Matsuzaka not a windfall for Sox after all
-
- January
- 18
Check out this very interesting story by Rob Bradford in the Lawrence (Mass.) Eagle-Tribune on Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Red Sox executives admit that signing the Japanese star is not going to be an economic windfall. In other words, they invested $103 million on his pitching. Marketing has nothing to do with it.
Hey, who knows? The guy could be Koufax. But $103 million is a lot of scratch for a pitcher who has never thrown a ball in the big leagues. It’s going to be interesting to see whether it works out over the long term.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, January 18th, 2007 at 2:54 am by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Share and Enjoy: 
| 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Peter Abraham
If it was my decision, I would rather spend $103 million on Matsuzaka than spend $126+ million on Zito or $46 million on Igawa.
Thanks Rich…but, why?
I’d rather have spent $100 million on Johan Santana
I’d rather have Phil Hughes in AAA than all of those other guys.
I’d prefer to have Jeff Weaver, Javier Vazquez, Jose Contreras, Carl Pavano, and Kevin Brown be our starting rotation.
I think it’s very scary when hospitals advertise
Not me Billyjobob. When providers have to compete, consumers win. God Bless America.
I’d prefer to have Jeff Weaver, Javier Vazquez, Jose Contreras, Carl Pavano, and Kevin Brown be Boston’s starting rotation.
ps – No offense, the blog is great, but I think I liked the previous version a little better. A little more user friendly…
hey pete… if this story is true, than are the yankees really making any additional revenue in the japanese market with hideki matsui? if so, is it because the yankees are selling japanese ads on the OF walls instead of selling the yankees brand in tokyo?
this article left me a little confused…
TurnTwo: Matsui was (and is) more popular in Japan from what I understand. The Yankees also wrapped up a few sponsorships. But I don’t know the details.
Sunny: There are a few things I’m getting used to as well. But I think it looks better overall. Hopefully we’ll all adjust. Thanks for continuing to comment.
TurnTwo: Correct. All the money the Yankees make is from the ads in the OF, like the newspaper ad. It helps the Yankees more since Matsui is an everyday player, compared to Matsuzaka being a pitcher that goes only every 5 days…
sunny,
Because he is 26 years old, throws hard, has stuff that enables him to project to be a #1 or a #2, and is supposedly as resourceful as David Cone, while neither Zito nor Igawa throw hard. Zito is a #2 or maybe even a #3; Igawa projects as a #4 or a #5, if that.
Its not like Boston doesnt have the cash.
And good SP’s are now pricey. Id rather take my chances with him than a Meche for 55 mill.
Rich: I follow your logic and agree with most of what you say, but that is still an awful lot of coin to give to a guy who “has stuff that…project[s] to…a #1 or a #2,” but who hasn’t actually pitched against a lineup full of major leaguers on a regular basis. Irabu and Contreras both has excellent stuff and great expectations as well, but we saw first hand that the real McCoys don’t always live up to the reputations/expectations that accompany them. And I realize Contreras had an excellent 1 year stretch before starting to revert to the Contreras we all know and love the second half of last year. Be honest, would any Yankees fans actually want that guy back? Not this one.
$103 million for a 16 game winner (at most) is a lot to pay…
Anyone else find it funny that the Red Sox have an official casino?
Let’s forget about the hype and D-Mat’s stature as the better pitcher for a minute. Matsuzaka and Igawa are on an even playing field with a clean slate right now. I say that because as of right now, they have two things in common – both are Japanese, and both have yet to throw a single pitch in a stateside MLB game. Both of them are going to have adjustments to make, and whichever does that better and/or quicker will have the leg up. Environment is going to be a big factor, IMO. Let’s just get the damned season started already so we can find out for sure. 8^)
I wouldn’t be surprised if Igawa wins 15 games and is touted as a steal but DM has better numbers (K:BB)that geeks like. No doubt there will be a ton of second guessing filling next year’s hot stove. It’s going to be much easier to criticize Theo than Cashman, unless DM busts out with a top 3 in the CY voting whihc seems very unlikely.
Rather have D-Mat for $103 than Zito for $126? Are you crazy? Zito is by no means old at 28, is an innings eater, and puts up all-star numbers most years. He’s got the biggest curve in the majors, and relies on smarts not power, which means he’ll get better with age. I think you can count on Zito like you can count on Moose or Maddux. He’s proven in the AL. D-Mat pitched well in one single tourney in which big-leaguers played. I suspect we’re looking at another Nomo, or Chan Ho Park, or Mark Prior for that matter. Somebody good, but not Zito good, r more importantly with our agin staff, Zito reliable.
The devil you know only costs $23 more. Take it….Too late.
And whoever said they’d take D-Mat over Santana is insane. I’m hoping there’s a HUGE trade in the work with most of these prospects for Johan. THAT would make my winter, adn probably the twins since they won’t be able to afford him next year and their system is getting dry.