ORS

This deal isn't a steal. It's what you should expect to come out of the posting process. The agent has one arrow in his quiver. The clock, and we see how far it got the best agent in the game. That said, it is a good deal if he performs to his hype. They'll have a very good pitcher for 6 years at well below market rate for the talent.

Didn't Beckett change his approach a bit during the last month? Less heaters. More curves. More show-me changeups. Pitching to contact. I recall reading a quote about him saying he needed to adjust and pitch to where the hitters can't handle the pitch as well instead of trying to strike everyone out.

It begins. I forget where I read it, but Matsuzaka's BB rate was significantly better than Nomo's (in Japan). I'm going to hold off on predictions since the only time I've watched him live with an MLB ball was the WBC. From the looks of his stuff though, with control he could be very successful in this league. He moves it both ways with the split/slider combo to compliment his good FB. If those pitches turn out as good as they look on youtube, he'll be a stopper, IMO.

I picked it up on another message board; I'm not that obsessed. Although, I did click on it before I copied the url.

Click here to see the flight tracked

Here's Hollins page at bb-ref: Hollins' Stats He's really just a 4th OF. But, he can play every OF position. He's got some power (~.180 IsoD the last two years). He can run a little. And, he's a RH pull hitter so Fenway could help him a bit. He's interesting because he will cost nothing, but I'm not jazzed about him being the starting CF.

Hollins is interesting. If the Sox are able to trade Crisp for Gonzalez, Hollins could provide a stop gap CF until Ellsbury looks ready. He'd provide good D and some pop. Joel Pineiro isn't a horrible option for SP depth. I agree about Toby Hall. He'll get some interest from big market clubs looking for a backup. I think he wants to start somewhere, though. Interesting to see what plays out.

They'll have to go to court first. MLB and NPB have entered into an agreement where MLB won't recognize "retired" players as eligible for free agency. They would have to sue against that agreement. Precedent in the US courts sides with businesses recognizing the contractual obligations of personnel. Additionally, NPB won't allow free agency rights to be bought outside the agreed upon posting process. Seibu could go against the NPB, but I'm unsure of the Japanese legal environment and how that would work. As members of NPB, are they bound by all NPB agreements? And, given the importance of honorable business dealings in Japan, would they go against the agreement amongst their peers? Doubtful.

More importantly, the NPB commissioner's office has said they won't allow Boras to subvert the posting process. So, no matter what a court decided here in regards to Matsuzaka being recognized as a FA, he wouldn't be released from his contract in Japan.

Spread Category : Date & Time Favorite..................Spread....................Underdog 12/14 8:00 ET At Seattle...................-10......................San Francisco 12/16 8:00 ET Dallas..........................-3............................At Atlanta 12/17 1:00 ET At Minnesota................-3................................NY Jets 12/17 1:00 ET At Baltimore..............-11.5...........................Cleveland 12/17 1:00 ET At New England..........-11...............................Houston 12/17 1:00 ET At Buffalo....................-1..................................Miami 12/17 1:00 ET Pittsburgh..................-2.5..........................At Carolina 12/17 1:00 ET At New Orleans..........-9.5.........................Washington 12/17 1:00 ET Jacksonville................-3.5......................At Tennessee 12/17 1:00 ET At Chicago................-13.5.........................Tampa Bay 12/17 1:00 ET At Green Bay...............-5.................................Detroit 12/17 4:15 ET At NY Giants...............-5.5........................Philadelphia 12/17 4:05 ET Denver.......................-2.5..........................At Arizona 12/17 4:15 ET At Oakland..................-1...............................St. Louis 12/17 8:15 ET At San Diego..............-8.5.........................Kansas City Monday Night Football Point Spread 12/18 8:30 ET At Indianapolis............-3.5..........................Cincinnati Straight Category : Date & Time Favorite................................................Underdog 12/14 8:00 ET At Seattle..............................................San Francisco 12/16 8:00 ET Dallas.........................................................At Atlanta 12/17 1:00 ET At Minnesota...................................................NY Jets 12/17 1:00 ET At Baltimore................................................Cleveland 12/17 1:00 ET At New England..............................................Houston 12/17 1:00 ET At Buffalo.........................................................Miami 12/17 1:00 ET Pittsburgh.................................................At Carolina 12/17 1:00 ET At New Orleans........................................Washington 12/17 1:00 ET Jacksonville...........................................At Tennessee 12/17 1:00 ET At Chicago................................................Tampa Bay 12/17 1:00 ET At Green Bay...................................................Detroit 12/17 4:15 ET At NY Giants.............................................Philadelphia 12/17 4:05 ET Denver.......................................................At Arizona 12/17 4:15 ET At Oakland....................................................St. Louis 12/17 8:15 ET At San Diego.............................................Kansas City Monday Night Football 12/18 8:30 ET At Indianapolis............................................Cincinnati Monday Night Football Total Points Scored :................___78_____

If I recall, the snippet was that this would be the largest contract ever to a Japanese player. Largest. Let that word sink in. It says nothing about annual value. A 6 yr, $54M deal is the "largest" ever. Another case of the media getting a buzz word in there. Based on the way it was reported, we know nothing about the annual value of the contract. I think we've allowed something to slip through the cracks. Is Boras really willing to risk him going back to Japan? I think the answer is yes if he's certain he can keep Matsuzaka as a client. But I don't think that is a certainty. Matsuzaka is a hero, as Boras mentioned, over there. If this falls through, I doubt Matsuzaka will get much blame publically. Boras will be the fall guy - it is his job to get the deal done. The Sox will get blamed too, but I think there's a strong chance Boras loses Matsuzaka as a client if this doesn't get done. Then he gets nothing when Matsuzaka becomes a FA. I think he takes the sure thing (money now).

Of course you believe they are. It won't take much convincing for you believe any columnist who portrays them badly. It makes you feel better to think they are bumbling, greedy bastards in comparison to the noble, wise Yankees. EDIT: And the fact that you mention those GMs brings me back to my original point, you take everything in print literally. FYI unless you have a direct quote, you know nothing about the context of those comments. It could be very thoughtful analysis. It could also be something uttered in the hotel bar after 1:00 am at the Winter Meetings. The reporter isn't interested in making it believable. They just want the snippet in print. But, unless they tell, you never know how they got it.

Jeebus, it's like panicville in here. Good thing no one here is calling the shots, doubly so for you Jacko since you are leading the lemmings to the cliff, because you would have all flinched 2 days before the deadline. Nobody has flinched yet. Nothing new to report. Posturing from both sides. Now go watch the excellent football game on tonight.

I think Boras is trying to shoe horn a little leverage by freezing them out. They are playing their cards. Putting the onus on Boras is probably something he never expected. His reaction should be interesting.

Jacko. That figure was the original unsubstantiated speculation. Nothing new has "leaked" or been "speculated". Those aren't the current "reports", they are the current regurgitation of misinformation. You know, typical modern day sports journalism.

A little too strong of an analogy. Nobody is being denied permission to play because of any of those reasons. They are being denied permission (or would be) because of a decision they made. That decision is to play ball in the NPB. NPB has an agreement with MLB. Don't want to hurt your chances of playing in the MLB? Don't start off in the NPB. There's a league in Taiwan and Korea, and while the scouting of that market is in its infancy, we are seeing signings of young talent to come over and go through the minors here.

This is fluff and uninteresting to me.

What gobble-dee-gook. I can't believe you bought that line. When you buy property, you bought it. It's yours. No further negotiation is necessary. He's right about one thing. It is a competition excluding premium. In terms of property, it's like isolating a home on the real estate market, and you are the only one allowed to submit a bid to the owner. Who wouldn't want to be in that situation?

I know it is the fringe players that will be getting replaced, but it isn't like replacing them with a rookie. The rookies will replace the fringe guys at the rate rookies are ready to make the transition. By making the fight for the rights of Japanese professionals, they are potentially introducing immediate replacements, meaning careers get ended earlier. And, lets not act like it is a "few" players. If posting goes away, the number making the transition would certainly increase. Especially in light of the recent successes of Japanese talent here.