Tyrone Woods says he has always been a slow starter.

The Chunichi Dragons first baseman is usually not doing that great in April, but he seems to turn it on later in the year and ends up among Central League leaders in batting, home runs and runs batted in.

This season could be something extra special, however.

Now playing his 10th year in Asia (five in Korea with the OB and Doosan Bears, two with the Yokohama BayStars and currently in his third campaign in Nagoya), Woods is knocking the cover off the ball, just as he did in the latter part of 2006 when he led both Japanese leagues with 47 home runs and 144 RBIs.

"I always set my season goals at 40-plus homers, 100-plus RBIs and a .300-plus average," said the Florida native during a recent three-game series against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome.

But, after he belted four out of the park in two of those games against the Kyojin, "Mr. T." hinted he may jack up the homer target to 50-plus.

Actually, he had what must have been the worst start in his 19-year professional career, going 0-for-14 in his first four games.

But he quickly turned that around, going six-for-six, including the four homers, and he's been hot ever since.

Through games of April 17, the burly slugger was again leading the CL homer derby with eight and was also on top with 21 RBIs, 13 runs scored, 43 total bases, 13 walks, a .600 batting average with runners in scoring position and a slugging percentage of .878.

What is the difference this year for the 37-year-old veteran?

"I started playing in the exhibition games earlier (than usual)," he said, though it is still a mystery why he was the only Dragons starter without a hit in the season's opening three-game set against the Yakult Swallows at Nagoya Dome.

Woods also mentioned it helped that Dragons skipper Hiromitsu Ochiai told him during the slump not to be concerned. "That's what a player likes to hear; his manager saying not to worry."

Meanwhile, Yakult Swallows outfielder Aaron Guiel is still looking for his first round-tripper in Japan, and he hopes to receive the ball for his trophy case.

If he gets it, he will display it along side the ones he walloped for his first major league hit and home run, and there is an interesting story about how he got that home run ball.

He went yard for the first time in the big leagues while playing for the Kansas City Royals in 2002, slamming one into the water fountain and pond at Kaufmann Stadium during an evening game.

The ball stayed in the drink all night and, the next morning, before a day game, teammate Chuck Knoblauch took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his trousers, waded into the pool and retrieved the ball.

Guiel says the two baseballs in his home look very different. The first-hit ball is clean and nice-looking, but the home run memento is swollen from being water-logged, lop-sided and heavy, and the stitches are very loose.

Hopefully, he will nail that first Japan homer soon and have another nice souvenir to add to his collection. There is no water fountain at the Swallows' Jingu Stadium.

Yomiuri Giants outfielder Damon Hollins got his first Japan home run against the Swallows at Tokyo Dome on April 15 but says he doesn't need the ball, as he expects to hit a few more for his Tokyo club this season.

Hollins recalled his first MLB blast, in 2005, while playing for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field in Florida. It came off New York Yankees reliever Tom "Flash" Gordon.

His initial home run trot here came at the expense of Tatsuyoshi "Flash" Masubuchi, Yakult's 18-year-old rookie right-hander.

Diamond Dust: The Yomiuri Giants are coming up on the milestone of the 5,000th victory in franchise history. Their 8-1 win over the Hiroshima Carp at Kyocera Dome Osaka on April 19 was the 4,993rd, so the team should reach the mark some time during the coming week.

Ever been to a game at that Kyocera Dome?

I was there for the Giants-Carp games April 18-19 and was sad to see that nice park-like area in front of the ball park has been demolished. It used to include the Buffaloes Shop, some American fast food stands, a couple of nice restaurants and some amusement places for kids; all gone now.

Apparently, they are building another train station there, although there are already two: the JR Taisho Station and the Dome-mae Chiozaki Subway stop.

Right now, it looks like hell, and I sure hope it comes out looking OK when they get done, and that they'll re-open the Buffaloes shop.

That stadium is absolutely the worst in Japan for food, souvenirs and the like.

Half the food concession stands in the upper deck are closed and, no wonder; it's like a ghost town up there, with no sign of the bustling, happy crowds lined up for some typical ballpark snacks.

Osaka Dome has really gone downhill in the 10 years since it was opened. Too bad.

Finally this week, a reminder, if you don't already have it, you can pick up a copy of my English-language Japan Pro Baseball Fan Handbook & Media Guide at one of the following sports bars: Legends in Tokyo's Roppongi, Benny's Place in Yokohama or Shooters in Nagoya. On sale for 1,000 yen.

The "Baseball Bullet-In" will not appear next week, the fifth Sunday of the month. See you again on May 6, and have a great Golden Week.

Contact Wayne Graczyk at: [email protected]