Is Dice-K Matsuzaka really better than Hideo Nomo? Really worth $100 millions/6 years?

Question

I’m not an expert on baseball, but I heard that Dice-K is claimed to be the best pitcher for his generation and the most expensive Japanese baseball player who came to MLB ($100/5 years including negotiation fee.). After watching his pitching last night (and the whole season), I don’t think he is better than Hideo Nomo. Or am I missing something?

Answer 1

They mean the best pitcher of his generation in Japan - which he most certainly is. The only Japanese pitcher you can argue is Irabu, "The Japanese Nolan Ryan".

Nomo was great, threw a no-hitter in both leagues. Dice-K is a rookie here, you need to give him a few years to see where he rates among guys that played for years like Nomo.
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Answer 2

Why compare him to Nomo? The Red Sox got Nomo from the Dodgers as a veteran and got a good season out of him. He pitched a no hitter in 2000 or 2001. Matsuzaka is still a work in progress. He got a number of strike outs, but always seems to have an inning when he loses his controls and puts on runners through walks and poorly placed pitches. He will be working with the Red Sox staff. I am sure that they are nowhere writing him off yet.

Answer 3

Sadly, he's not better than Hideo Nomo right now. He will have more than a few opportunities to prove otherwise, though. I think one season in the bigs will be a huge step for him, starting next season.

Answer 4

He may and should develop some more as a big-league pitcher, but his stuff just isn't as dominant as Nomo's when Nomo was in his prime.

And he's definitely not worth $100M.

Answer 5

Let's look at this: What they should have done is at least 'required' him, if he wishes to come to American baseball, give him some American hitters to pitch to while negotiating. He's no better than a long reliever, when he gets the ball over the plate. This 'he's adjusting crap' is stupid. It's a baseball, you hold it, you throw it, you put it over the plate. Why are we worrying about every pitch he throws? When is he going to 'fall apart'? I don't even want to talk about that 'thing' Gagne. When was his last fix ?

Answer 6

Is he worth 100 million for 6 years? No. The Red Sox overpaid for the bidding rights in order to keep him away from the Yankees. It's sort of a revenge thing after the trade for A-Rod fell through, and A-Rod ended up being a Yankee. For the Red Sox, it was a win-win situation at the time. If the Red Sox couldn't sign him, at least they keep him away from the Yankees. If they could sign him, then they got a quality pitcher.

Matsuzaka is better than Nomo simply because he's a clutch pitcher when it comes to big games. He put up a great performance during the World Baseball Classic, so his value skyrocketed. He's also very durable and puts up lots of innings.

Answer 7

In 1 to 2 years he will be 28 or 29. That's a little old to reach your "prime."

He was a bad investment, they thought they were getting a pitcher who was MLB ready and they got a pitcher who is not. A 4.40 ERA is not worth what they spent.

Answer 8

why did you report me because I said I had no opinion about the question, I was trying not to say anything bad, plus I asked if the question was posted before which it was, what is wrong with you for reporting that, are you serious.

Answer 9

i would not have paid 51 million to talk to anyone... no he is not better than nomo..sorry.

Answer 10

well hes still adjusting and has the potential to be better than him but hes still young and adjusting to the real baseball league