Matsuzaka: Red Sox Win w/ $51.1M Bid

[1908]

What do you know about Igawa?

The Tigers might post him after next year, but I can't see them posting him this offseason.

[1908]

Is it a big deal that the Cubs are interested in making a bid for Matsuzaka? I thought the Cubs were pretty much a non-factor in Japan.

Just passing on the gossip. The Japanese press has mentioned the Cubs in connection to a number of Japanese players in the past, and it's never been true. Still, it's fun to see the Cubs in the rumor mill when it comes to Japanese players.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

What is Igawa's stuff like? I know kctigers23 referred to him in another thread as a "power lefty."

[Mephistopheles]

Dunno if I am or not allowed to link this, but here's a video of him: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VJ4SR8Icwvw

 

By power lefty I meant not a soft tossing guy who doesn't K guys. Igawa doesnt have elite velocity, but hes gets some Ks and has some life on it

[1908]

What is Igawa's stuff like? I know kctigers23 referred to him in another thread as a "power lefty."

I've only seen him pitch a few times, but I've never seen his fastball break 92 (148 kph) and it often sits in the high 80's. He has excellent control, changes speeds well, good slider. Likes to pick up new pitches and experiment with them.

[1908]

Dunno if I am or not allowed to link this, but here's a video of him: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VJ4SR8Icwvw

For the curious, Igawa's facing Iwamura five minutes into that clip.

[c3ci1]

Yeah it's no surprise here, but out in the general public it's quite rare.

 

Hey, I'm in, too. Not only that, but also a small Texas college no less.

Which school?

 

Home of the Roo's

 

I went to an AC game during the Otis Amy era.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Boras to be his agent

[Soriano12]

Boras to be his agent

 

cha...ching.

[Mephistopheles]

hmm i thought he had chosen boras a long time ago

[abuck1220]

from the suntimes

 

The Cubs also are expected to be major players in the bidding on Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Seibu Lions. Agent Scott Boras announced Tuesday that Matsuzaka, 26, has asked him to represent the right-hander in negotiations with major-league teams.

 

The Lions are expected to post Matsuzaka's rights next month, giving all 30 major-league teams a chance to bid on the coveted pitcher. The Cubs, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to be among the highest bidders.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

from the suntimes

 

The Cubs also are expected to be major players in the bidding on Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Seibu Lions. Agent Scott Boras announced Tuesday that Matsuzaka, 26, has asked him to represent the right-hander in negotiations with major-league teams.

 

The Lions are expected to post Matsuzaka's rights next month, giving all 30 major-league teams a chance to bid on the coveted pitcher. The Cubs, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to be among the highest bidders.

I like where this is going.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

We all agree that our main focus this offseason is signing starting pitching. I know its important to get people who can drive in runs and such, but starting pitching should be at the top. The top names in FA are Zito and Schmidt. Both have pluses and minuses and both will get a good amount of money. However from what I have read and heard, Daisuke Matsuzaka is probably the best of them all, and its not even close. Im not going to go into his numbers because they are impressive(however, I dont know what that means in translation to MLB). He is 26, and while posting will cost them a bundle, he can be signed long term and a contract that might considered cheap in three years. With the success of japanese stars, I would think with Zito's era and Schmidt's age and health, Matsuzaka would be the most appealing.

 

Here is his wikipedia article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisuke_Matsuzaka

[Brian]

I like where this is going.

 

What's the chances we like where this ends up? :(

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Thinking out loud: Would winning the bidding for Daisuke make us more likely to land Kuroda? Would we want to go after multiple Japanese starters? What if we lose out on Daisuke and win the bid for Iwamura, would a fellow Japanese player make Kuroda more likely to come here?

[FergieJ31]

In 8 seasons with the Seibu Lions Matsuzaka posted a 1.14 WHIP, giving up 1 HR every 12.5 IP. Does anyone know what these numbers project to at the MLB level?

[Guest]

We all agree that our main focus this offseason is signing starting pitching.

Not sure I'm on board with that. I place an equal priority on a stud hitter and a stud pitcher. I think if we lack either one this offseason we will be pressed to be WS-worthy in 2007.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

I like where this is going.

 

What's the chances we like where this ends up? :(

Right now I'd say about 15% based on gut feeling alone.

[CuseCubFan69]

We all agree that our main focus this offseason is signing starting pitching.

Not sure I'm on board with that. I place an equal priority on a stud hitter and a stud pitcher. I think if we lack either one this offseason we will be pressed to be WS-worthy in 2007.

 

What do you define a stud hitter and a stud pitcher to be?

[TruffleShuffle]

Just out of curiosity, are there any (more obscure) Japanese relievers planning on coming over the the U.S. this offseason?

[1908]

Would a fellow Japanese player make Kuroda more likely to come here?

I don't think that matters much either way. These guys are professionals. If they've made up their minds to play in North America, I think they're willing to play with or without Japanese teammates.

[goonys evil twin]

Would a fellow Japanese player make Kuroda more likely to come here?

I don't think that matters much either way. These guys are professionals. If they've made up their minds to play in North America, I think they're willing to play with or without Japanese teammates.

 

Willing yes. But if they had the choice, would they prefer the team with the other Japanese player? It's hard to say, but there seems to be a select few teams that are getting the bulk of the players. Maybe it's because those teams have made more of an effort, or that those teams are more attractive regardless of who else is on the team. But there could be some effect.

[1908]

Would a fellow Japanese player make Kuroda more likely to come here?

I don't think that matters much either way. These guys are professionals. If they've made up their minds to play in North America, I think they're willing to play with or without Japanese teammates.

 

Willing yes. But if they had the choice, would they prefer the team with the other Japanese player? It's hard to say, but there seems to be a select few teams that are getting the bulk of the players. Maybe it's because those teams have made more of an effort, or that those teams are more attractive regardless of who else is on the team. But there could be some effect.

Let's look at recent free agents from Japan. Nomo, Shinjo, Taguchi, Hideki Matsui, Kazuo Matsui and Takatsu all signed with teams that didn't have another Japanese player on them at the time. Iguchi and Johjima signed with teams that had another Japanese player on them. I think any effect is coincidence, but it's impossible to know for certain.

[Guest]

We all agree that our main focus this offseason is signing starting pitching.

Not sure I'm on board with that. I place an equal priority on a stud hitter and a stud pitcher. I think if we lack either one this offseason we will be pressed to be WS-worthy in 2007.

 

What do you define a stud hitter and a stud pitcher to be?

Well, ARod + Daisuke would make me happy. There are other combinations that would also qualify, but it would be tough to list them all.

[A New Era]

Zambrano, Matsuzaka, Hill. Nice 1,2,3. plz.