Nick West: What do you think about your office? There are some nice perks in there.


Doug Dascenzo: Yeah, absolutely. Why would that be different than anything else around here? It's not about me, not about (hitting coach) Tom Tornincasa or the staff, it's about all these kids that are in here. They're going to enjoy it just as much as we do.


NW: Do you think having all these perks - the tables for the guys to sit at, the lounge with the TV and couches - do you think that helps with team chemistry and camaraderie, and that can sort of reflect the on-field product?


DD: Well, without a doubt. It'd be nice to have every professional ballpark like this. In a sense, in reality, if we're supposed to be teaching these guys what to do and how to play and how to feel at the major-league level … hey, this is what they have at the major-league level. They have a player's lounge, they have a weight room, they have all this stuff. They have the TVs, all this stuff, good batting cages. Obviously that can't be done 100 percent, I understand that.

But we are very fortunate to be teamed up with these guys - (TinCaps Team President) Mike Nutter and everybody - for the next two years, and it's going to give the players the chance to be that much better.


NW: Let's jump back into your playing days. The Chicago Cubs have a big fan base around here. It's been a long time since they won a World Series. You played a few years with the Cubs. Is it a curse? Is it bad luck? What the heck is it?


DD: With the Cubs? I don't know. They've knocked on the door a little bit and gotten to the playoffs the last couple of years. I wouldn't say it's anything like that at all. It's very difficult to get to the World Series.

Unfortunately for them, it's been quite some time. This is a new year. They're a few games in. That's why we keep playing these seasons year after year.


NW: What were some of your best memories as a player?


DD: No. 1 was being able to play against the best. Being in Chicago, which is a great town with Wrigley Field. Being fortunate enough to play a year in the American League and going to Fenway Park. And just kind of seeing all the stuff and meeting and building relationships with people that are just great, great people at the major league level.

It takes a special person to be lucky and fortunate to make it. Let's not fool ourselves. You have lifelong, lasting relationships with people like that.