Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

[Ckhoss29]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Ah the Cubbies, looking to end another great pitcher's career.

With the amount he has pitched, he might have already gotten the ball rolling in Japan. He pitched something like 54 innings in 3 or 4 days in High School I read on ESPN.

As for the blind bids, the Yankees will win this, you all know that. What George wants George gets, At least this time he isn't a guy over 35.

[P2K]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Aren't Japanese pitchers supposedly high maintenance and have trouble pitching over here in the States?

[rubisco43]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Aren't Japanese pitchers supposedly high maintenance and have trouble pitching over here in the States?

Hmm, I think that's a gross overgeneralization. I'm sure they'll have difficulties with language and culture, and that's why they usually hire an interpreter that sometimes goes out to the mound during visits. As for having trouble pitching? Two pitchers have been ROY's (deserving? that's debatable, but they still won). One has been a bust (irabu), and others have been solid role players.

[Mo]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

That is an absurd amount of money to pay to just have the rights to NEGOTIATE with the freakin' guy.

It's pretty common overseas, especially in soccer.

[Stu]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Aren't Japanese pitchers supposedly high maintenance and have trouble pitching over here in the States?

I think you can almost guarantee this guy won't be worth the money that whoever gets him is going to pay. He might not be a bust on the level of the Fat Toad, but I doubt he'll be anything special.

[bullpen45]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

That's because you have not seen him pitched regurarly...
He is a number one starter.
There is the rookie of the year right there...
You'll see

[Ckhoss29]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

That's because you have not seen him pitched regurarly...
He is a number one starter.
There is the rookie of the year right there...
You'll see

Number 1 starter is a pretty big thing to say about a guy that has been only in the Japanese leagues. I would allow him to be a rotation guy maybe give him a year or 2 in the league before we all crown him the next Clemens.

[Stu]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

That's because you have not seen him pitched regurarly...
He is a number one starter.
There is the rookie of the year right there...
You'll see

Just like Hideki Irabu, Jose Contreras and all the other players that were hyped beyond belief before ever pitching in MLB.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

You could point to questions surrounding every single MLB caliber pitcher in the world. Judging on stuff and command, Matsuzaka seems very likely to succeed in my opinion. 91-96 MPH on his fastball. Has a lot of late, rising movement on his fastball. It kind of explodes to the plate.
He has 3 other legitimate pitches as well. A filthy slider that just falls off the table, a nice changeup, and something else, I forget. I think he definitely holds the highest ceiling of any available pitcher this off season.

As for the high price to pay off the Seibu Lions, we are seeing what happens when there is an extreme shortage of front level starting pitching amongst teams who have tons of dollars to spend.

[dieselboy]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

When are we supposed to know the winner of the bid?

[mjb2124]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

When are we supposed to know the winner of the bid?

Weren't they submitted yesterday at 5pm EST? If so, I can't imagine it would be much longer.....I'm actually surprised they didn't announce it shortly after they were submitted.

[armistead]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

After the bids were submitted, the high bid was given to the Japanese team, which then, I think, has four days to decide whether to accept or reject it. However, I read on ESPN that the team was going to have a meeting of its management on Friday afternoon (Japan I think is about 12 hours ahead of the east coast) to make a decision on whether to accept it.

There doesn't appear to be any question that they will since their owner apparently was in a financial scandal and they need the money. So by later tonight, hopefully we'll know who won his bidding rights.

[Ckhoss29]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

You could point to questions surrounding every single MLB caliber pitcher in the world. Judging on stuff and command, Matsuzaka seems very likely to succeed in my opinion. 91-96 MPH on his fastball. Has a lot of late, rising movement on his fastball. It kind of explodes to the plate.
He has 3 other legitimate pitches as well. A filthy slider that just falls off the table, a nice changeup, and something else, I forget. I think he definitely holds the highest ceiling of any available pitcher this off season.

As for the high price to pay off the Seibu Lions, we are seeing what happens when there is an extreme shortage of front level starting pitching amongst teams who have tons of dollars to spend.

Yes but talent is just that, if he can't make the jump to the United States imagine what will happen to that team's GM. It also isn't even a done deal even for the team that gets him, they have to deal with Boras.

As for all the people saying he projects as a number 1 talent wise, that is fine. To pay him #1 dollars without more than an hour in the majors is ludacris.

[mjb2124]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

After the bids were submitted, the high bid was given to the Japanese team, which then, I think, has four days to decide whether to accept or reject it. However, I read on ESPN that the team was going to have a meeting of its management on Friday afternoon (Japan I think is about 12 hours ahead of the east coast) to make a decision on whether to accept it.

There doesn't appear to be any question that they will since their owner apparently was in a financial scandal and they need the money. So by later tonight, hopefully we'll know who won his bidding rights.

Ahh... Thanks for the information!

[Stu]

Re: Prized pitcher Matsuzaka given OK to pitch in MLB

Yes but talent is just that, if he can't make the jump to the United States imagine what will happen to that team's GM. It also isn't even a done deal even for the team that gets him, they have to deal with Boras.

As for all the people saying he projects as a number 1 talent wise, that is fine. To pay him #1 dollars without more than an hour in the majors is ludacris.

I agree. They're going to end up paying him #1 money PLUS the $20 mil or so to sign him before he ever pitches an inning in MLB. That's outrageous IMO.