Matsuzaka: Red Sox Win w/ $51.1M Bid

[Dr. Cub]

So is not winning the bid for Matsuzaka and failing to resign Ramirez how were going to win the World Series? Seems like a perfectly good plan for success. If we just stay away from Arod, Soriano, and Schmidt they can just give us the trophy for next year. When this offseason is a major bust (and I have no reason to think it won't be) what will be the excuses by McDunnough and Hendry? Of course none of these things has gone down yet, but this offseason is starting to look all too familiar.

[da bears]

I'm starting to get the sinking feeling that this offseason is gonna turn out like the Bulls 2000 offseason, in which they said they were targeting McGrady and Grant Hill and all these other big free agents, only to end up with the likes of Ron Mercer and Brad Miller. I hope I'm wrong.

[C.C.]

Let's not hit the panic button just yet...

[moorecg]

I'm starting to get the sinking feeling that this offseason is gonna turn out like the Bulls 2000 offseason, in which they said they were targeting McGrady and Grant Hill and all these other big free agents, only to end up with the likes of Ron Mercer and Brad Miller. I hope I'm wrong.

 

Right now Hendry may be looking at signing Mercer and Miller...they're tall...would cut down on line drives that make it through the middle.

[TheDude]

The offseason doesn't ride on Matsuzaka.

[JeffH]

"I've decided I like guys who can dunk."

[da bears]

The offseason doesn't ride on Matsuzaka.

 

I'm not just saying him. I'm saying with Ramirez too, and eveyrone else. Not just Matsuzaka. Just the overall feeling I'm getting from this offseason. I could be way off, by the way.

[moorecg]

"I've decided I like guys who can dunk."

 

Great plate coverage too...

[goonys evil twin]

The offseason doesn't ride on Matsuzaka.

 

I'm not just saying him. I'm saying with Ramirez too, and eveyrone else. Not just Matsuzaka. Just the overall feeling I'm getting from this offseason. I could be way off, by the way.

 

Last offseason I was ridiculed for stating early worries about the direction they were taking. I was still getting the "it's early" comments in December. Same thing happened before the 2005 season.

 

At this point, I'm not ready to write off the offseason. But going on Hendry's track record, I wouldn't expect it to get much better than it has been in the past.

[tgk]

More speculation from Buster Olney on his insider blog:

 

We have thought all along that Tom Hicks would be the wild card in the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding, and a source tells Jan Hubbard that the Rangers' bid may have been for almost $30 million. One bit of speculation heard yesterday -- and it was nothing more than speculation -- was that maybe Boston had made an enormous bid, in the range of $45 million. :shock:

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster#20061110

[C.C.]

More speculation from Buster Olney on his insider blog:

 

We have thought all along that Tom Hicks would be the wild card in the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding, and a source tells Jan Hubbard that the Rangers' bid may have been for almost $30 million. One bit of speculation heard yesterday -- and it was nothing more than speculation -- was that maybe Boston had made an enormous bid, in the range of $45 million. :shock:

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster#20061110

 

That's insane...

[CoolHandLuke]

More speculation from Buster Olney on his insider blog:

 

We have thought all along that Tom Hicks would be the wild card in the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding, and a source tells Jan Hubbard that the Rangers' bid may have been for almost $30 million. One bit of speculation heard yesterday -- and it was nothing more than speculation -- was that maybe Boston had made an enormous bid, in the range of $45 million. :shock:

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster#20061110

 

Maybe like we discussed they are going to low ball Mat on the contract offer and not care if he doesn't take it, since at least he is not going to the yanks...

[tgk]

More speculation from Buster Olney on his insider blog:

 

We have thought all along that Tom Hicks would be the wild card in the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding, and a source tells Jan Hubbard that the Rangers' bid may have been for almost $30 million. One bit of speculation heard yesterday -- and it was nothing more than speculation -- was that maybe Boston had made an enormous bid, in the range of $45 million. :shock:

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster#20061110

 

Maybe like we discussed they are going to low ball Mat on the contract offer and not care if he doesn't take it, since at least he is not going to the yanks...

 

I could see the Blue Jays doing that, but not Boston. If they win the bid, they'll sign him.

[baseball7897]

More speculation from Buster Olney on his insider blog:

 

We have thought all along that Tom Hicks would be the wild card in the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding, and a source tells Jan Hubbard that the Rangers' bid may have been for almost $30 million. One bit of speculation heard yesterday -- and it was nothing more than speculation -- was that maybe Boston had made an enormous bid, in the range of $45 million. :shock:

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster#20061110

 

If Buster did not mention either the Yankees or Red Sox he would have been fired!!!! I dont believe it.

[baseball7897]

Cubs need to add a front line starter.

 

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6559.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/5340.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/7578.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6787.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6270.jpg

 

IF healthy, this is a potential world series pitching staff.

[Bull]

Cubs need to add a front line starter.

 

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6559.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/5340.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/7578.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6787.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6270.jpg

 

IF healthy, this is a potential world series pitching staff.

 

There you go getting my hopes up again.

[Garwilly]

Cubs need to add a front line starter.

 

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6559.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/5340.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/7578.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6787.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6270.jpg

 

IF healthy, this is a potential world series pitching staff.

 

Alex, I'll take "Keys words in the previous post for $200".

[JWCUB]

Does anyone else feel like this is when you were 8 years old waiting for Christmas day? Just to open up your presents and find that you didn't get what you wanted.

[nilodnayr]

Cubs need to add a front line starter.

 

http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6559.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/5340.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/7578.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6787.jpghttp://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6270.jpg

 

IF healthy, this is a potential world series pitching staff.

 

Alex, I'll take "Keys words in the previous post for $200".

 

buck futter

[Banedon]

More speculation from Buster Olney on his insider blog:

 

We have thought all along that Tom Hicks would be the wild card in the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding, and a source tells Jan Hubbard that the Rangers' bid may have been for almost $30 million. One bit of speculation heard yesterday -- and it was nothing more than speculation -- was that maybe Boston had made an enormous bid, in the range of $45 million. :shock:

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster#20061110

 

I say this is garbage. If there was a $45 million offer on the table, there's no way Seibu would take as long as they have...

[Garwilly]

Does anyone else feel like this is when you were 8 years old waiting for Christmas day? Just to open up your presents and find that you didn't get what you wanted.

 

:shock:

 

 

 

I never wanted a 26 year old man from Japan, sorry.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Does anyone else feel like this is when you were 8 years old waiting for Christmas day? Just to open up your presents and find that you didn't get what you wanted.

 

:shock:

 

 

 

I never wanted a 26 year old man from Japan, sorry.

No mail order husband?

[VanceJergins]

Does anyone else feel like this is when you were 8 years old waiting for Christmas day? Just to open up your presents and find that you didn't get what you wanted.

 

:shock:

 

 

 

I never wanted a 26 year old man from Japan, sorry.

 

ZIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNG!

[Soul]

The offseason doesn't ride on Matsuzaka.

 

I'm not just saying him. I'm saying with Ramirez too, and eveyrone else. Not just Matsuzaka. Just the overall feeling I'm getting from this offseason. I could be way off, by the way.

 

Last offseason I was ridiculed for stating early worries about the direction they were taking. I was still getting the "it's early" comments in December. Same thing happened before the 2005 season.

 

At this point, I'm not ready to write off the offseason. But going on Hendry's track record, I wouldn't expect it to get much better than it has been in the past.

 

I'm in the same boat. Looking at Hendry's record, I'm starting to wonder if the best we can hope for is a resigning of ARam, maybe a journeyman starter.........and done.

 

The nightmare scenario: ARam leaves, no FA's of note show up in Mesa in March------is still very much on the table, despite the supposed loosening of the purse strings.

 

I still wonder if Hendry thinks he got the steal of the decade with Izturis so he doesn't have to do much now.

[sonicdethmonkey0]

The offseason doesn't ride on Matsuzaka.

 

i disagree.

 

to me, it doesn't seem like there is a great option out there for the Cubs to improve their offense. Soriano and Lee definitely can produce, but they both have the potential to be mediocre, and both will likely be highly overpaid. sure, last year was a stellar year for Soriano, but can he keep up his patience at the plate? i sure hope so, for the ridiculous amount of money he's sure to command. as far as Lee goes, i think he'd be a solid pickup, but where do you play him? he's certainly not going to platoon with Jock, and i sure hope he isn't going to take away playing time from a developing Murton. Drew is apparently available, and although i believe he's the best option for the Cubs this offseason, i'm not convinced he'll be a target of Hendry's, despite being exactly what this club needs.

 

the free agent pitching market has even more questions. Schmidt is getting up there in age, and i believe that Zito is a serious risk to have an ERA in the 4.50 range next year as well. don't get me wrong -- i love Zito, and between him and Schmidt, i think i'd rather have Zito. but still, they have significant question marks to me.

 

Matsuzaka is only 26, he has an established track record as a dominating pitcher in Japan, and he will be a young, exciting player that i believe will be a force for many years. sure, he could potentially be a bust, but after watching him pitch in the WBC and following this whole "posting" process, i really believe he is the premier free agent this offseason. the Cubs were terrible offensively and on the mound last year, and Matsuzaka would look great as the number 2 pitcher behind our boy Zambrano. if Hendry has money to burn this offseason, i'd much rather see him burn it on Matsuzaka rather than Soriano or Lee, and i'm going to be disappointed if the Cubs don't make a very serious bid to acquire him. i honestly don't believe they'll get him, but i can hope, dammit, i can hope.

 

EDIT: oh yeah, we really really really REALLY need to re-sign Ramirez. but that's obvious.

Edited November 10, 2006 by sonicdethmonkey0