClouth has power but his low average isn't pretty.

Fukodome is the man, it has been a slow year for other center fielders.

Did I mention that Fukodome is a great fielder as well?


First of all, I didn't see the other TD, so calm down. This has nothing to do with "center" or "right" fielders. Outfield votes are outfield votes for the all star game. Moreover, Fukudome is pretty bad when he has to play center. He has been forced to do so a couple of times and has misplayed a lot of balls.

Let's take a look at players who are clearly doing better.

Matt Holiday - .342 average, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 10 SB, 37 BB
Nate McClouth - .278 average, 15 HR, 53 RBI
Carlos Lee - .293 average, 19 HR, 66 RBI
Ryan Ludwick - .291 average, 16 HR, 57 RBI

Fukudome is starting in the all star game because of passionate Cubs fans - not because of his stats. He does not deserve to be in the starting outfield based on his stats. Anyone of the aforementioned guys has clearly outperformed him to this point in the year, yet none get the distinction he does.


ONe thing that sets Fukodome apart is his fielding abilities, his run producing and his dedication to his team.

Fukodome is a much better fielder and Holliday and he scores more runs than him. But do you want to know why Holliday didn't make the All-Star game as a starter?

You hardly ever see players on bad teams i an All-Star Game and Holliday isn't an exception. You may see players on bad teams that are reserves, but not many that are starters.

McClouth is on a very bad team as well and his average is shy of good. Again, I don't see McLouth being an All-Star on a bad team like the Pirates - plus, Xavier Nady would get in over him but Fukodome's stats are better than Nady's as well.

Same problem with Carlos Lee. Plus, Fukodome has more runs, triples, OBP, stolen bases and better fielding than Lee.

The only catagories Ludwick leads Fukodome in are home runs, average, runs batted in and doubles. Fukodome leads in stolen bases, hits, runs, base on balls, less strikeouts, OBP and fileding percentage.

Fukodome is better than any player you mentioned, he deserves to be in.


The problem I have with your argument is that you are treating the All Star Game like a mini MVP award. That's not what its about. Fukudome's value to the Cubs in specific (whatever it may be) has nothing to do with the selection. The All Star Game is about selecting the best individual players at any given position to formulate an All Star Roster. Whether or not their team has a great record (the Cubs) or a poor one (Astros) doesn't have anything to do with it. By your logic, since the Astros are doing poorly, should Lance Berkman NOT be starting on the all star team? I think not. Should Derrek Lee start because he bats 3rd in the Cubs lineup and they are doing well? Of course not. All Star voting is not tied to team performance in the sense that the MVP award is.

What it comes down to for the starting outfield is selecting the 3 BEST outfielders in the National League. To say Kosuke Fukudome is one of the 3 best outfielders in the National League is a blatant lie. There is no way Fukudome is better than all of the players I mentioned, but you will obviously always find a few categories he will lead in. Is he a good outfielder? Yes. But not good enough to merit a start.


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Comments (8) Add A Comment

July 6, 2008  02:32 PM ET
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Vote Right nice argument

July 6, 2008  03:37 PM ET
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The guy on the left has a Sox picture up. Biased opinion maybe????I think so

July 6, 2008  04:04 PM ET
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Doesn't invalidate my point.

July 6, 2008  05:28 PM ET
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"Fukudome is starting in the all star game because of passionate Cubs fans - not because of his stats."

Nah. Passionate Japanese fans.

July 7, 2008  03:10 PM ET
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that's what you get when you let a bunch of lame cubs fans vote thousands of times through the Tribune....which just so happens to own the cubs.

Cubs are pure evil.

July 8, 2008  04:33 PM ET
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I never got a warning to get my last argument in . . .

July 8, 2008  04:42 PM ET
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YOu shouldn't need a warning. You should know to get it in. 24 hours is plenty of time to check.

And Fukodome wouldn't be on the team if his name was Smith. Its as simple as that.

 
July 9, 2008  03:42 PM ET
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285 average with seven home runs and 35 rruns batted in are pretty good numbers



WHAT? uhh no

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