2006-12-29 10:04:50 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Gotta try something desperate when your finishing behind the Jays...
2006-12-29 10:06:53 · answer #1 · answered by HONORARIUS 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Hmm, if you look at the contracts that pitchers like Gil Meche and Barry Zito have signed this offseason, the Matsuzaka deal looks mighty nice from the perspective as a Sox fan. And no, we were'nt just trying to keep him from the Yankees, he's the best talent on the market this offseason, and he's young. It's a damn good deal, seeing as the $51 mil that goes to the Seibu Lions does not count as payroll, and the Sox therefore won't have to pay luxary tax on it. In effect. the contract Matsuzaka signed is actually for longer and for less money than, say, Gil Meche. In a very thin market, and as a team desperate for good pitching, this was a great move for the Red Sox. It may be a risk, but it's certainly a good risk.
2006-12-29 13:19:59 · answer #2 · answered by Laura 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because pitching is what gets you wins in the playoffs, and gets you to the playoffs for that matter. Every team wants do have a pitcher in their rotation that will give them a chance to win every time they set foot on the mound. Daisuke Matsuzaka is a pitcher with talent to do that. He played very well in the World Baseball Classic and has shown he can compete with major league-caliber hitters.
He also brings a new pitch to the majors called the "Gyroball." If you see it on video the ball starts up then drops to the side. It is similar to a curve ball, but I believe it is slower. That pitch could be effective on major league hitters, since it is a pitch they are unfamiliar with it.
I don't know if he is worth the hefty price, but if he performs as well as he did in Japan it is certainly worth it. When you look at guys like Gil Meche going to Kansas City for 5 years and $55m dollars you know that pitching is where the money is at. Jeff Suppan got $40m dollars, while Jason Marquis got $40m dollars from the Cubs. All 3 of those pitchers are mediocre so Matsuzaka does deserve a big contract. The only thing is, is that he hasn't played a single game in the majors.
By the way, his former team the Saibu Lions get $51m of that for the right to negotiate with him. Matsuzaka gets around $50m for himself.
2006-12-29 10:29:24 · answer #3 · answered by seahawksblitz8 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
While i resent the Jays remark, they are better than you think, hes on the right track...in that division they had no other choice, they couldnt afford to let the yankees out bid them and win over another player, who not worth what they paid is probably going to be great...
So basically they paid that much not so they could have him but so the yankees couldnt
which they now have the next best japanese pitcher, almost as good, for quite a bit less
2006-12-29 21:55:01 · answer #4 · answered by Adam 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think when you look at the available talent that was out there, Daisuke Matsuzaka was probably one of the better talents available. Plus he is young enough so that the Sox will have a nice group of young arms for the future. Throw in Jonathan Pappelbon, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett this gives you a solid starting pitching staff for years to come. Is Matsuzaka worth the 101 plus Million that they paid? Only time will tell.
2006-12-29 10:13:58 · answer #5 · answered by bolddragon 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think there were a few reasons, one they needed to improve their pitching, and pitching is what wins world series. Dice K is only 26 yr old, just starting his prime pitching years, and he has the potential to be a superstar. Did you watch the World Baseball Classic last spring? He made the Cuban hitters look like little leaguers out there.
Time will tell if they overspent.. who knows in 6 yrs when we look back and he won a couple of Cy Young Awards you may say the Sox stole him!
2006-12-29 14:54:06 · answer #6 · answered by dff701 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to outbid the Yankees.
Here's the thing. In every team sport, every GM has a mandate that is different from that of every other GM. I'm most familiar with baseball, so I'll use examples from MLB and just from recent years.
If you're the Yankees GM, your mandate is to win at all costs.
If you're the Twins GM, your mandate is to stay competitive on a limited budget.
IF you're the Dodgers GM, your mandate is to win.
IF you're the Blue Jays GM, your mandate is to rebuild the system, from the bottom up.
But, if you're the Red Sox GM, your mandate never, ever changes. It's always BEAT THE YANKEES.
2006-12-29 11:05:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well I am a Jays fan but honestly they didn't have the season they wanted with pitching takin a break near the end. So they figured if they blow enough money on this guy that was so so in Japan. But we shall see
2006-12-31 14:20:32 · answer #8 · answered by Smooth Move EX-LAX 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, in the Japanese leauge he played for, he would have won the "Cy Young" award 5 or six times. Also, he is very young at 26 and is locked into his prime as a pitcher. He's been tested in International play (WBC) and was great. But the main reason: So the Yankees wouldn't get him first.
2006-12-29 10:09:03 · answer #9 · answered by Jamie D 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
But he could be as good as he's been in the International circuit and in his own country and if he is it could be lights out in the AL East.
2006-12-29 23:45:27 · answer #10 · answered by Oz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cuz he is really good even in the major leagues and if u think he wont be good here ur an idiot cuz if he can win the whole baseball world classic then wouldnt u think he is better than most americans
2006-12-29 12:46:42 · answer #11 · answered by ksoccer37 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋