Japanese Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka

[PrimeTime]

This is the best pitcher in Japan and he wants to pitch in the US,Check out the video of him and the open letter from from the creator at http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/ sent to Hendry... If Jimbo could actually go and get this guy for about 30 or 40 million he would definetley be a number 1 or 2 starter, his pitches are filthy, and throws something called a " gyroball" which is a nasty pitch and would be the newest pitch in baseball since the split finger fastball...He was the MVP of the WBC going 3-0 with a 0.85 ERA.... We gotta get Jimbo to notice and go after this guy somehow..The yankees, Angels and Mariners are said the be going after him too.. Jimbo go get him!!!

[baseball7897]

Barrett would be totally lost behind the plate when he pitches. Kelvim Escobar, was the guy I wanted the Cubs to get, but the Angels re-signed him.

[daske17]

What exactly is this "gyro-ball." I hope it has nothing to do with gyros, the wonderful cuisine served with cucumber sauce.

[PrimeTime]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-gyro031306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

go there and check it out... Its supposed to be spun like a bullet and breaks like no one has ever seen.. They say its impossible to hit almost..

[soccer10k]

I would love to get him but I think he'll go to either the Yankees or Mariners.

[C.C.]

I would love to get him but I think he'll go to either the Yankees or Mariners.

 

Yep. He's got the Mariners written all over him...

[ConstableRabbit]

The gyroball is pretty cool. The video shown in that link makes it look absolutely crazy!

[daske17]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-gyro031306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

go there and check it out... Its supposed to be spun like a bullet and breaks like no one has ever seen.. They say its impossible to hit almost..

 

That is some crazy spin the ball gets going horizontal. It's interesting positioning, almost like a splitter, but held in a Vulcan "Live long and prosper" grip. I wonder why more pitchers haven't experimented with it.

[Sammy Sofa]

The Cubs seem to have a "thing" about not seeking out Asian players (who else has there been besides Ryu and Choi in recent seasons?), so I put the odds of them going after him somewhere between slim and none. Edited August 7, 2006 by Sammy Sofa

[PrimeTime]

Imagine signing this guy and maybe egtting someone like Zito too..Our pitching would be dominant

 

Zambrano

Matsuzaka

Zito

Prior

Hill or Marshall

 

Wed prolly have the best pitching in baseball pretty much

[PrimeTime]

Also if he comes to the Us theres strong indications that he will make Scott Boras his agent... Jimbo knows him really well and has made several deals with Boras benefiting the Cubs too...Wed have 2 aces in our rotation, go for it Jimbo

[ConstableRabbit]

Have there been any Japanese pitchers who have been consistently dominant in the MLB?

 

It seems that most have had tricky deliveries that make them tough to hit, but once hitters figure it out, the stuff just isnt good enough to stand alone.

[1908]

Have there been any Japanese pitchers who have been consistently dominant in the MLB?

Sasaki was pretty good for a three-year stretch before age and innings caught up to him.

[1908]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-gyro031306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Did you read that article? The gyroball's an urban legend. Certainly not the key to Matsunaka's success.

[synergy]

Here are Matsuzaka's stats

 

 

Last Year - 14-13 2.30 ERA

 

This year - 11-4 2.01 ERA

-10 CG in 17 starts

-133k's in 125 Inn.

 

WBC - 3-0 0.85 ERA

-MVP of WBC

[FergieJ31]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-gyro031306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Did you read that article? The gyroball's an urban legend. Certainly not the key to Matsunaka's success.

 

Reminscent of this guy:

 

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/siddfinch.html

 

Fascinating article. He'd look good in cubbie blue next season, gyroball or not. Edit: Wow, his slider is wicked.

[ConstableRabbit]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-gyro031306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Did you read that article? The gyroball's an urban legend. Certainly not the key to Matsunaka's success.

 

Reminscent of this guy:

 

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/siddfinch.html

 

Fascinating article. He'd look good in cubbie blue next season, gyroball or not. Edit: Wow, his slider is wicked.

 

Hahahaha Sidd Finch. That's awesome.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

He'll be a Yankee.

[illiniguy]

He'll be a Yankee.

Of course he will, it just wouldn't be modern baseball if he wasn't.

[texascub]

I don't think it's a done deal that he'll be a Yankee. I believe that he'll be a free agent so he'll get to choose where he wants to go to. While Hideki Matsui has had success there, Kaz Matsui was pretty much disrespected, ran out of town, and now isn't even in the majors. I think he'll go to a smaller market club, probably somewhere on the west coast so that he's closer to home. Seattle fits that as do a few other teams.

[forbez18]

Is his motion allowed in the MLB. It looks like he actually does stop so that would have to change right? I have heard about this guy for the last couple of years. I head he doesn't throw they gyro that much its more of an experiment still. Replace wood salary + a little to get him over, and give mad dogs contract to another good pitcher.

[PrimeTime]

I heard that MLB has to approve it, I beleive they did it for Hideo Nomo, So im sure theyll aprove his motion

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Recipe for success:

 

1. Trade Prior for Tejada.

2. Sign Matsuzaka and Zito.

3. Use one of Hill or the three M's, along with Cedeno, Jones and one of our late inning relievers (pick 'em) as trade bait packages. Targets: slugging corner OF, strengthened bench, minor league position player prospects.

4. Re-sign Kerry Wood as a reliever. Re-sign Juan Pierre.

 

Rotation: Zambrano, Zito, Matsuzaka, two of the youngsters (say Marmol and Marshall).

Bullpen: Wuertz, one of the youngsters (likely Marmol or Mateo), Wood, two of Eyre, Howry and Dempster.

Fielders: Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, Tejada, Izturis (2B), Pierre, new slugging corner OF, Murton/Pagan/Jones.

 

That's a good team.

[PrimeTime]

Id be all for it, Wed have three aces in our rotation, Our lineup would be sick, Our heart of the order would be Lee,Ramiraz,Tejada,and a C. Lee or Soriano type guy. 4 monster power hitters, that would be untouchable...Wed win the world series right there

[Sarcastic]

Recipe for success:

 

1. Trade Prior for Tejada.

2. Sign Matsuzaka and Zito.

3. Use one of Hill or the three M's, along with Cedeno, Jones and one of our late inning relievers (pick 'em) as trade bait packages. Targets: slugging corner OF, strengthened bench, minor league position player prospects.

4. Re-sign Kerry Wood as a reliever. Re-sign Juan Pierre.

 

Rotation: Zambrano, Zito, Matsuzaka, two of the youngsters (say Marmol and Marshall).

Bullpen: Wuertz, one of the youngsters (likely Marmol or Mateo), Wood, two of Eyre, Howry and Dempster.

Fielders: Lee, Ramirez, Barrett, Tejada, Izturis (2B), Pierre, new slugging corner OF, Murton/Pagan/Jones.

 

That's a good team.

 

Where do they find the money to add Tejada, Matsuzaka, Zito, and a good slugging OF?