Verducci's piece on lack of Success by Japanese pitchers

Dr. Detfink · Post #1 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:46 am

Pretty interesting read: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... mlb_t11_a1

I would love to have another Asian player on the Yanks but Verducci makes a good point about that third year. Obviously Darvish' agent is going to rape the Yanks for Matsuzaka coin. You can't justify that no matter how much you skew the stats in Japan.

Perhaps the best example of fiscal responsibility was the way Cashman and Wang worked out deals. I thought he was classy and didn't have anything bad to say about the Yanks...and never extorted them for money he didn't earn.

Pharmcat · Post #2 » by **Pharmcat** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:10 am

i think on pure baseball terms its debateable

but if yanks want to get a guy to expand their brand in the far east, then you cant really blame them from a business perspective

Dr. Detfink · Post #3 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 7:31 am

Yea, but has Irabu, Matsui, and Igawa expanded their brand? Momentarily but not sure if it was enough for the amount paid. I thought the message was clear when they didn't even bother to give Matsui a contract after naming him MVP.

And Boston....read that article on how Matzusaka expected to be pampered and how the Red Sox got tired of his eccentric behavior. Yea, looking at you Kei Igawa.

I'd offer Darvish 3 years and a option for a 4th but definitely load it up with incentives.

Pharmcat · Post #4 » by **Pharmcat** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:28 am

Dr. Detfink wrote:Yea, but has Irabu, Matsui, and Igawa expanded their brand? Momentarily but not sure if it was enough for the amount paid. I thought the message was clear when they didn't even bother to give Matsui a contract after naming him MVP.

And Boston....read that article on how Matzusaka expected to be pampered and how the Red Sox got tired of his eccentric behavior. Yea, looking at you Kei Igawa.

I'd offer Darvish 3 years and a option for a 4th but definitely load it up with incentives.

if i recall matsui was bringing in 6 mill from the far east with respect to revenue....plus your brand is there and he help your team win

i personally wouldnt risk it all on Yu, but if they want to, i understand why

Dr. Detfink · Post #5 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:26 am

Yes but consider the Yankees haven't posted a profit during Matsui's yrs when the payroll was easily above 200M. This is one of the reasons why Cash money went the route of trying to plug in Gaudin and Mitre in 2009.

Can't see Cash going after another import after getting burned by Igawa.

Post #6 » by **moocow007** » Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:16 pm

I don't think Cashman will go all out (which means he'll likely not be a Yankee if posted) but Cashman shouldn't be scared off of Yu because of what Irabu and Igawa did for them. Irabu was billed as someone that threw 97-98mph with perfect control and master of 3-4 pitches. Reality is that Irabu was more of a 93-95mph with ok control of 2-3 pitches. But what got Irabu in trouble wasn't all that focused on pitching. Had a lot of other things going on and never was able to focus on just pitching (too much excess as his weight showed). Igawa was never anywhere near as talented as Darvish (or Irabu for that matter). Completely different players. And unlike players from the carribean there really hasn't been a great sampling to say that "all japanese pitchers will suck". Darvish, by most accounts, is about as focused a guy as you can get who hates to lose and shows his emotions (aspects that are dissimilar from what most japanes players show). And the general consensus is that his stuff is the best of anyone coming out of that part of the world. He's an rock star like idol in Japan and he's familar with camera's, spotlights and the media hounding him about all sorts of stuff. I would personally take a gamble on him. Other than the posting fee (which doesn't get factored into the tax burden) he'll without a doubt be cheaper than Wilson and likely won't be paid that much more than Buerhle will end up getting (I see Buerhle as getting something in the 3 year $40 million range and Darvish probably in the 5 year $55-60 million range).

Christophersp10 · Post #7 » by **Christophersp10** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:55 pm

Irabu was a head case he never did anything to keep himself in shape. He was serviceable in 98 and 99. I remember reading stories about him drinking a 2l bottle of soda per day.

Dr. Detfink · Post #8 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:18 am

Ok, but the point is running the Yanks are you going to pay more than 51M (high bid exceeded Dice-K's bid) just to negotiate? Plus his salary? We're talking huge sums of money on a guy who is unproven on a MLB level.

A very different Yankee front office that wants to be fiscally responsible. I can't blame them.

thebuzzardman · Post #9 » by **thebuzzardman** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:22 pm

I thought it was pretty much a given Yanks are a distant 3rd or 4th in this bidding.

Dr. Detfink · Post #10 » by **Dr. Detfink** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:19 am

Without a doubt.

I think Texas will outbid the Jays. Now let's fast forward 2-3 years later when Texas is complaining the Yankees are signing big names as they are dumping contracts. That's what chaps my hide.

Please Note, Boston can't point at the Yankees as they are guilty of overspending on garbage.