Joined: 30 May 2004 Posts: 2182 Location: on topic: off forum Country:
Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:46 am Post subject:
I just wanted to mention this before this thread goes away for the next 6 months: I thought those CM's with Tommy Lasorda were hilarious. Especially the Cubs fan up in the tree, "To the TV!!!!"
I just wanted to mention this before this thread goes away for the next 6 months: I thought those CM's with Tommy Lasorda were hilarious. Especially the Cubs fan up in the tree, "To the TV!!!!"
One of the few highlights during this postseason of disappointment.
Baseball's not over for me yet: I'm still watching old recordings and stuff of past Dodger seasons... 1988 was so incredible: I still get a chill down my spine every time I see that home run by Gibson.
Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 8550 Location: California Country:
Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:25 am Post subject:
Matsuzaka announces decision to go to majors
November 1, 2006
AP - Nov 1, 4:42 am EST
TOKYO (AP) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka hopes his next pitch will be in the major leagues.
The most dominant pitcher in Japanese baseball for the last eight seasons, Matsuzaka had his path cleared when the Seibu Lions officially agreed to release the 26-year-old ace.
"I feel very relieved today," Matsuzaka said Wednesday. "I've wanted to go to the major leagues for a long time and am happy this day has finally come."
Matsuzaka was 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA and 200 strikeouts this year. He impressed many major league scouts last March during the World Baseball Classic, where he was selected as the MVP after Japan won the title, and the 2004 Olympics.
Matsuzaka also has gained attention because of the "gyroball." It's a pitch that a right-hander would use to break to the left, although he has said he's yet to master it.
Seibu said Matsuzaka's rights will be "posted," meaning that all 30 major league teams can bid on the righty. The club with the highest bid gains the right to attempt to sign the pitcher.
The New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners have shown interest in Matsuzaka. The Los Angeles Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets are also thought to be among teams with the best chances of signing the Japanese star.
Reports say the Lions plan to charge a major league team $30 million just for rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka has selected agent Scott Boras to represent him in negotiations with major league teams.
"I'm not sure which team I will end up playing for," Matsuzaka said. "I know there are several teams that are interested and I'll go with the one that most appropriately evaluates my ability."
Since turning professional in 1999, Matsuzaka has dominated Japan's pro leagues. He consistently throws in the high-90s mph and has superb command of his off-speed pitches.
A first-round draft pick in the 1998 amateur draft, Matsuzaka has led the Pacific League in wins three times and in strikeouts four times while winning the ERA title twice.
Matsuzaka first burst onto the scene at the 1998 national high school baseball tournament.
After throwing 250 pitches in Yokohama High School's 17-inning quarterfinal victory, he came in the next day to get the save in the semis before tossing a no-hitter the following day as his team won the championship.
At the inaugural World Baseball Classic, he went 3-0 in leading Japan to the championship. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Matsuzaka shut out Cuba for eight innings.
Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 8550 Location: California Country:
Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:47 am Post subject:
In A's news:
The Texas Rangers will name 3B coach Ron Washington as their new manager.
It looks like the A's will be headed to Fremont...news to come with a conference within the next couple of weeks with the A's owner (forgot the name), Commish Bud Selig, and Cisco Systems. Perhaps Cisco Field will be built for the San Jose Athletics of Fremont.
Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 8550 Location: California Country:
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:09 am Post subject:
How I knew the new baseball park in Fremont is going to be Cisco Field is beyond me...
In other (potentially) depressing news, the Boston Red Sox bid US$51.1 million (yes, million) for the rights to sign Japanese pitching phenom Matsuzaka Daisuke. Call it a hunch, but I think the $51.1 million is larger than the entire payroll of many teams. Don't forget, there's also a possible contract in their. The bidding money would go Matsuzaka's former team, Seibu Lions, if a contract is reached.
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Tigers threw it away (literally!) 
