Fukudome Slump Busted

You wouldn't want to invest tens of millions of dollars on something that would eventually break down, would you? Neither would the Cubs. But that's the situation between Cubs and their slumping Japanese baseball star Kosuke Fukudome. Or, at least it was the situation. The slump that was problematic was decisively broken during last Sunday's series wrap-up game between the Cubs and the Nationals when Fukudome pinch-hit homered in the seventh inning. What helped the ailing Fukudome? Lou Piniella's all-knowing expertise. "We shortened his stride," Piniella stated. Taking Fukudome through some pregame batting practices, Piniella and his batting coaches worked with Fukudome in shortening his stride so his hands set quicker and his swing is shorter. Whatever they told him, it worked...at least once. The true test is to see if this slump-buster was real, or simply a false hope. We may find out tonight, when Ted Lilly takes the mound against Jeff Karstens and the Pirates.