Dome's diary - July 18th edition from ASG

by dragonsfanatic on Jul 19, 2008 5:38 PM CDT

Dome posted his diary on July 18th, written after he joined All Star Game at Yankee Stadium. Here's quick summery of his random thoughts.

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* It was great experience to attend ASG. Fans there were creating something special atmosphere, and felt I was overwhelmed being with such great players.

* Visiting Yankee Stadium is another great experience. It is pity that this is final year for this historical ballpark, b ut it was simply great honer to play there. It was so much fun, and thank you fans again for your votes.

* The result was no good, but looking forward to my first hit at ASG in near future.

* The game was too long. The longest ever? No tie game as we have to decide home field advantage for World Series... we definitely wanted to win.

* It was great honer to join "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks in the parade. I wanted to talk more with him, but my poor English did not help well... but he kindly hold my son baby Hayato, we all were so pleased.

* Walking on red carped with my family was another unusual experience for all of us, but it was very good that all of us could enjoy ASG. It was just a kind of different world for me, will be an unforgettable memory.

* The 2nd half of regular season will be starting very soon. The 1st half... it was good in terms of the fact Cubs are winning. Personal results are kind of complete nonsense to me. I can give scores of 80-85 out of 100 for Cubs, but only 5 out of 100 to myself.

* For the 2nd half, we all should work together without any bad injuries, and should play our own baseball as usual. I have to maintain my physical condition closer to 100%. We need your support to winning this season.

* Final thoughts on Hideo Nomo, the pioneer of (recent) Japanese Major Leaguer, who recently announced his retirement. We definitely could not play in MLB without his trailblazing effort. Hope he can have some good time off now.

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Photos on this edition includes the Ernie Banks statue at Wrigley.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Very nice

I dont think people realize how good Hideo Nomo was at times, no hitters in both leagues, including the only ever at Coors Field, which should really count as 2 no hitters, NL Rookie of the Year.

I enjoyed watching him pitch and its nice to see his countrymen salute his efforts.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jul 19, 2008 5:45 PM CDT 0 recs

Nomomania

I was Nomomania at that time…. watched both No-No live on TV. Sorry he’d got cut by Cubs…
Here’s link for Nomo’s YouTube footage.

I'm bleeding Dragons Blue.

by dragonsfanatic on Jul 19, 2008 6:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

That was one of Ed Lynch's worst decisions.

Nomo, who had made three starts at Iowa after the Cubs signed him in 1999, was clearly ready. Lynch wanted him to make one more, Nomo didn’t want to and by the terms of the deal he had signed, could and did elect to become a free agent.

He signed with the Brewers and won 78 major league games after the Cubs let him go, including two 16-win seasons with the Dodgers. That ‘99 Cub team could have used him—they were horrible.

Nomo got his revenge, too, on June 16, 1999 at County Stadium in Milwaukee, throwing 7 innings of 4-hit ball against the Cubs.

Anyone who complains about Jim Hendry as GM should review Ed Lynch’s tenure. He was one of the worst GM’s in club history. Among other things, he was responsible for the Jon Garland for Matt Karchner deal.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 20, 2008 4:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

The game

I clearly remember that 4-hit gem by Nomo in Milwaukee. He was definitely on fire against Cubs, but didn’t show his emotions on post-game interview, always speaking softly on any media.
I could not remember the reason why Cubs did not promote him to majors, can’t imagine that was it…

Dome, Ichiro or Matsui are the superstars, but Nomo is not just a superstar but considered as a great man as well. He wanted to contribute the future of baseball in Japan and established a half-pro club team called Nomo Baseball Club in 2003, to grow and send players to NPB, as many of companies discontinued their club team by recent recessions. Shigeo Yanagida is one of them from the team, now a Dragon.

I'm bleeding Dragons Blue.

by dragonsfanatic on Jul 20, 2008 6:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

Doesn't Lynch..

..still collect a Cub paycheck as a west coast scout? Just curious…

I had forgotten all about that Nomo debacle, ugh.

"When I got to Chicago, fans came to Wrigley Field just to have fun, now they come to see us win. The expectations have changed, for the players and for the fans. It’s about winning." Kerry Wood, 7/14/08

by JB 23 on Jul 21, 2008 9:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

Lynch...

... is on this list of Cub front office personnel as a “special assistant to the GM”. Lord knows what that means in terms of duties.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 21, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

Coffee?

Lots of creme and lots of sugar

"I tell you, Steve Blass, you pitch me inside, they never, never find that ball."
-Roberto Clemente

by cubbybear on Jul 21, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

I was at one of those games in Des Moines...

...what an awesome delivery he had. It was great to have all that Japanese media here in Des Moines while it lasted.

Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.

by IowaCubs- on Jul 21, 2008 3:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

And signing

Todd Hundley, right? Or was that Mc Fail?

by The E-Man on Jul 22, 2008 12:00 AM CDT up 0 recs

That was MacPhail...

... after the 2000 season. Lynch had been dumped by then.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jul 22, 2008 4:14 AM CDT up 0 recs

Good to know,

that he is not satisfied with his personal stats. I love that about him. Hope to see him improve soon.

My new life, my new world, and my beautiful daughter:
Tamia London Davis: Due date (8-11-08)!

by Unique on Jul 19, 2008 5:53 PM CDT 0 recs

The guy is a class act all the way.

He seems to have his head on straighter than almost anyone in major league sports, from everything I’m hearing about him.

The Cubs are very, very lucky to have this guy. He will get his hitting sorted out. His D is already top-notch, and he seems genuinely levelheaded and driven more by the Cubs winning than his numbers.

“We not me” as in the Kevin Garnett commercial. And as in the conference keynote I caught this week from an MIT Media Lab prof. Very different settings and contexts, and a great message in both.

Carry on, Dome-san…

by MN exile on Jul 19, 2008 6:01 PM CDT 1 recs

wander

how close to 100% he is??

Dear SBnation, We need our own server here at BCB seeing how its became very slow due to enormous amounts of traffic. P.S. Impeach Bud Selig!!!

by cubsluver22 on Jul 19, 2008 6:13 PM CDT 0 recs

I notice he's been

Wearing the Elbow brace. Am I wrong, but didn’t he take it off early in the season?
His legs seem fine (although he seems jumpy at the plate and maybe a foot thing…i know this is idle speculation, but his less than 100% comment invites.?.)

by patron on Jul 21, 2008 1:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thanks!

Always nice to hear straight from Dome. My Fukudome All-Star BP jersey arrived today, and I intend to sport it proudly.

by 08Cubs on Jul 19, 2008 9:36 PM CDT 0 recs

I got a little misty...

...reading about Ernie Banks holding Dome’s baby son. That’s a heartwarming image right there.

And I saw some signs of renewed life in Kosuke during this Houston series (and the umps didn’t exactly help his cause, might I add). I have not lost faith in him.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 20, 2008 8:26 PM CDT 0 recs