Dome's diary - Aug. 25th - Bleed Cubbie Blue

Dome's diary - Aug. 25th

by dragonsfanatic on Aug 27, 2009 7:54 AM CDT Comment 22 comments

Dome keeps his diary posted on his website once or twice a month, and here's quick summery of what he wrote on August 25th.

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- Hello, and sorry about updating this diary so late.

- August. Hmm, I should say we could not keep our momentum of July into this month so far. I thought we have to be patient in this tough situation, but now is the time the word "patient" doesn't fit at all anymore.

- I feel we made the situation worse as we've been giving up some needless runs. There are about 40 games to go, and we will definitely do our best. Well, that's all we have to do.

- Personally, my conditions are not bad. I am a starter in the game in one day, or not in next day, or coming in mid inning... I have to get used to the situation, and I will just do what I can do at all given chances. Well, this is not very easy (laugh)

- OBP? I don't care about those numbers so I am not sure, but I feel this is one of my strength to get on base in any kind of way since I am in Japan.

- Good eyes? Well, again I am not sure but I am confident about my eyes... not just eyes, of course (laugh)

- Double digits homers for 11 consecutive years. I have no obsession with homer, but it was good in anyway, because I don't like to see something consecutive for long years is snapped.

- BTW, Yamasaki-san (Takeshi Yamasaki of Rakuten Eagles, Dome's former teammate at Dragons) looks great this season again at that age (40, soon to be 41). I called him when he made 350 homers and 1000 RBIs to celebrate. He was happy, and he said he is completely focusing on making play-off this year. Finally he encouraged me, the other way around, and I replied "Definitely". Oh yes. Congrats Yamasaki-san, for 1500 basehits, 1000 RBIs and 350 homers.

- Anyway, I will try to do my best to the end of this season, remembering aggressive effort of Yamasaki-san and Rakuten Eagles. I need your support.

(see photos on this diary for Dome and his personal coach Kyosuke Sasaki and colleagues)

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These days I have almost no chance to watch Cubs game live on my satellite channels (NHK and J-Sports ), as they are mostly showing AL games and very few NL games. AL has more Japanese players like Ichiro, Hideki Matsui and Matsuzaka, and they don't change matches to show even those superstars are on DL or day-to-day. Currently almost all Japanese eyes are on Ichiro, who is 16 basehits to go for new MLB record, 200+ basehits for 9 seasons in a row and 11 to go for 2000 career basehits in MLB, but missing these 3 games with sore left calf. I can watch Dome's AB in news program like NHK's MLB highlight, but anyhow, I am not sure I can watch Dome and Cubs live even they will be playing showdown later next month for playoff berth...

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Interesting that Dome doesn't care about OBP

Since I think that is his main strength as a baseball player.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Aug 27, 2009 8:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think he cares about the precise number

He does care about getting on base. :D

"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 27, 2009 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's right

by dragonsfanatic on Aug 27, 2009 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well obviously he cares about getting on base

I didn’t mean that he was channeling his inner Dusty or something. I just thought maybe he paid more attention to that number.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Aug 27, 2009 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I definitely get the impression...

…from reading all of these that he is a very team oriented kind of guy; his stats aren’t so important as long as he’s contributing to the team’s overall success.

Rickey has spoken. Keep the Athletics in Bump City.

by LeSaboteur on Aug 28, 2009 2:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which is exactly the type of player we need more of.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 28, 2009 7:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

If his English is coming along, he could probably be a great clubhouse leader.

Rickey has spoken. Keep the Athletics in Bump City.

by LeSaboteur on Aug 29, 2009 1:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The really interesting...

…piece of that diary update is the lack of interest in the long ball. He was Central League MVP in ‘06, with 34 homers (BA .351 & 104 RBIs), and I wonder if he’ll begin to approach that number in ‘10. Personally speaking, the HR isn’t that important if he can jump over the .300-barrier in BA; let the middle of the order drive him in.

I suspect he’ll get ve-ery close to .300 this year, and surpass it next year. For the long ball, I’d be happy with 17-20; anything more is lagniappe. Over nine-years with the Dragons his HR average is 21.3, so I think that seems fair based on his progression this season.

Rickey has spoken. Keep the Athletics in Bump City.

by LeSaboteur on Aug 28, 2009 2:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My impression from this diary is

he definitely want to become back to an everyday player the first thing. Being a platoon player should be very first experience for him and he have to show he can hit against LHP. But it’s already end of August and there might be no chances in this season…

by dragonsfanatic on Aug 28, 2009 4:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's been playing every day...

… since Reed Johnson went down. (Or, at least virtually every day, with the occasional day off that any regular would get.)

He’s hitting well and I’d like to see his averages and power numbers continue to climb. That would make a good base for 2010.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 28, 2009 7:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure there are.

I still don’t know why they aren’t throwing left-handed BP against him. Let Dome work it out in practice, where it doesn’t affect the team.

Rickey has spoken. Keep the Athletics in Bump City.

by LeSaboteur on Aug 29, 2009 1:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Personally speaking, the HR isn’t that important if he can jump over the .300-barrier in BA; let the middle of the order drive him in.

that would work, if lou kept him in the leadoff spot

Theriot is not clutch, he's double clutch!

by jesus christos on Aug 28, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It might.

But he’s also been the most productive. Since we aren’t getting runs, you gotta do what you can. From that stand point, I can understand Lou’s decision.

Rickey has spoken. Keep the Athletics in Bump City.

by LeSaboteur on Aug 29, 2009 1:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks as always for posting this translation.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Aug 27, 2009 8:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for posting this.

Dome’s a class act.

by MN exile on Aug 27, 2009 9:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thank you again, Dragon.

I love reading these. And I agree with the comment above, Kosuke really is a class act.

"Yes, dear. You're right. I'm sorry." -Bob Brenly

by ambrosiadreams on Aug 27, 2009 9:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You can tell he really cares

and is trying to do what he can to help win games. I like his approach and his honesty. Are there players better, maybe, but he’s a keeper.

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Aug 28, 2009 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dragon!

Thank you as always for translating these for us! The work you do is great, and I’m going to have to borrow your translating skills for when the Cubs come to SF. I have an idea for a sign.

Rickey has spoken. Keep the Athletics in Bump City.

by LeSaboteur on Aug 28, 2009 2:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What's your idea?

by dragonsfanatic on Aug 28, 2009 4:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was trying to figure out...

..how to say “hit a home run here!” in Japanese, but my knowledge of the language is pitiful — anything more than basic directions, pleasantries, commands, then I’m lost.

Rickey has spoken. Keep the Athletics in Bump City.

by LeSaboteur on Aug 29, 2009 2:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs