Chicago Cubs to decide Kyuji Fujikawa’s role in MLB ’13
Chicago Cubs were confronted with multiple challenges when they began the season this year. An essentially different and new coaching lineup, different management setup, the change seemed to have finally descended.
If Dale Sveum had replaced Mike Quade – the former Cubs manager, Theo Epstein had come as the president of baseball operations and Jed Hoyer as the general manager. But as the regular season progressed and came to close, the Cubs had lost over 100 games.
That was probably not the kind of season they had anticipated. However, the changes after the trade of the players during the season had already made it manifestly clear that the Cubs were now in rebuilding phase.
Beyond dispute is that analysis now. The Cubs then had to make another overhaul. They needed some pitchers for the rotation. They came in the form of Scott Feldman and Scott Baker. Their rotation is complete now.
What they are looking now at is bullpen. They have already started addressing it. The arrival of Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa is a step to that direction. The two-year, $9.5 million contract, which also includes a signing bonus of $1 million and $4 million
in salaries in 2013 and '14, has been welcomed.
The Japanese pitcher had 220 saves in the 12 seasons that he played with Hanshin Tigers. Thus essentially having a closer’s role, he can be part of the Cubs’ strategy to pitch as a closer.
But standing there is Carlos Marmol who has had 20 saves in 23 chances. In Fujikawa, he has got a competitor. The Cubs will now have to see if they should be using Fujikawa as the closer or the setup man. It all depends on the success.
General manger Jed Hoyer is all praise for him.
"The biggest thing was his ability to pitch with his fastball," Hoyer said. "He's not a guy who tricks you, he comes right after guys. ... Guys who rely too much on trickery can be guys who the league figures out quickly. Our hope is that, because he pitches
with his fastball, he can pitch to a game plan and establish himself and have a nice run."
Fujikawa is also excited: "Koshien Stadium is known to be the start of baseball in Japan. So that was one of the deciding factors for me to sign with the Chicago Cubs."
Thus it remains to be seen what the Cubs find best in this regard with the kind of performance the two closers have shown in their respective teams.
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