Interesting Matsuzaka chat

[Beckett95]

http://chats.boston.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=auditorium&webtag=bc-sportsmain

 

hope this Whiting guy is right :thumbsup:

 

some interesting quotes:

 

brede-- What do you think will be the biggest challange for Daisuke Matsuzaka to overcome?

Robert_Whiting-- Learning the hitters. Avoiding the temptation to try to blow his fastball by hitters in a tight situation... that could result in disaster. That's his weak point.

 

Dana-- Mr. Matsuzaka appears to have filled out in his body type in the past few years. He appears to take his career very seriously. Do you think he will keep working hard after getting his big contract?

Robert_Whiting-- Yes. There's 120 million people in Japan that are following his every move. If nothing else, to avoid embarrassment... he'll work very hard to succeed.

 

rsf-- Hi, Robert. People say Matsuzaka's slider is devastating and tops out at 90. Is that actually a cutter instead? And how about his "shuto"? Is it a synonyms of sinker in Japanese? Thanks.

Robert_Whiting-- Yes on the slider. The shuto is a fast cutter and sometimes it breaks down. The Americans used to say shooter back in the 20's.

 

Johnny_Mac--Hello Robert. Regarding the hitters that he faces in the Japanese league, how do they compare to major league hitters in the US? Is a .300 hitter in Japan the same as a .300 hitter in the majors?

Robert_Whiting-- Japanese hitters are harder to strike out than American hitters. They're very patient. They tend to go to 3-2 a lot. They don't have the power of Americans, generally speaking. There's nobody like Pujols or Howard in Japan.

 

ejp-- A lot has been said about how many innings he has pitched and some minor elbow problems. How is his velocity?

Robert_Whiting-- He was on the DL for almost three months with the sore elbow. His speed has gone down a MPH or two, but he's becomming more of a pitcher than the thrower he used to be. He's using his head more. He used to try to strike everybody out. He doesn't do that anymore.

 

drew1-- Hi Robert, what role will Jason Varitek have on bringing Matsuzaka into the fold? How has he worked with catchers in Japan? Has he ever had the opportunity to work with someone of Tek's caliber?

Robert_Whiting-- Not really. In Japan, the catcher runs the show. Pitchers do what they're told, generally speaking. So he shouldn't have any problems. It's in America where pitchers tend to take the lead. You see a lot of shaking signals off. How can you not get along with Jason Varitek?

[Goalstopper]

i don't know if we should get him. he might be a kaz matsui or a ichiro i don't know but regardless i don't think we should pay him 51m it's crazy. i am all for risk but it seems too risky.

[schillingouttheks]

The 51 million goes to Seibu, not Matsuzaka. Get this straight people.

 

I don't get it. It's chump change to Henry and Co. Why is it a big deal? It doesn't go towards the payroll... In theory, yeah, we'll be spending a lot of money on him, but the 51 million just changes hands, and knowing the resources that Henry has, he can do it without worrying about it.

[Beckett95]

first, we are not paying him 51 million, we are paying Seibu that money (only if he gets signed)

 

i will gurantee you, that Matsuzaka is not going to fail like a Kaz Matsui. He has so much poise when he's out there on the mound.

[Beckett95]

Also, I know how it says he throws low 90's, but in some of his recent videos online of games this year (and the WBC) he's throwing 94-95 consistently through the first 6 innings.

 

Then towards the end of games he starts throwing 91-92

[Fried Neckbones]

Johnny_Mac Hello Robert. Regarding the hitters that he faces in the Japanese league, how do they compare to major league hitters in the US? Is a .300 hitter in Japan the same as a .300 hitter in the majors?

Robert_Whiting Japanese hitters are harder to strike out than American hitters. They're very patient. They tend to go to 3-2 a lot. They don't have the power of Americans, generally speaking. There's nobody like Pujols or Howard in Japan.

 

That's an interesting observation. It seemed like, and was commented on quite a bit, that in the clips floating around it looked as though he was getting a lot of help from the Japanese hitters swinging outside the zone. This would appear to go against that. Bodes well for his success here, I would think.

 

A couple of other interesting things from this. He has experience going against a DH in the PCL. Also this nugget, "Robert_Whiting I think so. Marty Brown, an American who manages the Hiroshima Carp, and played with Curt Schilling, says that Matsuzaka reminds him of Schilling in his prime."

 

Overall, :thumbsup:

[example1]

Yup, I'm not concerned about whether or not Matsuzaka will be a "useful" or "good" pitcher. He'll be good.

[MC Hammer]

The 51 million goes to Seibu' date=' not Matsuzaka. Get this straight people.[/quote']

Yeah come on guys wake up. It's not like rich people care about money or anything ... the Sox FO has plenty to throw around. I mean just look around the board ... how can anyone not be convinced that unless the money counts against the cap it's not actually money? I mean the money doesn't count against the cap, so it's like it doesn't even exist. I mean the Sox still have to pay 51 million dollars, but hey it's not on the books, so who cares.

[schillingouttheks]

That wasn't the point of the statement you quoted. I was annoyed with people getting the fact that the money goes to Seibu wrong and instead saying that it was going to Matsuzaka. Period. The end of the quoted part wasn't meant to lead into the next section of my post.

 

Anyway, I never said that they didn't care about money, or that it doesn't exist. I'm quite aware of it. I just don't understand why some people are annoyed at it. Yeah, it's a lot of money, but to John Henry and Co, it's quite affordable. And yes, they can throw that type of money around. My point in saying that it doesn't count against the cap is that the bid doesn't make us 51 million dollars closer to paying a luxury tax. I'd take issue if that was the case, but it isn't, so I just see this as the FO going out and buying something that they're interested in, and nothing more.

[BSN07]

I was reading an article on MLB.com, I'll try to find it. It said that for his age and how many innings he has thrown, it was actually less then Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and like 5 or 6 other top tier pitchers. So that part of the argument over Matsuzaka seems moot to me at this point. He took 3 months off for a sore elbow. That seems better to me then some of these major leaguers who take off three weeks and try to go again and blow there elbow out( Liriano). Have you guys seen the video against the o4' all-stars? If you haven't it's on one of theses Matsuzaka threads. Go to it and watch it and tell me how you think he will do against a very good lineup. Also while watching the video, notice that the line up isn't an all-star one but a very potent line up. A lineup with the make up of a very good AL lineup. He handles them with ease going 9 innings 5 hits and 1 earned run. And for the love of God, get over the fact the spent 51.1 million, it´s not my money, it´s not your money, Jesus are we gonna give Henry s*** every time he goes and buys out a buisness or buys up some land to sel later at a higher price. This is an investment and marketing oppurtunity for them to make big money. Thats what they care about. Of course he wants D/mat to be succesfull but just aslong as they make there money why should he care if he ever wins a game. All i´m asking is open your mind and see past this as a FA signing.

[BudLight]

For me the issue is not whether the $51M counts toward the luxury tax or not. The issue is what the $51M represents to the smaller market teams in MLB. For years we have constantly heard that the Yankees and their free spending ways were bad for baseball. They established and unfair advantage because of their wealth and how they chose to spend it. This $51M for negotiating rights, IMHO, will have the same effect. So, depending on which side of the "free spending" fence you sit on, opens new arguments on whether this process is good or bad for the small market teams.

[yankeessuck013]

Daisuke Matsuzaka appeared intrigued with Boston's sales pitch before returning to Japan this week.

 

"I have a feeling I want to come (to Boston) next season and I hope I can be (in Boston) in a good environment," he told Japanese reporters in Los Angeles. The Red Sox have until Dec. 15 to sign Matsuzaka.

--------------------

 

Per Rotoworld

[BSN07]

Nice find Yankeessuck013:D

[riverside sluggers]

Daisuke Matsuzaka appeared intrigued with Boston's sales pitch before returning to Japan this week.

 

"I have a feeling I want to come (to Boston) next season and I hope I can be (in Boston) in a good environment," he told Japanese reporters in Los Angeles. The Red Sox have until Dec. 15 to sign Matsuzaka.

--------------------

 

Per Rotoworld

 

Very intriguing, usually Scott Boras holds his clients back from making such comments...

[BSN07]

I think this is gonna end up being a different situation this time with Boras. I don't know why but it seems this may be different. Like riverside said he usually doesn't let his clients talk like that. Boras and Theo are said to have a good relationship, so maybe this won't be a debacle.

[Cocos Disciples]

I really hope we sign the guy. That is all.

[example1]

For me the issue is not whether the $51M counts toward the luxury tax or not. The issue is what the $51M represents to the smaller market teams in MLB. For years we have constantly heard that the Yankees and their free spending ways were bad for baseball. They established and unfair advantage because of their wealth and how they chose to spend it. This $51M for negotiating rights' date=' IMHO, will have the same effect. So, depending on which side of the "free spending" fence you sit on, opens new arguments on whether this process is good or bad for the small market teams.[/quote']

 

The fact is that the Sox have been spending huge amounts of money on baseball for years. manny's contract was bigger than anything on the Yankees until A-rod came around. Pedro signed an enormous contract. The sox are just pickier about who they offer that money to than the Yankees are.

 

If the sox move Manny then this whole discussion is going to change.

[example1]

Interesting little blurb, with some further Matsuzaka interview quotes:

 

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/061122/kyodo/d8li3mbo0.html

 

Baseball: Matsuzaka hoping to wear No. 18 on Red Sox uniform

(Kyodo)

Daisuke Matsuzaka hopes to don the number 18 on his Boston Red Sox uniform next year.

"I would like the number if it's vacant when I sign a contract," the World Baseball Classic MVP right-hander said after taking part in a golf competition in Saitama Prefecture on Wednesday.

 

Even in golf, Matsuzaka placed 18th, the number he has worn since his rookie season in 1999 with the Seibu Lions and ace pitchers have traditionally worn in Japanese baseball.

 

Matsuzaka returned to Japan only Tuesday from a brief visit to the United States after drawing a $51 million bid from the Red Sox for the exclusive rights to negotiate with the 26-year-old.

 

Asked to comment on his expected matchup with Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, Matsuzaka said, "I couldn't strike him out from my second year, so I want to get strikeouts."

 

Matsuzaka struck out Suzuki three times when they faced each other in Japan for the first time on May 16 in 1999.

 

But in his second season in 2000, Matsuzaka struck him out only once in 19 plate appearances. Suzuki moved to the major leagues in 2001.

 

Before leaving for his latest trip to meet his agent Scott Boras last week, Matsuzaka picked Suzuki as the batter he looks forward to facing in the majors.

 

This is a pitcher who likes pitching to Ichiro. Nice!

[riverside sluggers]

He'll (Hopefully) get his chance the home opening series, facing Seattle...

 

Just think about it, Matsuzaka's Fenway Park debut as a Red Sox... his first pitch is for Ichiro

[riverside sluggers]

Im trying to not get to much excited here, but it just keeps looking more and more likely D-Mat will be in Boston this spring.

 

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061123/capt.xkk10611230900.japan_baseball_matsuzaka_xkk106.jpg http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061123/capt.xkk10811230857.japan_baseball_matsuzaka_xkk108.jpg

Ok here Matsuzaka is giving his farewell speech to the Seibu Lions in his home park

 

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20061123/capt.xkk10711230859.japan_baseball_matsuzaka_xkk107.jpg

Here Matsuzaka is being seen thrown up in the air by his teammates... as a celebration of his transfer to the major leagues

[example1]

A nice cultural/historical look at Matsuzaka.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2669791&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos2

[a700hitter]

I guess Matsuzaka is mentally already here:

 

At an appearance outside of Tokyo on Thursday in front of 36,000 fans gathered at the Seibu Lions’ home stadium, Matsuzaka addressed the crowd. According to comments translated by the Kyodo News Service, one of the things Matsuzaka said was, “I’ll try to do the best that I can do in America as a representative of Japan and the Seibu Lions."

--Boston Herald

[ORS]

I guess Matsuzaka is mentally already here:

 

--Boston Herald

That's because no matter what happens with the Sox, Boras will subvert every agreement between MLB and NPB in order to get him here this year.[/yankeefan]

[BSN07]

Hey easy guys with all the throwing! If they dropped him i'm gonna be pissed

 

He's telling all the papers over there how he can't wait to play in BOS, and when his contract is signed he wants to wear #18. He's gonna sign, might be the 11th hour of the final day, but no way they don't make this work. And his gonna wear Damon's old number:thumbsup:

[Goalstopper]

alright now i realize we aren't paying him 51.but i hear what you guys are saying i hope you right but i am not sure about him.

[BoSox21]

I still say the Sox can't afford not to sign Matsuzaka. the rotation has too many issues

[Gom]

That's because no matter what happens with the Sox' date=' Boras will subvert every agreement between MLB and NPB in order to get him here this year.[/quote']

 

Absolutely. I agree completely.