Special Feature

	Toshikazu Sasa, "Toshi"
	Age : 26 yrs old,Height : 5"11, (As of April 2007) Position : outfielder Hometown : Osaka ,Japan Blog : http;//blogs.yahoo.co.jp/yumebaseballtoshi
	Toshi Sasa started his baseball career when he was in second grade. He played baseball through junior high and highschool with teams. After unsuccessful attempt to play in Tokyo six university league,he decided to come over to Iowa and studied at Iowa College. After graduated from a university in Idaho,he joined independent league,GDB in Fullerton,California and started to take a step forward to be a major league baseball player. He is going to play with some team in Indiana this season.(2007)
The life of minor leaguers
Minor leaguers can be fired at anytime Minor leaguers are only paid for 6 months.(I am in Independent league,so our season is 3 months though.) That's why many of us have to have part time jobs during off season. And we can be released at any time during season.This year,I am going to help launch my family business in the US. Hard schedule We have only one day off in one month. Games usually start at 6 or 7 PM and ends at around 10PM. About food Team feeds players before and after the game for home games and pay $20 a day for road games. With such little money,there is no choice but to eat unhealthy American foods. It's hard to travel by buses In our division in GBL,we travel to other team's home parks in Yuma(Arizona),Chico(Northern California), Long Beach and Reno(Nevada).We sometimes have very tight schedule. For example,we had three games in Chico and we had to leave there at twelve midgnight after taking shower.It took 15 hours to come back to Fullerton(Our home field). Sometimes,we come back to Fullerton at 8AM and have a game at 6PM on the same day.
The deference between Japanese baseball and Amrican baseball
The biggest deference is the power Not to mention,American baseball players have much more power than Japanese baseball players.But they are also excellent in techniques. About forms American players have their indivisual styles which is deferent from Japanese players.In Japan,coaches teach us the same styles.For example,many American pitchers have very unique pitching forms but Japanese pitchers look about the same. American players enjoy training American players enjoy training.Their idea is that training is to win games or to do better performances in games.On the contrary,Japanese players consider training as a job itself. Japanese pitchers throw more than 100balls a day for practice while American pitchers throw 80-100 balls a day. American pitchers' practice during rotation American pitchers throw in 4 days rotation.If they pitch on Monday,they run for 20 minuites on Tuesday.They throw 30 balls on Wednesday and play catch between bases on Thursday. They do inner mascle training everyday though.
My Next Goal
	It is hard to stay in a roster Camp starts in May,There was a tryout and 29 players (including me)are called in for the camp.The roster is going to be 22 players.So,my goal is to be in a roster.To adnvance to AA is my next step. I want to be a first Japanese major leaguer from American college Before Hideo Nomo had a sensational debut in Major League baseball in 1995,my dream was to be a first Japanese major league baseball player.Now,since there have been many Japanese players came over here,my goal is to be a first Japanese major leaguer who graduated from a college here.
Credibility of "The Rookie" stared by Dennis Quaid
The character,Jim Morrison played by Dennis Quaid throwed 98miles per hour when he was over 35 years old.This movie is based on true story,so it is true that pitches over 35 years of age can pitch that fast.So,this films hero,Kenji can maintain his ball speed if he keeps woking hard. Thank you very much for your time.I really hope you can make it to be a Major Leaguer.