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.