Yankees Sign Masahiro Tanaka

[Fro]

That's the same people who said Tanaka wouldn't be posted, so I don't see them having much credibility.

[Derwood]

I had a dream last night that he didn't sign yet as of opening day, and someone decided that each interested team got to use him for 1 inning of relief during an actual game, after which he'd choose who he wanted to play for. He came into a game with a special uniform on and proceeded to mow down the other team.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's been really enjoyable seeing how many people here are willing to pretend they have even the faintest clue how this will turn out.

 

Soooooooo nobody should talk about it unless it's just posting news updates?

[Backtobanks]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/yankees-dodgers-angels-finalists-sign-masahiro-tanaka-according-083439346--mlb.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

Yankees favored, Dodgers, Angels other finalists, according to Hochi Sports. No idea if this is worth posting or not.

 

I suppose that it's just a coincedence that these are the teams that will probably offer the most money.

[A New Era]

How do they know they are finalists? Did Tanaka release a press statement through his agent? NO, so shut up random news outlet I don't care about!

[CubsWin]

10 or 11 more days at the longest before news breaks on who is the favorite. He's got to be signed and have passed a physical by January 24th, 5pm eastern.

[CubsWin]

Tanaka evidently is back in Japan. Met with teams, but didn't leave LA, to tour cities.

 

http://img.pandawhale.com/74343-Tombstone-well-bye-gif-hji0.gif

That's [expletive] perfect. Awesome.

[Rob]

10 or 11 more days at the longest before news breaks on who is the favorite. He's got to be signed and have passed a physical by January 24th, 5pm eastern.

 

Yeah, the best news about this whole thing is that there's an expiration date on the drama.

[Sammy Sofa]

Everyone give me your best hypothetical pitch that the FO could have given Tanaka.

 

I'll pretend to be him, sitting over here playing my Gameboy with Puig.

[davell]

Everyone give me your best hypothetical pitch that the FO could have given Tanaka.

 

I'll pretend to be him, sitting over here playing my Gameboy with Puig.

Have Fukudome, Fujikawa, any other Japanese players there that can attest to how great Chicago is. Let it be known up front that he'll have access to a private jet to get home on, to help cut down on the difference of flying from LA. Have a great translator obviously. Have him a house/condo ready to buy for him, upon signing, complete with what he prefers in his house.

 

Be very comprehensive about Cubs history and how much ONE championship would mean, along with the type of legend he'd have, in being the ace of that team. Come armed with how great our system is, how it's harder to sign top notch, elite players via FA, and show how we'll be in better shape than the old rosters of others, with no farm systems. Impress him with the computer systems in place, that other teams don't have .

 

Show the great Arizona facility, along with fixing him up with a place there too. Show him the renovation plan, down to showing how he could influence some Japanese companies to advertise, making him more money, in the process.

 

Bring in Ernie, Billy Williams, any other Cubs legend you can, to talk about how great it is to have been a lifelong Cub.

 

Explain , in depth, how he's able to be in on the ground floor here, in turning around the fortunes of such a storied franchise and hope like hell he's motivated by that and not just being another in a long line of superstars that come and go from these other places.

Edited January 13, 2014 by davell

[Sammy Sofa]

This guy's good.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Everyone give me your best hypothetical pitch that the FO could have given Tanaka.

 

I'll pretend to be him, sitting over here playing my Gameboy with Puig.

 

I doubt anyone Tanaka's age knows what a Gameboy is.

[davell]

Smaller things, cater in whatever his favorite food is obviously, have his jersey number pictured as being retired at Wrigley. Any presentations that are to be watched on screen would need to be edited to Japanese. Have him fill out a small questionaire prior to him arriving, that may give you some other small info that can help you cater things directly into his wheelhouse. Find out and concentrate on what his hot button is. Obviously, let it be known how close the entire organization is and how easy it is to get ahold of Renteria, Jed, Theo, or whoever, if you have any sort of issue.

[imb]

It's been really enjoyable seeing how many people here are willing to pretend they have even the faintest clue how this will turn out.

 

Soooooooo nobody should talk about it unless it's just posting news updates?

 

not at all what he said and i dont see any way you could infer that unless youre just trying to be a stupid [expletive] up like usual

[treebird]

Smaller things, cater in whatever his favorite food is obviously, have his jersey number pictured as being retired at Wrigley. Any presentations that are to be watched on screen would need to be edited to Japanese. Have him fill out a small questionnaire prior to him arriving, that may give you some other small info that can help you cater things directly into his wheelhouse. Find out and concentrate on what his hot button is. Obviously, let it be known how close the entire organization is and how easy it is to get ahold of Renteria, Jed, Theo, or whoever, if you have any sort of issue.

 

i think i remember you being in sales, but this is still really good stuff.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's been really enjoyable seeing how many people here are willing to pretend they have even the faintest clue how this will turn out.

 

Soooooooo nobody should talk about it unless it's just posting news updates?

 

not at all what he said and i dont see any way you could infer that unless youre just trying to be a stupid [expletive] up like usual

 

Choice meltdown.

[Guest]

Davell was pretty comprehensive, but you can also add a bit about preparation. It's aping the thing they did with Schilling, but showing that he'll have video, numbers, holograms, whatever helps him prepare for hitters. Bosio and his success with guys that have similar repertoires should be prominently mentioned too.

[Sammy Sofa]

Bosio and his success with guys that have similar repertoires should be prominently mentioned too.

 

Is this actually a thing? That's pretty damn cool.

[imb]

Bosio and his success with guys that have similar repertoires should be prominently mentioned too.

 

Is this actually a thing? That's pretty damn cool.

 

probably hard to have read anything about that while pretending to be outraged about the team you haven't paid any attention to

[Sammy Sofa]

Calm down, damn.

[Sammy Sofa]

And to be fair I really don't pay attention to sports in general.

[davell]

Smaller things, cater in whatever his favorite food is obviously, have his jersey number pictured as being retired at Wrigley. Any presentations that are to be watched on screen would need to be edited to Japanese. Have him fill out a small questionnaire prior to him arriving, that may give you some other small info that can help you cater things directly into his wheelhouse. Find out and concentrate on what his hot button is. Obviously, let it be known how close the entire organization is and how easy it is to get ahold of Renteria, Jed, Theo, or whoever, if you have any sort of issue.

 

i think i remember you being in sales, but this is still really good stuff.

Thanks, when the money is basically going to be close or the same from multiple teams, its all about presentation. I honestly have no doubt that Theo is going to be the best at this actually. I remember a story involving Contreras that showed me that and he still lost out, due to the Yankees being the Yankees. He got Schilling in the same way though, by being beyond thorough. There's a lot to overcome in this case, but Theo will be ready and be impressive as hell, I'm confident of that. Does NOT mean that Tanaka comes here though, sometimes it just doesn't matter, a client already has his mind made up prior to the meeting.

 

But, if you can break down the wall and find out what someone's true objection is, which isn't easy to do, if they THINK they've already made up their mind, you've got a shot.

 

I lose people I think I've gotten and get people I didn't think I had a chance with. It's just the nature of how things work obviously. But the more comfortable you can make him(or anyone) feel, the odds you have increase, at least.

 

In the few days he was in the US, he supposedly met with at least 8-9 teams. My hope is this was just to narrow the field and give the truly interested teams more face time, prior to making a decision. If not, considering where we likely started at on his list, I doubt it'd bode well for us.

 

No idea if Tanaka is married, but if so, you've got to roll out the red carpet for his wife. This is actually the most important thing I've mentioned. She's got to do the questionaire, you've got to have players wives or front office wives preferrably(since we don't even have a married player that is considered a longterm piece, to my knowledge) there to make her fall in love with the city. If you can win her over, it's damn near a done deal. Again, no idea if he even has a wife. If not, depending on how the questionaire goes and how much time you have with the guy, you could take it in the total opposite direction and show him some entertainment. Which goes back to trust and making him feel comfortable with you. Again, only if it appears it's something important to him though. You don't take a bible thumper to a strip club without them asking to go beforehand.

[davell]

Davell was pretty comprehensive, but you can also add a bit about preparation. It's aping the thing they did with Schilling, but showing that he'll have video, numbers, holograms, whatever helps him prepare for hitters. Bosio and his success with guys that have similar repertoires should be prominently mentioned too.

Damn, good point. Anything we can do that helps his on-field performance should certainly be prominently in the presentation.

[Wilson A2000]

Everyone give me your best hypothetical pitch that the FO could have given Tanaka.

 

I'll pretend to be him, sitting over here playing my Gameboy with Puig.

 

We will pay you more than anyone else can. I think that's all you need to say.

[imb]

And to be fair I really don't pay attention to sports in general.

 

lets get some more of your hot sports takes then