JS
11-15-2006, 12:52 AM
Daisuke Matsuzaka.
If Boston general manager Theo Epstein made one thing eminently clear at the Daisuke Matsuzaka press conference, it's that the Red Sox are a respectful bunch.
After confirming that Boston had won the rights to negotiate with the Japanese pitching star over the next 30 days, Epstein steadfastly declined to provide further details out of "respect" for Matsuzaka, the Seibu Lions, Japanese professional baseball and Major League Baseball.
The Red Sox respect the New York Yankees, too, apparently enough to inject a startling new wrinkle into their rivalry. Call it "spending without borders." As distasteful as that approach might seem to fans in other towns who are sick of the whole Athens vs. Sparta thing, at least it's nobler than using a flawed system to pull a fast one on George Steinbrenner.
When word filtered out last week that the Red Sox had bid about $40 million for the right to talk to Matsuzaka, some observers assumed they did it simply to ensure the Yankees failed to land the player.
For sake of reference, the $51.1 million figure is more than the 2006 opening day payrolls in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Tampa Bay and Florida. Alex Rodriguez couldn't be reached for comment, but our guess is that even he thinks it's a lot of money.
It has been said that it will cost an additional 40-50 million to sign the pitcher over the next 30 days.
I am sure I am not the only one who is shocked and disgusted by this bullshit. I think anyone who pays that much for a prospect essentially deserves to wait another 100 years to win the WS again. I mean 90-100 million for a player who has done dick in MLB.
I know that it is good marketing tool, but that is only true if the player works out.
If Boston general manager Theo Epstein made one thing eminently clear at the Daisuke Matsuzaka press conference, it's that the Red Sox are a respectful bunch.
After confirming that Boston had won the rights to negotiate with the Japanese pitching star over the next 30 days, Epstein steadfastly declined to provide further details out of "respect" for Matsuzaka, the Seibu Lions, Japanese professional baseball and Major League Baseball.
The Red Sox respect the New York Yankees, too, apparently enough to inject a startling new wrinkle into their rivalry. Call it "spending without borders." As distasteful as that approach might seem to fans in other towns who are sick of the whole Athens vs. Sparta thing, at least it's nobler than using a flawed system to pull a fast one on George Steinbrenner.
When word filtered out last week that the Red Sox had bid about $40 million for the right to talk to Matsuzaka, some observers assumed they did it simply to ensure the Yankees failed to land the player.
For sake of reference, the $51.1 million figure is more than the 2006 opening day payrolls in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Tampa Bay and Florida. Alex Rodriguez couldn't be reached for comment, but our guess is that even he thinks it's a lot of money.
It has been said that it will cost an additional 40-50 million to sign the pitcher over the next 30 days.
I am sure I am not the only one who is shocked and disgusted by this bullshit. I think anyone who pays that much for a prospect essentially deserves to wait another 100 years to win the WS again. I mean 90-100 million for a player who has done dick in MLB.
I know that it is good marketing tool, but that is only true if the player works out.