The longer this situation with Fukudome goes on, the more convinced I am that he's just not mentally tough enough to come to America. I mean, here's a guy who was going to announce last week, no wait, before this weekend, no, on Monday night, no, maybe today. At this point, his agent is scrambling. A Monday night announcement turned into Fukudome "telling his agent privately," so that his agent can announce it at some point on Tuesday.

Give me a Fukudomin' break.

Perhaps our hero from Japan doesn't have the mental toughness, or the competitor's spirit necessary to make the transition. Perhaps he's hemming and hawing because he doesn't know if he can succeed, or he's afraid he'll get homesick. I don't know. But the point is, the Cubs should be looking to acquire guys who want to be here. They should be looking for guys who want to win. Not guys who hem and haw, nor guys who might enter a depression and start slumping because they regret their choices.

In other words, while I love Fukudome for his name and for his potential to succeed, perhaps it would be more sensible for Jim Hendry to pursue a different player.

UPDATE: For about the umpteenth time, Fukudome has announced he will not be playing in Japan next year and will be coming to America.  Go get him, Jim.  ...I guess.