Shocking: Ramirez on pace to double walk total from 2007

19 games into the season, the Cubs are showing an encouraging trend that the Trib is calling the Fukudome Effect, where the Cubs are leading the league in pitches seen per at-bat and also OBP. One of the aspects of the Boston Red Sox's approach last season that was easy to notice during the playoffs was their ability to swing at strikes and to have the discipline to take the pitches out of the zone. Last night was a perfect example of the Cubs having that approach last night. Despite the game being real close, with the score being only 2-1, the Cubs hitters were able to be patient enough to get Mets pitcher John Maine over the 100 pitch mark in only 6 innings of work. The Cubs patience and willingness to take walks, allowed the Mets bullpen to come in early, despite the game being a pitchers duel, and the Cubs took advantage by jumping all over Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez. Last season, the Cubs seemed to struggle against the staff Aces, which became evident in the NLDS last year. One of the keys to winning playoff games or games against great pitchers is to find ways to force him to throw too many pitches, whether it's absolutely laying off balls out of the zone, or finding ways to foul off pitcher's pitchers, those hard to hit pitchers on the black. The Cubs are doing that in the first 19 games and it's important that continues.



The most encouraging sign from the whole "Fukudome Effect" or whatever you want to call it has been the approach by Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez, who was struggling to get hits consistently at the plate to start the season, has a crazy .409 OBP, which is 72 points higher than his career average. The cause? Ramirez's sudden ability to take more walks. Notoriously known as a free swinger, and a great free swinger at that, Ramirez currently has 12 walks in 19 games so far this season. Last season, Ramirez had 43 walks in 132 games. At this pace, if Ramirez were to play 132 games again, Ramirez would end up with 83 walks. You know Ramirez is going to hit well, but he's even more valuable if he can continue to get on via the free pass as well. With Ramirez taking pitches in front of a good, smart hitter like Fukudome, the Cubs could score a lot of runs off of any pitcher this season.