Boston has quite a fetish for Japanese pitchers lately.

[Uber]

The Red Sox should soon announce the signing of left-hander Hideki Okajima, likely to a two-year deal.

The soon-to-be 31-year-old Okajima will likely be the top lefty in the Boston pen. His plus curveball helped him to a 2.14 ERA and a 63/14 K/BB ratio in 54 2/3 IP for the Nippon Ham Fighters last season, though it was something of a career year. He might be very good until the league begins to figure him out, at which time he could settle in as a reasonable specialist.

[jjgman21]

so why do some Japanese players go through a bidding process and others are allowed to just sign on with a MLB team?

 

or did the bidding on this guy just go under the radar?

[Laura]

He was a free agent.

[jjgman21]

He was a free agent.

 

how long would it have been before Matzualphabet was FA?

[questionmarkgrace]

other than the fact he seems like he might be a prettty good relief prospect they probably view him as a guy who can pal around with Daisuke Matsuzaka and communicate with him normally, as in not through an interpreter. Maybe the transition period will be easier with someone he knows or someone in the same situation as him.

[Laura]

He was a free agent.

 

how long would it have been before Matzualphabet was FA?

 

I think after the 2008 season? Someone here probably has a better idea.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

He was a free agent.

 

how long would it have been before Matzualphabet was FA?

 

I think after the 2008 season? Someone here probably has a better idea.

 

Correct. He didn't have enough service time to be eligible until then.

[Guest]

He was a free agent.

 

how long would it have been before Matzualphabet was FA?

 

I think after the 2008 season? Someone here probably has a better idea.

 

I believe I read today that it is March 2008. Seibu is completely screwed if he doesn't sign.

[Guest]

from Joe Sheehan's BP article today:

 

Park Avenue chiming in on this is nice, but it’s not terribly relevant to the Seibu Lions, who are completely over a barrel here and have every incentive to help the Red Sox sign Matsuzaka. Above the line, they’ll get $51 million if the Sox sign Matsuzaka, absent any rebate. If the Sox don’t sign Matsuzaka, the Lions will get their pitcher back, no cash, and have him for one more season. They can post him again next winter, but since he can be a free agent come April of 2008, there’s little chance he’ll attract the same kind of bidding a year from now.

[Warpticon]

I think everybody's overlooking the most important part of this.

 

His former team was the HAM FIGHTERS.

[Rob]

from Joe Sheehan's BP article today:

 

Park Avenue chiming in on this is nice, but it’s not terribly relevant to the Seibu Lions, who are completely over a barrel here and have every incentive to help the Red Sox sign Matsuzaka. Above the line, they’ll get $51 million if the Sox sign Matsuzaka, absent any rebate. If the Sox don’t sign Matsuzaka, the Lions will get their pitcher back, no cash, and have him for one more season. They can post him again next winter, but since he can be a free agent come April of 2008, there’s little chance he’ll attract the same kind of bidding a year from now.

 

He will accrue enough service time to qualify for free agency in april 2008, but he wouldn't be able to come to the States on his own terms til the season was over.

[1908]

I think everybody's overlooking the most important part of this.

 

His former team was the HAM FIGHTERS.

NIPPON HAM Fighters. Japanese teams are named after the company that owns them typically.

[Tracer Bullet]

I think everybody's overlooking the most important part of this.

 

His former team was the HAM FIGHTERS.

 

Exactly. You simply DO NOT mess with a Ham Fighter.

[snoodmonger]

they don't dig on swine

[sethuel1]

You guys are screwing it up. They're just Fighters. Their sponsor is Nippon Ham.

 

Ah, screw it. They're the Ham Fighters. they fight ham.

[JeffH]

Why in the world would anyone ever fight ham? Ham is excellent!

[goonys evil twin]

Ah, screw it. They're the Ham Fighters. they fight ham.

 

I thought that ham was their weapon of choice in a fight.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Why in the world would anyone ever fight ham? Ham is excellent!

 

Ham has been involved in centuries-long fued with balogna. Turkey and pastrami also seem to have enmity toward ham. Roast beef and corned beef have recently joined ham in an alliance while chicken pulled pork have tried to remain neutral.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Ah, screw it. They're the Ham Fighters. they fight ham.

 

I thought that ham was their weapon of choice in a fight.

 

Ham would be an excellent weapon.

[snoodmonger]

Ah, screw it. They're the Ham Fighters. they fight ham.

 

I thought that ham was their weapon of choice in a fight.

 

Ham would be an excellent weapon.

 

it would be kind of slippery, though

[tkenm356]

Ah, screw it. They're the Ham Fighters. they fight ham.

 

I thought that ham was their weapon of choice in a fight.

 

Ham would be an excellent weapon.

 

it would be kind of slippery, though

 

Not with Nippon Ham Grips!

 

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