Dome's diary - July 31st
Dome keeps his diary posted on his website once or twice a month, and here's quick summery of what he wrote on July 31st right after he's got 3 basehits, 4 RBI day against Houston.
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- Hello, we are in pretty good shape, both the team and myself after ASG. My hitting streak was just over, but I feel pretty good about my condition since before ASG and it just continues.
- 10-game hitting streak is too good to me :-), as I sometime got no chance one day, and too many basehits one day like today. Today? It's a bit too good, indeed :-)
- Personally, I think the reason why is I got very good refreshing days during the AS break, had a good, relaxed time with my family. I also had fun playing golf with Sasaki-san. My score? Don't ask me about it, I forgot :-).
- Another reason is clearly Sasaki-san, he helped me a lot as part-time hitting coach. I really appreciate him and the team for their great support. Sasaki-san was in Cubs uniform and he looked great and proud, but I felt somewhat odd about it ;-)
- We have some injured players so we are not 100%, but each player is getting better, and this is working. We are now some games above .500 and want to continue this effort. It's a bit early to talk about standings and I don't care about it right now.
- I have no injury part as of now this year, all in good shape. I will make my best effort to contribute my team as much as I can. I need your support.
- Now, I have to pack up and go on the road...
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There is interesting story between Dome and Kyosuke Sasaki. Sasaki was manager of late Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes (this team no longer exist) and he picked up Dome at PL Gakuen HS in 1995 draft in 1st round, out of 7 competing ballclubs and Sasaki won the lottery (we didn't have waiver system in NPB draft at that time - we still don't have it for 1st and 2nd round). Sasaki showed his emotion and shouted as "Yossha!!!" when he drew winning lottery, just like Aki Ohtsuka of Texas Rangers, former Buffalo and Dragon, and "Yossha!" became his nickname.
But Dome didn't want to join Buffaloes, as he was always saying he want to join either Chunichi Dragons or Yomiuri Giants, then he went to non-Pro Nissei baseball club. Dome joined Dragons in 1999 and Sasaki was hired as hitting coach in 2002, so he finally have Dome in his team and that was what he wanted the most. Dome was converted to outfield before 2002 season with some advise of Sasaki and this move helped his hitting a lot. Dome became longer ball hitter with high average, batting champion in 2002, first 30+ homers in 2003.
Sasaki left Dragons after being interim manager for 20 games right after manager Hisashi Yamada (Japan's WBC 2009 pitching coach) was fired in awful 2003 season.
I think these 2 years (2002-2003) for Dome with help by Sasaki were critical and they build up good foundation for his success as a Dragon and a Cub, so this is why he still want Sasaki to check his hitting mechanism, I believe.
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9 recs |
11 comments
Comments
as usual, thanks for translating and posting !
I think I speak for everyone here when I say, "Wait, what the hell are you talking about?"
by Ross on Aug 1, 2009 10:57 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Thanks for posting this!
and the extra info about Dome. :)
Believe or Leave ~Cubswynn 9/9/2008
by slcathena on Aug 1, 2009 11:25 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Thanks once more Dragon!
I love these posts. It’s great to get a better view of Dome not only as a player but as a person.
Let’s hope he continues with the hot hand! :)
by CubsWin!Oregon on Aug 1, 2009 11:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I have enjoyed a lot reading these posts and translations.
I like finding out about the history of Dome before he came here and just as much about his pitching coach. After struggling the last half of ’08, this can only be a good thing to me that Sasaki was brought here…not to mention how happy it must make Fukudome to have a friend from the past here with being so far away from friends and family. Thanks for the post!
by Sandberg's evil twin on Aug 2, 2009 6:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
As always, thanks for your translation and posts.
Interesting story about how Dome got to be a Dragon in the first place. Seems as if Sasaki has really helped him this year. I understand he’ll be back in Chicago in September.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al on Aug 2, 2009 8:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
With the understanding that Sasaki-san has a life in Japan
Would it be possible to keep him around for the entire regular season? It just seems that Dome does so much better at the plate when Sasaki is with him.
"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root
by Clutch16 on Aug 3, 2009 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yosshaa's job
Yosshaa Sasaki is regular TV commentator for NPB games, mainly for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (Yu Darvish is the ace pitcher), and he has other critic jobs for various media. I don’t think he is fluent in English so I don’t believe he can coach other players, but it’s up on their decision to be full-timer…
BTW we fans call him just “Yossha” usually, just like we call Kosuke as Dome.
by dragonsfanatic on Aug 3, 2009 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He is more rested this year
I felt last year that going to the all-star game stunted Fukudome last year. Too much media crush, and instead of a nice four game stretch off he basically got none with all the traveling. Getting used to the increased travel, and all the day games must have been hard. I think this had a lot to do with his second half troubles last year. I’d love for Fuld to get some time in cf to help keep Fukudome a little more fresh for the stretch run, especially since on a lot of his “days off”, Fukudome has to come in to bolster the late inning defense if the Cubs have a lead.
by Nibbles on Aug 3, 2009 10:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
fukudome along with every other player on a team in contention is watching standings guaranteed. He knows the cubs are currently tied for 1st! go fukudome
by cooltrev on Aug 3, 2009 11:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
thank you again, Dragon!
I loved the story about him playing golf, and “forgetting” his score. hehe
"Yes, dear. You're right. I'm sorry." -Bob Brenly
by ambrosiadreams on Aug 4, 2009 11:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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