NationStates Jolt Archive

Daisuke Matsuzaka just signed with the Red Sox today for... 103.1 Million, with 51.1 million going to the Seibu Lions of Japan for negotiation rights. This is a pretty good chunk of change, but thats for later.

The Red Sox now have Curt Schilling, Jonathan Papelpon, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, and now Daisuke Matsuzaka in their starting rotation, but not exactly in that order. With Schilling's iffy-but-durable health, Papelbon assuming a starting role after being a closer, Wakefield's knuckleball, and Matsuzaka's rumored "gyroball"...

How well will the Red Sox's rotation hold up? They still have yet to sign a closing pitcher, by the way...

What are you on about?

I figure it's some sport.

What are you on about?

I figure it's some sport.

Baseball.

Anyway, considering that Matsuzaka is an unknown talent, I'll withold my predictions. On paper, the starting rotation looks good, but that still depends on whether or not Matsuzaka pans out, and I don't think there's enough to go by to state whether he will or not.

What are you on about?

I figure it's some sport.

heh

guessing no one here cares about sports

Baseball.

Right... people play that? Like, for real? Quaint.

Baseball.

Anyway, considering that Matsuzaka is an unknown talent, I'll withold my predictions. On paper, the starting rotation looks good, but that still depends on whether or not Matsuzaka pans out, and I don't think there's enough to go by to state whether he will or not.

the japs arent exactly worthless players...

i mean, they won the WBC, even though thats an exhibition and Matsuzaka was the MVP

Daisuke Matsuzaka just signed with the Red Sox today for... 103.1 Million, with 51.1 million going to the Seibu Lions of Japan for negotiation rights. This is a pretty good chunk of change, but thats for later.

The Red Sox now have Curt Schilling, Jonathan Papelpon, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, and now Daisuke Matsuzaka in their starting rotation, but not exactly in that order. With Schilling's iffy-but-durable health, Papelbon assuming a starting role after being a closer, Wakefield's knuckleball, and Matsuzaka's rumored "gyroball"...

How well will the Red Sox's rotation hold up? They still have yet to sign a closing pitcher, by the way...

*celebrates*

*drinks champagne*

*prays to the baseball gods that no one gets injured*

the japs arent exactly worthless players...

i mean, they won the WBC, even though thats an exhibition and Matsuzaka was the MVP

I'm aware of that- lots of Japanese players have succeeded in the Major Leagues, so much so that I'd posit that the Pacific and Central Leagues (Japan's two major professional leagues) are probably on par with MLB in terms of talent.

However, baseball in Japan is a different breed of game than it is in the U.S. (it's significantly less power-based) and, like anyone new to the Majors- Japanese, American, Dominican, Canadian, whatever- the jury is still out until they actually play (the World Baseball Classic doesn't count since many of the best MLBers opted out). Matsuzaka could be the best pitcher to come out of Japan or the next Hideki Irabu. Besides, as far as the gyroball is concerned, no one's actually used a gyroball as a regular pitch as Matsuzaka is still trying to learn it. He may be good- don't get me wrong- but I still want to see him play first.

Right... people play that? Like, for real? Quaint.

I never cared for baseball. I can watch it because it's a sport and I have testicles, but I certainly wouldn't leave it on if I had access to the remote. :p

They call it 'The National Pastime'. Annoys the hell out of me, because I suspect that it was named that with someone with almost as much irony in his system as the bastards who voted for Ruben Studdard as 'AMerican Idol'. Yeah, that's America's Idol; A big fat black man with no talent. :p

They really need to check with me before they decide these things. *sigh*

For that amount of money, you Red Sox fans better hope that he doesn't pull a Josh Beckett. :D

Right... people play that? Like, for real? Quaint.

is there any sport you like?

Oh, and the rotation is better than last year providing Matsu doesn't flop and no one gets hurt. For some reason I worry about the offense though even though on paper its great.

For that amount of money, you Red Sox fans better hope that he doesn't pull a Josh Beckett. :D

Let's review my previous statement.

*prays to the baseball gods that no one gets injured*

Ok. Now hopefully all will go well. After paying through the nose for Matsuzuka, you can bet that the New England media and Boston fans will be on his ass even more than they are on Manny's.

Ok. Now hopefully all will go well. After paying through the nose for Matsuzuka, you can bet that the New England media and Boston fans will be on his ass even more than they are on Manny's.

That may be tricky. Manny Ramirez is still a head case.

That may be tricky. Manny Ramirez is still a head case.

He can be an utter putz but that is ok. We will wash his personal flaw over with the "Manny being Manny" phrase and all will be ok. For some reason Epstein looks for possible trades for Manny which is utterly stupid as they need his offense. Regardless, Manny is the media's whipping boy like Alex Rodrigez is for the Yankees. But Matsuzuka is such a huge investment he will be in a fishbowl for the next six years.

I read something from a statistics group who's predictions about Japanese imported baseball players have been pretty accurate (more than anyone else's) that he will have numbers very similar to Roy Oswalt. And I thought he signed late Wednesday night?

I read something from a statistics group who's predictions about Japanese imported baseball players have been pretty accurate (more than anyone else's) that he will have numbers very similar to Roy Oswalt. And I thought he signed late Wednesday night?

Probably had the offical press conference last night. Anyway, I have to take the chance to once again jump for joy. :D

*jumps for joy*