Daisuke Matsuzaka: How his shirt got me on Japanese TV

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I got free tickets to see the SF Giants on Friday evening and I finally got a chance to wear the Daisuke Matsuzaka Seibu Lions t-shirt I got for my birthday.

My guest and I were sitting at our seats chatting and snacking and suddenly two women appear (with a camera and a microphone) and ask if they could interview me.

I was caught off guard but I said "sure!" The younger woman with the TV camera and she began filming.

The older woman asks me why I'm wearing Daisuke Matsuzaka t-shirt from Seibu Lions. I tell them that DM is one of the greatest pitchers in the world and I admire his talent and skill. I tell them that DM will more than likely be pitching in USA next year, and they both agree.

They ask me what my impression of his pitching is, and I tell them when I watched DM in person in Japan and in the WBC, his pitching form is nearly perfect... there is no wasted motion. His delivery is beautiful, I have not seen any pitcher with such flawless mechanics.

She asks me what I think DM would accomplish in USA MLB, and I'm caught off-guard so I say "20 wins". They both raise their eyebrows at each other. [What was I supposed to say: "lead the AL in VORP"?]

We talk about the gyroball and how it seems to be more of a myth than an actual pitch that can be thrown with any frequency.

She then asks me which Japanese teams I have seen and I list off the Yomiuri Giants, Yakult Swallows and Hanshin Tigers and of course my favorite team, the Seibu Lions.

She asks me to make a prediction for the game and at that time, it was incredibly windy blowing straight out to right field. I predict there will be many homeruns.

There were no homeruns. Giants won 9-0 over Colorado Rockies.

The program is called "jsports" and it airs this sunday:
http://www.tbs.co.jp/program/jsports.html

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 16:42 (nineteen years ago)

Did you give the interview in Japanese?

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 18:09 (nineteen years ago)

No, but at the end of the interview they asked if I spoke Japanese and I said "I sincerely apologize that my command of your beautiful language is not at the level at which I feel confident speaking with you" in this really honorific tense which cracked them up.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 18:48 (nineteen years ago)

smoove

― Jimmy Mod: NOIZE BOARD GRIL COMPARISON ANALYST (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 21:50 (nineteen years ago)

Hightlights of DM's 3-hit, 14 strikeout complete game shutout of Hanshin Tigers last Friday:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YAwmW2S-xX4

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 2 June 2006 03:43 (nineteen years ago)

why does the field look so weird

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Friday, 2 June 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

It's turf (Seibu Dome).

That's Andy Sheets (former Red Sox/Padre/D-Ray) in the last at-bat.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:45 (nineteen years ago)

Wow! A very interesting pitcher to watch.

― scrimhaw1837 (son_of_scrimshaw), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:56 (nineteen years ago)

Here's a close-up of his gyroball, developed by SCIENTISTS:

http://www.rotoauthority.com/files/gyroballvideo.mpeg

― scrimhaw1837 (son_of_scrimshaw), Friday, 2 June 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

Hightlights of DM's 3-hit, 14 strikeout complete game shutout of Hanshin Tigers last Friday:

THAT is a clinic.

― Andy_K (Andy_K), Saturday, 3 June 2006 12:21 (nineteen years ago)

I was very disappointed Matsuzaka didn't get into the majors this year, but not too surprised. Fantastic pitcher, though I worry about the very high number of pitches he has thrown throughout his career resulting in arm surgery at any time. Getting to watch him pitch was the highlight of the WBC for me.

― ALLAH FROG (Mingus Dew), Monday, 5 June 2006 20:59 (nineteen years ago)

i can't stop watching this

― INSANE CLOWN FOSSE (Adrian Langston), Wednesday, 7 June 2006 22:42 (nineteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

Matsuzaka, in the midst of another dominating season in Japan (9-2, 2.05 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 10.08K/9, 103:19 (5.42) K:BB ratio, leading the league in Ws & Ks), had to leave Saturday's game due to a groin injury and will have to miss at least one start. The Seibu Lions right-hander left the mound in the first inning after throwing just 19 pitches against Bobby Valentine's defending J-League champion Chiba Lotte Marines.

According to the team trainer, Matsuzaka did not require hospitalization (which, in Japan, may just mean that Matsuzaka's leg didn't fall off). The Lions expect Matsuzaka to return to action in time to start on July 7 against Hokkaido. Matsuzaka is expected to be allowed to sign with an MLB club this winter via the posting system and may be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 26 June 2006 16:16 (nineteen years ago)

Yankees
10 years
5 bazillion dollars

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 26 June 2006 16:26 (nineteen years ago)

Are major league teams scouting and signing young Japanese players yet? You'd think that they'd want to be getting to the Ichiros and Matsuzakas of the future before they get locked into the JPL.

― milo z (mlp), Monday, 26 June 2006 23:12 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

Larry Stone had a long article in yesterday's Seattle Times speculating that Matsuzaka's chances are 50/50 of being posted at the end of the season, with the Yankees and the Mariners the top two teams vying for him. I can't imagine that Seattle could beat whatever the Yankees would pay for a posting fee, but hey, fun speculation.

― jergins (jergins), Monday, 7 August 2006 20:19 (nineteen years ago)

my friend sez "he needs a third out pitch, either a splitter or a tornado, or he's gotta add 3-4mph to the 4-seamer and hope he gets signed in the NL"

hay does anyone still have that picture of matsuzaka & tom cruise???

― BITCH FUK UR MYANMARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! (Adrian Langston), Tuesday, 8 August 2006 17:53 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.tomcruisefan.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=459

― john loltrane (loltrane), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

one month passes...

With a week remaining in J-league play, Matsuzaka will make 2 starts including one tonight, at what looks to be his last regular season start at Seibu Dome.

In 23 starts, he's compiled a 16-4 record (13 complete games and 2 shutouts) with a 1.93 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 189K:32BB (5.90 K/BB, 9.87 K/9) ratio.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 18 September 2006 22:22 (nineteen years ago)

*Whistles* jeez just what the Yankees need.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 18 September 2006 22:29 (nineteen years ago)

"Zach (MD): Put together an Orioles offseason plan for me? And also what do you think about Daisuke Matsuzaka? How much is it going to cost to get him and his really going to be an ace?

Will Carroll: Orioles ... I think they need any plan, right or wrong. I hope they don't go spend a bunch of money, but instead focus on getting everything in order, then making a push once they've built an 85 win team.

Matsuzaka is going to cost about $30m to buy his rights, then about the same for a three-year deal. I think that based on what I've seen of him on tape and at the Classic, he's one of the ten best pitchers in the game. There's a lot of risk there, both in adjustment and health, but a lot of upside.

One of the more interesting things to watch for is how he'll adjust to changing his windup. The pause might not be legal. Any umpires want to comment?"

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 16:33 (nineteen years ago)

So here's the line from the game last night:

Complete game win (17-4): 2 runs, 1 earned, 8Ks, 0BBs, 7 hits.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 17:42 (nineteen years ago)

2006 Season line:
1.79 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 197K:32BB ratio

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

Yes yes he's great, but I'm curious about the delivery adjustment thing that Carroll mentions.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 18:00 (nineteen years ago)

Will Carroll is full of shit (cf: gyroball).

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 01:40 (nineteen years ago)

Wait why is Carroll full of shit about the gyroball?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 14:30 (nineteen years ago)

Because he was mistakenly under the impression that Matsuzaka throws it or that it exists?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 14:31 (nineteen years ago)

C) all of the above.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 15:03 (nineteen years ago)

(cf: Felix Hernandez slider [ZOMG HIS BEST PITCH!!!111] )

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 20 September 2006 15:03 (nineteen years ago)

His final start of 2006 begins at 6:00pm in Japan (2:00am PST, 5:00am EST).

All you insomniacs can tune in to the gameday simulation here:
http://baseball.yahoo.co.jp/npb/game/2006092604/

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 05:32 (nineteen years ago)

FYI: He's batting .333/.333/.778 just to tempt those NL clubs who have yet to express interest.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 05:34 (nineteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

Scott Boras has announced that he will be representing Daisuke Matsuzaka as his agent in talks with MLB clubs.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Friday, 13 October 2006 18:38 (nineteen years ago)

Oh Christ.

― nate p. (natepatrin), Friday, 13 October 2006 18:41 (nineteen years ago)

let's go METS

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 13 October 2006 18:43 (nineteen years ago)

I hope he milks the Yankees for all their worth and then implodes.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 13 October 2006 19:09 (nineteen years ago)

You rang?

― Kevin Brown. (Steve Shasta), Friday, 13 October 2006 19:11 (nineteen years ago)

hi dere

― Carl Pavano (sanskrit), Saturday, 14 October 2006 01:31 (nineteen years ago)

no matter which team bites, the posting fee will be made back over time by reselling broadcast rights to Japan -- Matsuzaka + Ichiro S. or Matsusaka + H. Matsui should be enough to get the overseas market excited. But yeah, that reduces the market to two teams.

i assume this fee is negotiable if neither team antes up, wouldn't the Lions consider accepting a lower payout rather than getting nothing at a later date?

― ▒█▄█ ▄▄▄ ▒█▄█ , Saturday, 14 October 2006 01:37 (nineteen years ago)

i assume this fee is negotiable if neither team antes up, wouldn't the Lions consider accepting a lower payout rather than getting nothing at a later date?

it's not so much a fee than a bid. But it has no bearing on (or credit toward) DM's eventual salary.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Saturday, 14 October 2006 01:59 (nineteen years ago)

Matsuzaka + Ichiro S. or Matsusaka + H. Matsui should be enough to get the overseas market excited. But yeah, that reduces the market to two teams.

But wottabout Matsuzaka + So Taguchi???

― nate p. (natepatrin), Monday, 16 October 2006 23:08 (nineteen years ago)

what about Matsuzaka + CHIPPER JONES?????

― fergie-ferg meluvulongtime~~~ (Adrian Langston), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 03:51 (nineteen years ago)

Chipper Jones isn't Japanese. He just listens to Pizzicatto Five all the time, that doesn't count.

― nate p. (natepatrin), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 15:30 (nineteen years ago)

World Series Notebook: Does Matsuzaka want to join Ichiro?
Yankees expected to battle Mariners for star pitcher

By JOHN HICKEY
SEATTLE P-I REPORTER

DETROIT -- The World Series, as always, is a celebration of the two teams that outlasted the other 28 to make it into the second half of October.

That doesn't mean the other 28 can be completely dismissed during the Fall Classic.

Not far from the talk of the Tigers and the Cardinals is talk of how others are planning on making it to the Series next year and beyond.

In many circles, that talk includes Daisuke Matsuzaka. The teams that are believed to be preparing posting bids to pay the Seibu Lions for the rights to the services of the right-handed starting pitcher are the Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, Dodgers, Cubs and Mets. And the Angels and Orioles might take a flier at the 26-year-old right-hander who was 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA in Japan this season.

But where is it that Matsuzaka himself would like to land? Baseball sources say that if he could choose, he'd come to Seattle to play. The reasons are twofold -- center fielder Ichiro Suzuki and catcher Kenji Johjima.

Matsuzaka, associates say, has long wanted to play with Ichiro, something that both men experienced in the World Baseball Classic last spring. Team Japan won the tournament with Matsuzaka winning the Most Valuable Player award and Ichiro serving as mentor to the younger men on the team.

And Matsuzaka and Johjima spent time as teammates at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The Mariners, and everyone else, had believed they would have one last chance to scout Matsuzaka next month when a team of major league All-Stars, including Johjima, plays a five-game tour in Japan.

Matsuzaka was supposed to be on the Japanese select squad, but this weekend came word that he is pulling out. He cited lingering pain from a hit off his right elbow in September, while tour organizers said he was withdrawing because he wanted to focus on his conditioning in preparation for joining a major league team.

The posting process probably will run its course by the middle of next month. The Yankees, the team with the most money, and the Mariners, the team with the best Japanese connections, are widely considered the clubs that will ultimately butt heads for the right to sign Matsuzaka.

However, the bids are submitted just once for each team, no one knowing what the other teams might do. Seattle bid $13.1 million for Ichiro in fall 2000, and most believe this year's winning bid on Matsuzaka will be in excess of $20 million.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 23 October 2006 16:30 (nineteen years ago)

oh this is good

― jergins (jergins), Monday, 23 October 2006 19:08 (nineteen years ago)

now i read that the mariners aren't going to bid on him. damn it hell

― jergins (jergins), Wednesday, 1 November 2006 21:51 (nineteen years ago)

Mariners have indeed pulled out leaving at least six teams left in the bidding:

Yankees
Mets
Dodgers
Cubs
Red Sox
Rangers

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 1 November 2006 22:14 (nineteen years ago)

My BOLD PREDICTION:
1) Yankees get him
2) Media says "OK this time for real they win the World Series"
3) no they don't

― nate p. (natepatrin), Friday, 3 November 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

Dodgers are out of the bidding so sayeth the LA Times and Ned Colletti. I'm sure we'll be finding other ways to help line Boras' pocket tho..

― Stuh-du-du-du-du-du-du-denka (jingleberries), Friday, 3 November 2006 19:39 (nineteen years ago)

No way do the Rangers sign him after Chan Ho and A-Rod.

― milo z (mlp), Friday, 3 November 2006 20:49 (nineteen years ago)

NJ Star-Ledger's Dan Graziano (sorry i can't seem to find the actual link so i cut and pasted out of another blog):

"But there may be loopholes. It can be in the Japanese team's best interest for the winning bid to come from a team with which the player wants to sign, since that is the only way the Japanese team gets money. So a Japanese team could make an under-the-table deal with a U.S. team in which only a portion of the winning bid would have to be paid. When the Seattle Mariners won the rights to sign Ichiro Suzuki in 2000, there were rumors they paid just $4 million of the $13 million winning bid to the Orix Blue Wave."

Okay, I understand the posting system even less now.

― jergins (jergins), Friday, 3 November 2006 22:21 (nineteen years ago)

Skipping 164 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

fuck i'd like to see this. mlb.tv, maybe, with their free thing, but the timing is just so bad.

― jergïns, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 17:36 (eighteen years ago)

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/writers/albert_chen/04/11/ichiro.dicek/t1_dice_ichiro2.jpg

― Steve Shasta, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 20:14 (eighteen years ago)

according to mlb.com:

"BaseballChannel.TV will provide free look-ins of each Dice-K vs. Ichiro meeting, starting with the game's opening pitch to the Mariners' leadoff batter soon after the cry of 'Play Ball!'"

― Michael F Gill, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 21:21 (eighteen years ago)

Arrgh, decisions. I had benched Ichiro today because I figured DiceK would pwn him thoroughly, and, well, fucking Mariners haven't done shit for me yet. But I just put him back in the lineup -- maybe Ichiro's pride will guide his bat or some equivalent mystical bullshit.

― Rock Hardy, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 23:06 (eighteen years ago)

Lady in large fur coat upset with ump.

― Andy K, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 23:13 (eighteen years ago)

So, hey, that guy on the other team, the pitcher - he's pretty OK.

― David R., Thursday, 12 April 2007 00:05 (eighteen years ago)

The liquor store down the block from me has a big movie-style sign up that says "WELCOME TO BOSTON DICE K"

― Michael F Gill, Thursday, 12 April 2007 00:28 (eighteen years ago)

OK FELIX, UNCLE, UNCLE!

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 12 April 2007 00:44 (eighteen years ago)

For fuck's sake, get one hit!

― G00blar, Thursday, 12 April 2007 00:45 (eighteen years ago)

xpost!

― G00blar, Thursday, 12 April 2007 00:45 (eighteen years ago)

Remy and Orsillo so not above trying to jinx Felix with constant mentions of the Sox' lack of hits.

― G00blar, Thursday, 12 April 2007 00:46 (eighteen years ago)

Felix pwnage.

― Belisarius, Thursday, 12 April 2007 00:59 (eighteen years ago)

defensive mvp: felix's left shin.

― Steve Shasta, Thursday, 12 April 2007 01:00 (eighteen years ago)

― mattbot, Thursday, 12 April 2007 01:16 (eighteen years ago)

Ah, Coco, you stooge.

― G00blar, Thursday, 12 April 2007 01:20 (eighteen years ago)

Beat the Sox.

Beat the Sox.

Some brahs are gonna be weeping into their tattered little Red Sox hats tonight.

― Belisarius, Thursday, 12 April 2007 01:23 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, that Fernandez guy, he's a player.

― David R., Thursday, 12 April 2007 01:35 (eighteen years ago)

poor ichiro. his strike zone was vastly different from everybody else's.... he had to swing at ball 5 to avoid the K.

― Steve Shasta, Thursday, 12 April 2007 01:44 (eighteen years ago)

yeah, for real. dangg.

i know i sound like a whiner, but in the first game dice-k pitched in kansas city, the home-plate ump said it was like calling a knuckleballer's game.. tonight i felt like there were a LOT of strikes that got called balls - on both sides, actually - look at King Felix's ball/strike ratio and it's not actually that hot. i think dice-k's pitches addled the ump's brain, basically. anyway, what the hell can you do when felix is pitching like that. what's the guy's ERA over 17 innings now.. 0.00, right?

dangg.

i loved how dice-k warmed up in front of the boston dugout just minutes before the game, throwing curveballs to youkilis!

haha i always forget how freakin tall richie sexson is. matsusaka threw several pitches that were actually below sexson's belt but the ump called them high.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 12 April 2007 01:46 (eighteen years ago)

How often does a pitcher change his grip while winding up like Dice does?

― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 12 April 2007 13:22 (eighteen years ago)

Lookin' good tonight!

― G00blar, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 23:39 (eighteen years ago)

eh... he's having some major problems:

Toronto Inning Summary

- A. Lind struck out swinging
- V. Wells singled to third
- F. Thomas walked, V. Wells to second
- L. Overbay singled to left center, V. Wells scored, F. Thomas to second
- A. Hill walked, F. Thomas to third, L. Overbay to second
- G. Zaun walked, F. Thomas scored, L. Overbay to third, A. Hill to second
- R. Clayton struck out swinging

― Steve Shasta, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 00:30 (eighteen years ago)

but not like Jake Westbrook major problems.

― Steve Shasta, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 00:31 (eighteen years ago)

Run support for Daisuke after his first three outings:

Game 1: 7IP, 2 runs
Game 2: 7IP, 0 runs
Game 3: 6IP, 1 run (in progress).

3 runs over 20 innings = 1.35 run support (avg/9 innings.) for Daisuke when he's on the mound. When he's not on the mound, Boston has been averaging 5.00 run support.

― Steve Shasta, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 01:10 (eighteen years ago)

Too bad, that one kinda weird inning did him in.
the only thing I expected less than daisuke losing was the performance the J's got from chacin.

― The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 02:23 (eighteen years ago)

DUDE IT'S NOT WHOE WINS OR LOESES
10KS BRAH

― sanskrit, Thursday, 19 April 2007 02:59 (eighteen years ago)

WHAT THE HELL IS TAVAREZ DOING TO DICE-K?

Every time I look up, there's Tavarez with his arm draped creepily over Dice-K, giving him all kinds of no doubt awful advice and Dice-K looks like he wished he could just disappear. STOP JINXING OUR WONDERBOY, JULIAN "CRAZYHEAD" TAVAREZ!!

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 23 April 2007 14:07 (eighteen years ago)

Dice-K with his first Jack Morris start! Awesome!

― David R., Monday, 23 April 2007 14:08 (eighteen years ago)

haha

― Dr Morbius, Monday, 23 April 2007 14:09 (eighteen years ago)

Someone explain the Black Jack joke?

― Leee, Monday, 23 April 2007 22:54 (eighteen years ago)

"There was a reason Morris was the winningest pitcher of his era by such a vast margin."

There was a reason, and it's called "run support." Not counting his cup of coffee in 1977, Morris pitched 17 years in the majors. Thirteen of his 17 teams were better-than-average run-scoring teams, and a whopping seven of those teams finished either first or second in the league in runs.

― félix pié, Monday, 23 April 2007 23:14 (eighteen years ago)

iirc - morris had the ability to give up one run less than the other guy every single time. it was wierd.

― The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall, Monday, 23 April 2007 23:29 (eighteen years ago)

Ahh. I only remember Morris for being one of the last guys to pitch 10 innings or more before Doc Halladay did it.

― Leee, Monday, 23 April 2007 23:31 (eighteen years ago)

"iirc - morris had the ability to give up one run less than the other guy every single time. it was wierd."

Everyone remembers that but it's been proven to be statistically untrue.

― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 00:00 (eighteen years ago)

PROVEN BY SCIENCE

― G00blar, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 12:59 (eighteen years ago)

CLUTCHOLOGY IS NOT A SCIENCE

IT IS A WAY OF LIFE

― David R., Tuesday, 24 April 2007 13:01 (eighteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

Matsuzaka completes his first CG for the Sox, a 1 run/6 hit/0 walk performance over Detroit.

― Steve Shasta, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 02:00 (eighteen years ago)

Prior to last night, the Detroit offense had been hot for an extended period of time (no homer).

― Andy K, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 12:17 (eighteen years ago)

steve otaku shasta

― am0n, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 13:24 (eighteen years ago)

am0n, i know you're knew to the board, but i've been talking about Daisuke on here since I first saw him pitch almost four years ago.

My friend's little brother is a huge Seibu Lions fan and has taken me to many games and I got to see DM pitch a few times long before he was on the casual mlb fan's radar. In Japan, "otaku" is not necessarily a compliment, and refers to people of a certain psychological condition who spend the majority of time inside their home obsessing over and over about their narrow interests.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/499503550_f1e2b5dc8e_b.jpg

― Steve Shasta, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 14:39 (eighteen years ago)

u mad shasta

― cankles, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 18:41 (eighteen years ago)

lowl

― am0n, Wednesday, 16 May 2007 04:19 (eighteen years ago)

aka pedant

― francisF, Thursday, 17 May 2007 14:36 (eighteen years ago)

five months pass...

not a bad rookie year... capped off with ALCS and WS victories...

― Steve Shasta, Sunday, 28 October 2007 09:46 (eighteen years ago)

"rookie". but ya he did alright - not sure if he lived up to expectations tho.

― The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall, Sunday, 28 October 2007 20:00 (eighteen years ago)

you feel japanese leagues are minor leagues shasta?

― chicago kevin, Sunday, 28 October 2007 22:38 (eighteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

he's about the same age as many rookie pitchers, so... yeah, in a way...

here's an objective recap about the highs/lows of matsuzaka's rookie year:

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/matsuzaka-mania/

― Steve Shasta, Monday, 12 November 2007 15:59 (eighteen years ago)

two months pass...

Perhaps of interest for "big" fans of Daisuke:

http://www.yawkeywaystore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=JEA0069R

― Steve Shasta, Wednesday, 30 January 2008 23:43 (eighteen years ago)

three months pass...

Wait, waht?:

Matsuzaka even released an album of his favorite songs last summer with an original track dubbed "Gyro Ball," but that was the closest anybody came to seeing one in his rookie season in Beantown.

― G00blar, Sunday, 11 May 2008 10:21 (seventeen years ago)

^^^italics^^^

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZwJto6jHL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Dice-K likes Wild Boys

― G00blar, Sunday, 11 May 2008 10:25 (seventeen years ago)

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