Matsuzaka: Red Sox Win w/ $51.1M Bid

[1908]

How long does the posting period last for?

A few days. He hasn't been posted yet, and won't be until after the Japan Series.

[1908]

There aren't any CF on that list. :(

Yeah, I don't think the Dragon's are going to post Fukudome.

[Outshined_One]

Other than Matsuzka, what other Japanese players are FA or likely to be posted?

Here's a quick list of some players of note. I'd take his predictions with a grain of salt. You can find career stats for the players listed at japanesebaseball.com.

 

Hm, no Iwamura.

 

Matsuzaka is clearly the top guy out of this crop, but I like what I've read about Kuroda. He might be worth a gander, especially if he can be had for cheap. He is 32, but hey, an innings eater with good stuff is always welcome.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Other than Matsuzka, what other Japanese players are FA or likely to be posted?

Here's a quick list of some players of note. I'd take his predictions with a grain of salt. You can find career stats for the players listed at japanesebaseball.com.

 

Hm, no Iwamura.

 

Matsuzaka is clearly the top guy out of this crop, but I like what I've read about Kuroda. He might be worth a gander, especially if he can be had for cheap. He is 32, but hey, an innings eater with good stuff is always welcome.

 

Iwamura is the last person listed.

[questionmarkgrace]

IF you guys are bored like me you should check out Diasuke Matsuzaka clips on youtube.com. If you didn't think he was the real deal before you may now. Dude is nasty!

 

Slow-mo delivery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqXf2TmO328

 

nasty pitches from 4/14/06 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smzIyFHTX6U&mode=related&search=

 

 

gyroball???

 

the links should work. there is so many clips of him on there so don't be surprised if an hour goes by.

[Soriano12]

Nasty stuff.

 

In those vids he is topping out at 145-146(KMH) or 90-91 MPH.

 

I thought I read he could throw in the upper 90's?

[questionmarkgrace]

theres a wbc video on there. Cuba vs Japan with him throwing 95 mph.

[Outshined_One]

The gyroball is a myth that was debunked in another thread. Apparently it's feasible, but Matsuzaka doesn't use it.

 

Also, I didn't see Iwamura down there.

[Soriano12]

Is this guy viewed as a "can't miss" at the next level?

 

Yes his stuff is nasty, but ins't there a chance, that for whatever reason, he just won't be that great in the US? Anything could happen, espcecially mentally with him.

 

If a GM dishes out the 20+ million dollar bidding fee, plus the year contract(who the hell knows how high that will be), and this guy flops...that will pretty much spell the end of the GM.(plus many others too within the organization)

 

I can only think of one team that will take on this risk.

[Laura]

MLB.com[/url]"]

There will likely be a plethora of Major League scouts on hand in November, when Matsuzaka plays for a team of Japanese All-Stars that will be participating in a five-game tournament against Major League All-Stars. The first game of that series is Nov. 3 in Tokyo.

 

Teams should get a decent gauge at Matsuzaka's skill level when watching him face the likes of Ryan Howard, David Wright, Joe Mauer and Andruw Jones.

 

Then again, Matsuzaka already put on quite a show for the scouts in the World Baseball Classic, going 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA.

[Rob]

Is this guy viewed as a "can't miss" at the next level?

 

Yes his stuff is nasty, but ins't there a chance, that for whatever reason, he just won't be that great in the US? Anything could happen, espcecially mentally with him.

 

If a GM dishes out the 20+ million dollar bidding fee, plus the year contract(who the hell knows how high that will be), and this guy flops...that will pretty much spell the end of the GM.(plus many others too within the organization)

 

I can only think of one team that will take on this risk.

 

General consensus is that he's the best pitching prospect to ever come out of Japan. Take that as you will.

 

Personally, I'd throw money at him like there's no tomorrow.

[Soriano12]

Personally, I'd throw money at him like there's no tomorrow.

 

If it is the Tribune's money, so would I. :lol:

[Bruno7481]

Is this guy viewed as a "can't miss" at the next level?

 

Yes his stuff is nasty, but ins't there a chance, that for whatever reason, he just won't be that great in the US? Anything could happen, espcecially mentally with him.

 

If a GM dishes out the 20+ million dollar bidding fee, plus the year contract(who the hell knows how high that will be), and this guy flops...that will pretty much spell the end of the GM.(plus many others too within the organization)

 

I can only think of one team that will take on this risk.

 

General consensus is that he's the best pitching prospect to ever come out of Japan. Take that as you will.

 

Personally, I'd throw money at him like there's no tomorrow.

 

Hideki Irabu came with the same description and accolades.

 

I think its a risky proposition.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Is this guy viewed as a "can't miss" at the next level?

 

Yes his stuff is nasty, but ins't there a chance, that for whatever reason, he just won't be that great in the US? Anything could happen, espcecially mentally with him.

 

If a GM dishes out the 20+ million dollar bidding fee, plus the year contract(who the hell knows how high that will be), and this guy flops...that will pretty much spell the end of the GM.(plus many others too within the organization)

 

I can only think of one team that will take on this risk.

 

General consensus is that he's the best pitching prospect to ever come out of Japan. Take that as you will.

 

Personally, I'd throw money at him like there's no tomorrow.

 

Hideki Irabu came with the same description and accolades.

 

I think its a risky proposition.

You can't compare Matsuzaka to any other Japanese player. Over there he's like Michael Jordan was here during his prime. The guy is seen as a national hero.

[Rob]

Is this guy viewed as a "can't miss" at the next level?

 

Yes his stuff is nasty, but ins't there a chance, that for whatever reason, he just won't be that great in the US? Anything could happen, espcecially mentally with him.

 

If a GM dishes out the 20+ million dollar bidding fee, plus the year contract(who the hell knows how high that will be), and this guy flops...that will pretty much spell the end of the GM.(plus many others too within the organization)

 

I can only think of one team that will take on this risk.

 

General consensus is that he's the best pitching prospect to ever come out of Japan. Take that as you will.

 

Personally, I'd throw money at him like there's no tomorrow.

 

Hideki Irabu came with the same description and accolades.

 

I think its a risky proposition.

 

 

"Best ever" tends to mean more the larger the sample size.

[Soriano12]

Of course if a team could prove that Daisuke will generate

 

X amount of ticket revenue, X amount of merchandise revenue, X amount of sponsorship revenue,

 

They would have a good shot of getting ownership to pony up the $$$

[CubinNY]

Is this guy viewed as a "can't miss" at the next level?

 

Yes his stuff is nasty, but ins't there a chance, that for whatever reason, he just won't be that great in the US? Anything could happen, espcecially mentally with him.

 

If a GM dishes out the 20+ million dollar bidding fee, plus the year contract(who the hell knows how high that will be), and this guy flops...that will pretty much spell the end of the GM.(plus many others too within the organization)

 

I can only think of one team that will take on this risk.

 

General consensus is that he's the best pitching prospect to ever come out of Japan. Take that as you will.

 

Personally, I'd throw money at him like there's no tomorrow.

 

Hideki Irabu came with the same description and accolades.

 

I think its a risky proposition.

 

When Irabu came to America he was almost 29 years old. He also had no where near the success as this kid, who is 26.

 

I think the posting fee is huge, but signing this guy would be like getting a top of the line starter just entering his prime.

[Bruno7481]

Is this guy viewed as a "can't miss" at the next level?

 

Yes his stuff is nasty, but ins't there a chance, that for whatever reason, he just won't be that great in the US? Anything could happen, espcecially mentally with him.

 

If a GM dishes out the 20+ million dollar bidding fee, plus the year contract(who the hell knows how high that will be), and this guy flops...that will pretty much spell the end of the GM.(plus many others too within the organization)

 

I can only think of one team that will take on this risk.

 

General consensus is that he's the best pitching prospect to ever come out of Japan. Take that as you will.

 

Personally, I'd throw money at him like there's no tomorrow.

 

Hideki Irabu came with the same description and accolades.

 

I think its a risky proposition.

 

When Irabu came to America he was almost 29 years old. He also had no where near the success as this kid, who is 26.

 

I think the posting fee is huge, but signing this guy would be like getting a top of the line starter just entering his prime.

 

My only point is that it is a risky proposition. He could come over and be dynamite, I don't know.

 

Whoever signs him just better have done their homework and know what they are getting.

[questionmarkgrace]

My only point is that it is a risky proposition. He could come over and be dynamite, I don't know.

 

Whoever signs him just better have done their homework and know what they are getting.

 

well he did shut down the us team in the wbc. And that team had some really good players abeit not the Pujols or the Big Papi's but D Lee and others/

[Mephistopheles]

Uehara pitched against the US. Matsuzaka pitched against Taiwan, Mexico and Cuba. Matsuzaka pitched a complete game in the 2004 Japan-US All Star Series.

 

MLB All Stars          AB   R   H   RBI
Carl Crawford, LF       4   1   1   0
Jack Wilson, SS         4   0   1   1
Hank Blalock, 3B        4   0   0   0
Moises Alou, RF         4   0   1   0
Miguel Cabrera, LF      3   0   1   0
Victor Martinez, C      3   0   1   0
Johnny Estrada, DH      3   0   0   0
Brad Wilkerson, 1B      3   0   0   0
Alex Cora, 2B           3   0   0   0
TOTALS                 31   1   5   1

NPB                        IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR   BF
Daisuke Matsuzaka W (1-0) 9.0   5   1   1   0   6   0   31

[questionmarkgrace]

The gyroball is a myth that was debunked in another thread. Apparently it's feasible, but Matsuzaka doesn't use it.

 

Not to digress but its not a myth, will carrol said its in his arsenal but its not. Its a pitch that he has admittedly thrown before but he can't throw it with any consistency.

 

here's an article on it http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-gyro031306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

and the gist of the article

Oh, yes," Matsuzaka said. "I'm trying to throw it."

 

Turns out Daisuke Matsuzaka, the pitcher who would come to the United States and cause a revolution with his gyroball, doesn't throw one. He throws a fastball, a sinker, a changeup, a splitter and a filthy slider. He'd like to teach himself how to throw a gyroball, and Matsuzaka said he may trot it out Tuesday when he starts for Japan against Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

 

"I have done it in a game," Matsuzaka said. "But not too much. Sometimes accidentally."

[Mephistopheles]

I've watched several of his starts, he seems to have:

 

a low 90s FB

a high 80s 2FB/CFB

a low 80s slider (good pitch)

a mid to high 70s CB

a forkball in the low 70s

 

All of his offspeed pitches are quality - at least in the time that I have seen.

[questionmarkgrace]

Uehara pitched against the US. Matsuzaka pitched against Taiwan, Mexico and Cuba. Matsuzaka pitched a complete game in the 2004 Japan-US All Star Series.

 

my mistake but I knew he dominated the US team just thought it was the in the WBC. Proabably comprable or better than our WBC team though.

[CUBZ99]

I would guess the Cubs are seriously looking at making a respectable bid for his services. I'm remember Gary Hughes being interviewed during the season and he stated that he was headed to Japan for two weeks to scout. Looking at the small list of the players that are being posted, you would have to think he has to be the player the Cubs were interested in.

[questionmarkgrace]

how does the posting system work though. i know about the sealed bids and all that but is there a set time frame or do the seibu lions set the time frame. And is this posting governed by some japanese baseball league or are we free to assume that Seattle or New York have the inside edge due to their japanese connections?

 

I just find it hard to believe that the seibu lions owners wont find someway to milk the yankees for more money. I can't blame them either. ALso I wouldn't be surprised if old George find a way to send a blank check.