Comments on: Matsuzaka: what the hell?

By: frenchonion

frenchonion — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 21:23:54 +0000

From ESPN.com:

The Boston Red Sox may have posted the top bid for the right to negotiate with Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney reported, citing Major League Baseball sources.

“There has been no official announcement, and the Seibu Lions, Matsuzaka’s team in Japan, have until Tuesday to accept or reject the high bid.

But Olney is reporting that the Red Sox may have posted the top bid with a figure between $38 million and $45 million, according to Major League Baseball officials who are monitoring the bidding.”

By: Tim_G

Tim_G — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 06:21:20 +0000

If this was a game of poker, it would be like announcing that the M’s are going to fold before the other players have even placed their bets. So, even if they are not going to bid, why announce it? The Mets and the other teams simply won’t say what they will do, because they do not want to tip their hands.

Somehow I doubt that they would say that and then bid anyway, as a ploy, but maybe.

By: msb

msb — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:14:21 +0000

#42 — Melendez didn’t seem to think they could prevent it, but he implied they could punish the offender. If they chose to.

By: Livengood

Livengood — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:11:35 +0000

I had hoped that the reason for the public bowing out was either (a) a bluff, designed to give them a better chance of winning with a bid they feel comfortable with but don’t think has a shot of winning if they are publicly avid in their pursuit, or (b) the M’s believe that Matsuzaka ultimately will not sign, for whatever reason, and think they have a much better shot at him as a FA. Realistically, I know neither scenario is even remotely likely. I’m with whomever said that if Yamauchi’s name is attached to this bow out, it very likely isn’t a bluff. While I don’t think Uncle bud has the power to prevent the astronomical bid / lowball offer strategy, as MSB’s post suggested, I also don’t think that’s very likely a strategy that can work.

In the end, I think Dave’s right. They know something we don’t, or something more than we do. I’d speculate it is health-related, and while it may not be anything close to career- or even season-threatening, when coupled with the money involved, was enough to push them out. And if it is the Yankees who end up with him, I hope my speculation is right.

By: pinball1973

pinball1973 — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:32:59 +0000

　　Hargrove is the manager and the team will not address the weak points that kept them from overcoming the handicap of having the worst manager ever at the helm, playing with dinosaurs and running out eight-man lineups despite the AL West BEGGING them to step up and do it.

I wish you all well, and the players better than that, but I’ll simply watch the highlights and ignore the scores and determination of management to seize the cellar and waste yet another year of Ichiro’s career. Sorry to say it, but he won’t sign at any price if the M’s end in last, and may not if they aren’t in the race until late.

(I’ll willingly admit any errors – excepting the established fact the Hargrove is the most effective mismanager in baseball at perhaps -5 games or better – should they win 100 games after all.)

By: msb

msb — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 06:31:21 +0000

#38– so you have a source telling Jon Heyman, “Seattle was the team Matsuzaka least wanted to go to. That source said he believed Matsuzaka didn’t want to play in Ichiro’s shadow and would like to have his own spotlight.”

and other sources that say “if he could choose, he’d come to Seattle to play. The reasons are twofold — center fielder Ichiro Suzuki and catcher Kenji Johjima. Matsuzaka, associates say, has long wanted to play with Ichiro, something that both men experienced in the World Baseball Classic last spring. Team Japan won the tournament with Matsuzaka winning the Most Valuable Player award and Ichiro serving as mentor to the younger men on the team. And Matsuzaka and Johjima spent time as teammates at the 2004 Athens Olympics. “

By: DMZ

DMZ — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 05:37:30 +0000

That’s not begging the question.

By: joser

joser — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 03:49:19 +0000

The article I read that suggested Ichiro’s presence on the Mariners was an issue with Matsuzaka coming to Seattle said it was because he didn’t want to be in Ichiro’s shadow. It’s possible he doesn’t like Ichiro and just offered a different reason rather than saying so, but it’s also possible he really does want to be the star, or at least the “Japanese star,” on his team. Though that of course begs the question as to why the Yankees are still in the running; even if Matsui wasn’t already in pinstripes, there are more than enough big heads casting shadows on that team.

By: James T

James T — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 03:27:19 +0000

Was Suzuki disliked in NPB? Can anyone answer that question? I ask because of the supposed lack of interest on Matsuzaka’s part in playing on the same team as him. And, I’m a Red Sox fan and I clearly remember the first time, in 2001, that Hideo Nomo pitched against him in MLB. He stuck a fastball right in the middle of Suzuki’s back. It was an absolute 100% clear intent to bean the guy pitch. Seriously, was Suzuki roundly disliked in NPB?

And, yes, as a Red Sox fan I would love for John Henry to throw enough money into the pot to beat out failed shipping magnate George Steinbrenner just this once.

By: msb

msb — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 01:44:32 +0000

I believe Tsutsumi rec’d the suspended sentence due to his age at the time of conviction…