SB Nation User Blog: dragonsfanatic

There is a Grilled Chicken restaurant called Torihiro in Urasoe, Okinawa, where all kinds of...

dragonsfanatic — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:36:37 -0000

There is a Grilled Chicken restaurant called Torihiro in Urasoe, Okinawa, where all kinds of baseball industry people get together. I found Dome's autograph in Japanese characters on the wall (lower left one, click here to enlarge) when I visit there to celebrate my friend won the regional high school baseball tournament for National Tournament in Koshien on last Sunday.

It is written entirely in Japanese vertically, reads "07.2.14, for Torihiro, Chunichi Dragons, Fukudome Kosuke #1", when he visited the restaurant on his off-day in 2007 Dragons spring training in Chatan, Okinawa.

Dome's diary - July 18th edition from ASG

dragonsfanatic — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:37:07 -0000

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.

Dome's diary - July 8th edition

dragonsfanatic — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:30:48 -0000

Dome posted his diary on July 8th, written after he heard the news that he was selected as a All-Star starter. Here's quick summery of his random thoughts.

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* Thanks so much for naming myself for the 2008 All Star Game. Very happy as I did not expect it at all as this is still my rookie year in MLB. Appreciated from the bottom of my heart.

* 2.99M votes? Simply unbelievable. This is just because I am on Cubs bandwagon, as I look at my numbers... Anyway, 7 Cubs in All Star Game - so exciting.

* One thing I am looking forward to is going to Yankee Stadium in its last year. I want to enjoy everything there with you fans.

* The team is kinda win-again-lose-again situation right now (on the road game), but want to complete the final 6-game home stand before the All Star break in strong fashion. Our mood is great so I think we can do it.

* I caused you so much worry about my foot (left calf), it is not perfect yet but getting better. My hitting would not be worse ever than now, hopely...

* Thanks Cubs fans again for voting, also for Japanese fans voted over the net, truly appreciated. I'll try my best in the All Star Game.

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The photos on this edition are from his visit to Toronto, and he met a retired celeblity Kyosen Ohashi, who lives in Vancouver and known as NFL/MLB commentator as well. Dome had so much fun with Kyosen's deep knowledge about MLB.

I just found Dome playing as a Dragon in a old baseball cartoon magazine (2003).... he hit a hard...

dragonsfanatic — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:51:56 -0000

I just found Dome playing as a Dragon in a old baseball cartoon magazine (2003).... he hit a hard line-drive and that hit Sapporo Mets' old pitcher's chin....

Dome's diary - Jun 23rd edition

dragonsfanatic — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:55:25 -0000

Dome posted his diary on Jun 23, actually it was written after winning against Sox by Ramirez's walk-off homer (I guess he emailed it and his web staff in Japan posted it in JST). Here's quick summery of his random thoughts.

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* Great start off the windy city classic... too big winning by walk-off right after being swept the series (by Rays). The team's atmosphere is so good right now and getting better I believe.

* Never feel any indication we will lose at Wrigley, but I know that's not enough...

* So Wrigley isn't the same with hometown match-up. I don't know about outside the ballpark, but the downtown isn't the same right? Hard to believe some company will take days off for the series...

*Fans at Wrigley are so great, so enthusiastic... always full, even daylight game on week day. My old friends from Nagoya finally took vacation and visited here to watch my game, and they said they wonder how Cubs fans manage their holidays...

* Thank you so much for fans about the All Star vote as well. Hope Soriano gets well sooner.

*My hitting is getting better now I feel, but there are many little things to be adjusted... I have to work on every single things, one at a time - will continue my effort step-by-step.

*I don't worry about my average... it is too early to think about that. Also no change of anything no matter where I hit in the lineup.... I just do what I can do.

*My family finally landed in Chicago, and am really pleased with it. My bat is getting hotter as the temperature in Chicago get hotter.

*Taking care of my new baby is absolutely bigger deal than baseball, but I think I am doing good job for him. I found Hayato is growing bigger every time I came back from road trip. So happy he is always great! But reportedly he misses me so much while I am not at home, and my wife has to deal with him for it...

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There are some photos posted on his diary, and in the bottom photo he says he frequently visit Chicago Kalbi restaurant for his favorite Korean BBQ.

The first ever Cubs fan I found here in Chatan, Okinawa, at Chatan Stadium where Dome spends 9...

dragonsfanatic — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:19:59 -0000

The first ever Cubs fan I found here in Chatan, Okinawa, at Chatan Stadium where Dome spends 9 years for Dragons spring training....
He said his relatives living in Chicago send him this cap....

Ryne Sandberg playing in Japan - 1986 All Star Japan Tour

dragonsfanatic — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:44:41 -0000

I still have 100+ old video tapes even my visual environment has been shifted mostly digital, so making copies on DVDs when I have time. I recently found the tape for 1986 MLB All Star Tour in Japan, Game 6 on 11/8/1986 at Yokohama Stadium ... and Ryne Sandberg was playing in the game.

He ckecked in the game as PH in the top of 6th against Akio Saito of Yokohama Taiyo Whales, grounded out to third baseman Yutaka Takagi of Whales.

Then he fielded 2nd base, with shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. (his 5th year of the streak).

Here's the YouTube footage of part of the game that Sandberg is showing up. You can hear his name was announced in Japanese before he stepped in, and English followed.

MLB won the game by 15-3, the winning pitcher was Jack Morris of Detroit Tigers, followed the starter Mike Witt of California Angels. They also won the series by 6 game to one. I remember Sandberg hit a line-drive lead off homer in Game 1 at Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo, former home for Tokyo Giants before the Tokyo Dome was built in 1988. Korakuen was very small stadium (this inherited to hitter's heaven Tokyo Dome) and I remember Sandberg was looked like puzzled and going around the bases like "Was it gone somewhere??".

The team was managed by Dave Johnson of New York Mets (played as a Tokyo Giant), coached by Bobby Valentine of Texas Rangers (currently managing Chiba Lotte Marines ). Players were

Pitchers: Mike Witt (CAL), Mike Scott (HOU), Greg Harris (TEX), Teddy Higuera (MIL), John Franco (CIN), Willie Hernandez, Jack Morris (DET), Jeff Reardon (MON), Rick Rhoden (PIT)
Catchers: Tony Pena (PIT), Rich Gedman (BOS) (note: Gedman was injured in Game 1 and went back to US, then Pena had to catch all 6 games all by himself)
Infielders: Ryne Sandberg (CHC), Brook Jacoby (CLE), Wally Joyner (CAL), Ozzie Smith (STL), Grenn Davis (HOU), Buddy Bell (CIN), Frank White (KC), Cal Ripken Jr (BAL)
Outfielders: Jose Canseco (OAK), Tony Gwynn (SD), Jesse Berfield (TOR), Von Heyes (PHI), Dale Murphy (ATL)

MLB All Star Tour is no more, as there will be more MLB opener in Japan and also WBC in March, but it was fun to watch those superstars play against NPB all stars like 3-times triple crown Hiromitsu Ochiai (currently managing Chunichi Dragons), or Koji Yamamoto , who announced his retirement just before this 1986 MLB tour, but hit a monster homerun off Mike Witt in this Game 6.

The right Japanese pronunciation for Kosuke Fukudome

dragonsfanatic — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:52:20 -0000

per northsider's request on game thread... here is mp3 file with my voice ;-)

You can also hear it in this YouTube footage, 2006 Dragons CL clincher, at 0:20.

This is more (standard) Tokyo accent, it should be a bit different in his home in Kagoshima ...

I don't know how I can translate in your native pronunciation over there in US, like "Koe-Sue-Kay Foo-Koo-Dough-May", and you don't have to pronunce it as this sound file, but it might be good to know how he is called in Japan.

What Dome says on his diary....

dragonsfanatic — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:32:44 -0000

Many of you may know Dome has his official website and writes dialy almost once or twice a month (pls don't call it monthly or biweekly, not diary). All the contents are in Japanese and some of you might try Google Translate or other services and end up getting somewhat ridiculous result... so here's some summary of his latest diary, as of June 2nd .

Cubs rocks on winning streak and enjoying great atmosphere in the team. Feeling it doesn't matter if we are behind by a couple of runs, especially at Wrigley.
Cubs fans are too great. Happy with All Star voting result, even early stage.
It was fun to face Saito and Kuroda of Dodgers - I knew them too much (as played in same league) but it was fun. Having Japanese players in opponent team is somewhat strange feeling - motivated? fun? ...no, I'm just interested to see what they are doing in the game.
Felt nostalgic so much when playing (High school alumni) Kaz Matsui on the same field, as we've never played in a game since high school days. Talked a lot with him, mostly about foods and restaurants, no baseball topics at all.
I still don't feel my normal self yet in the game, still feel a bit strange. I don't feel tired at all, and playing 12 or more games in a row doesn't matter to me. I'm playing baseball everyday since I was a small kid. Just spending time on stretching as long as I can to maintain my condition.
2 months since the opening day - time flies so fast. So many games ahead, and I will do my best without injury. (To Japanese fans) watch I play even you are too sleepy ;-)

Hope we can watch him holding his new baby on his new diary.

"Kousuke's Corner" on Monthly Dragons, June issue - headlines Dome hit clean-up for the first time...

dragonsfanatic — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:27:33 -0000

"Kousuke's Corner" on Monthly Dragons, June issue - headlines Dome hit clean-up for the first time for Cubs... as well as lots of Cubs fans costumed in Dome's jersey, even in Ninja style!