Matsuzaka: Red Sox Win w/ $51.1M Bid

[1908]

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.

Ichiro and Godzilla were just as popular as Matsuzaka if not more so.

[Mephistopheles]

Kaz Matsui was just as popular too

[nilodnayr]

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.

 

Has anyone ever rated his pitches on a 70/20 scale?

[1908]

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.

The system is run by the NPB (some Japanese baseball league) and MLB commissioners' offices. It's a set time frame. MLB teams are informed a player is available and they submit a bid to the MLB office. MLB passes on the high bid to the NPB office, but not the name of the team. The posting team is free to accept or reject the high bid. If they accept, the winning bidder is informed of the decision and allowed to negotiate with the posted player. If they cannot reach an agreement, the posted player remains with his NPB team. If they reach an agreement, the posting fee is paid.

[b_wiggy_66]

Another thing that would come with this would be more Japanese advertisement, media coverage, and memorabi8lia sales. These would all add to the Cubs already great revenue and give them another market to draw from.

[Mephistopheles]

i dont believe ive seen it.

 

his fastball probably rates a 70/80

slider probably a 60/80

his other two offspeed pitches a 55/80

 

With good command, stamina and pitchability.

[1908]

Another thing that would come with this would be more Japanese advertisement, media coverage, and memorabi8lia sales. These would all add to the Cubs already great revenue and give them another market to draw from.

MLB owns all international broadcast rights and merchandise sales. Any revenue generated is split evenly among the 30 teams.

[questionmarkgrace]

The system is run by the NPB (some Japanese baseball league) and MLB commissioners' offices. It's a set time frame. MLB teams are informed a player is available and they submit a bid to the MLB office. MLB passes on the high bid to the NPB office, but not the name of the team. The posting team is free to accept or reject the high bid. If they accept, the winning bidder is informed of the decision and allowed to negotiate with the posted player. If they cannot reach an agreement, the posted player remains with his NPB team. If they reach an agreement, the posting fee is paid.

 

do you know who handles the bids? and is the posting bid ever public knowledge? Basically is there anything in place ensuring the honesty of the system? Its cynical but I could see an east coast team given a heads up on who bid what and I could also see a franchise that is an up start or is in dire need of revenue the leg up to make sure it suceeds. conspiracy theories I know, I know

[1908]

do you know who handles the bids?

The Office of the Comissioner for MLB.

 

and is the posting bid ever public knowledge?

The amount of the winner's bid is. No one else's.

 

Basically is there anything in place ensuring the honesty of the system?

It's a blind system being run by top officials from both leagues. Other than that, no.

[sethuel1]

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.

jesus

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I can't wait till the Yanks will have two ROY candidate pitchers next year with Hughes and Matsuzaka...

[Soriano12]

I can't wait till the morons wake up and install a salary cap for baseball.

[Deeg]

He's a bulldog, too - a real Maddux/Hershiser mind on the hill. This guy is going to be a beast - it sure would be nice to see the Cubs try, at least.

 

BTW - Will Carroll is the last guy you want to listen to when it comes to the gyroball, as he's personally responsible for about 98% of the minsinformation about it. Yes, it is a pitch and yes, Matsuzaka throws it (though not often).

[Drew Doughty]

I can't wait till the morons wake up and install a salary cap for baseball.

 

i would argue that a salary floor would be more effective, but neither would be particularly good (or bad) for baseball.

[Derwood]

I can't wait till the morons wake up and install a salary cap for baseball.

 

i would argue that a salary floor would be more effective, but neither would be particularly good (or bad) for baseball.

 

I've often thought the same, but I think you would see some ridiculous contracts. What if the salary floor was, say, $40 million. What would the Marlins have done this year? Be forced not to play promising youngsters? Give artificial raises to people? Sign some aging vet to a ludicrous contract?

[Rob]

I can't wait till the morons wake up and install a salary cap for baseball.

 

i would argue that a salary floor would be more effective, but neither would be particularly good (or bad) for baseball.

 

I've often thought the same, but I think you would see some ridiculous contracts. What if the salary floor was, say, $40 million. What would the Marlins have done this year? Be forced not to play promising youngsters? Give artificial raises to people? Sign some aging vet to a ludicrous contract?

 

I'm sure JoBo wouldn't have minded a $25 million dollar one year contract.

[A New Era]

I can't wait till the morons wake up and install a salary cap for baseball.

 

i would argue that a salary floor would be more effective, but neither would be particularly good (or bad) for baseball.

 

I've often thought the same, but I think you would see some ridiculous contracts. What if the salary floor was, say, $40 million. What would the Marlins have done this year? Be forced not to play promising youngsters? Give artificial raises to people? Sign some aging vet to a ludicrous contract?

 

I'm sure JoBo wouldn't have minded a $25 million dollar one year contract.

 

A salary cap is alot more effective and easy to complete. You can force a rich ballclub not to spend money. It's hard to make a poor ballclub spend an extra $20 million dollars they don't have. .

[nilodnayr]

I can't wait till the morons wake up and install a salary cap for baseball.

 

i would argue that a salary floor would be more effective, but neither would be particularly good (or bad) for baseball.

 

I've often thought the same, but I think you would see some ridiculous contracts. What if the salary floor was, say, $40 million. What would the Marlins have done this year? Be forced not to play promising youngsters? Give artificial raises to people? Sign some aging vet to a ludicrous contract?

 

If the MLB just enforced the rules regarding allocating revenue sharing into the organization to improve it, the inequity probably would be much relieved. Basically, let the yankees pay the bonuses so you can draft high end players in the draft and/or create Latin American complexes to siphon that cheap talent. Thats the easiest and best way to build a competitive organization. Be specific and force teams who make money on revenue sharing to spend 75% on either of those options. AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

[questionmarkgrace]

The so-called posting process is expected to begin shortly after the World Series. Teams will have 40 days to submit bids to Commissioner Bud Selig's office, with the highest one being awarded a 30-day window to accomplish a deal with Matsuzaka, who is being represented by Scott Boras.

 

link http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-0610150205oct15,1,7260701.column?track=rss

 

forty days seems like an awful long time to gather bids. I wonder if he is right about that? Looks like this could drag out for a couple months before any team can officially have him under contract.

[Soriano12]

Cubs need to get this guy. Bottom line.

 

They can make up alot of the bid $$$ in marketing/merchandise revenue.

[CubFanPhilly]

Cubs need to get this guy. Bottom line.

 

They can make up alot of the bid $$$ in marketing/merchandise revenue.

 

Not really. Merchandise revenue is shared nearly equally among the teams, so there's little merchandising revenue to be gained.

 

The only marginal revenue oppornunities are higher TV ratings or the notion that a high profile signing will support higher ticket prices.

[Brian]

Who cares about what money he might bring in, we need another frontline starter. he's (probably) the best out there. he should be pursued as far as the Cubs can possibly go.

[Outshined_One]

Cubs need to get this guy. Bottom line.

 

They can make up alot of the bid $$$ in marketing/merchandise revenue.

 

Not really. Merchandise revenue is shared nearly equally among the teams, so there's little merchandising revenue to be gained.

 

The only marginal revenue oppornunities are higher TV ratings or the notion that a high profile signing will support higher ticket prices.

 

Would the Cubs get money from broadcasting games in Japan?

[Soriano12]

Cubs need to get this guy. Bottom line.

 

They can make up alot of the bid $$$ in marketing/merchandise revenue.

 

Not really. Merchandise revenue is shared nearly equally among the teams, so there's little merchandising revenue to be gained.

 

The only marginal revenue oppornunities are higher TV ratings or the notion that a high profile signing will support higher ticket prices.

 

There's gotta be some BS Hendry/McDonough can spew to Tribune brass to get them to pony up the bid fee.

 

Increased viewership of the superstation in Asian markets?

[CubFanPhilly]

Who cares about what money he might bring in, we need another frontline starter. he's (probably) the best out there. he should be pursued as far as the Cubs can possibly go.

 

I agree. But he will be expensive - probably more than Schmidt and comparable to Zito with the posting fee.