Fukudome tops Cubs' list of problem areas

Rick Morrissey | In the wake of the news Kosuke Fukudome doesn't need a translator to know that his batting average has dropped like an anvil. And Cubs manager Lou Piniella doesn't need a translator to tell Fukudome he had better start hitting again soon. But just in case, what's the Japanese equivalent of "or else"? I don't want to say that Piniella has been itching to send a message to his right fielder through the media, but the first question put to him before Sunday's game could have been, "Lou, can you comment on your carbon footprint?" and he would have complained about Fukudome's hitting. "We need him to start hitting," he said. "If not, I'm going to have to start looking for other options." It seems like yesterday that Fukudome was hitting .326 and launching 1,000 T-shirt ideas. It was, in fact, the end of April, and... [read full story]