baseball

A tale of two countries: Dice-K returns to Japan

12 Comments
By Todd Wojnowski

Daisuke Matsuzaka has seen the best of times and the worst of times, and now he’s coming back to where it all started to try and recapture his former glory.

Matsuzaka recently became the talk of Nippon Professional Baseball’s offseason transactions when the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, fresh off their Nippon Series Championship in October, signed him to a multi-year contract. The move brings the 34-year-old former All Star pitcher back to his native Japan after a disappointing eight-year stint in North America.

During his career with the Seibu Lions from 1999-2006, Matsuzaka chalked up a sterling 108-60 record, led the Pacific League in strikeouts four times, earned seven Gold Gloves and had a sub-3.00 ERA five times. He helped the Lions claim two league pennants during that time, as well as a Japan Series title in 2004. It was his performances for Japan’s national team, however, that cemented his status as a nationwide hero. He helped Samurai Japan win the bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and led them to the title of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, where he was named MVP. He repeated the feat in 2009, earning his second MVP crown while helping Japan successfully defend their WBC championship.

However, the man nicknamed “Monster of the Heisei Era” in his native Japan never quite earned the same admiration from American fans following his move to Major League Baseball prior to the 2007 season. He arrived in Boston with astronomical (and perhaps unfair) expectations on the heels of the Red Sox paying a staggering $51 million (¥6 billion) to win his negotiation rights, and then forking over a contract worth another $52 million over six years, plus incentives. With big salary figures comes big pressure.

His first-year numbers were merely decent in a season when his Boston Red Sox went on to win the World Series. He fit in as the third or fourth pitcher in the rotation and he benefitted from playing with championship-caliber teammates (both his playoff wins came when his team scored 10 or more runs). He improved on his marks in 2008, which was perhaps his only very good season in the MLB. “Dice-K,” as he was called, compiled an 18-3 record and 2.90 ERA for Boston, and finished fourth in voting for the American League’s Cy Young Award (awarded to the league’s best pitcher).

Then, however, things went downhill fast. His following seasons were a miserable mess of terrible play and injuries. Of his final six in the U.S., the righty had only one more winning season. He missed time with neck and hip joint injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery for his elbow. In 2012, a season in which Matsuzaka collected $10 million in salary (¥1.2 billion), he put up a 1-7 record and 8.28 ERA in 11 starts for the Red Sox, and was not re-signed by the team when his contract finally expired.

He was relegated to playing in the minor league system for the Cleveland Indians and later moved onto the New York Mets, who found a spot for him in their bullpen: not exactly the expected career path of a $100 million man.

So, what are the Hawks seriously expecting from Matsuzaka in 2015? It would make sense if they signed him as an emotional leader, a trusted veteran who could help in the clubhouse and a national hero who is sure to sell more than his fair share of jerseys and game tickets. But that doesn’t seem to be the case: Dice-K’s contract is said to be worth ¥1.2 billion ($10 million) over three years. That’s not figurehead money. Plus, Matsuzaka indicated at the end of last season that his priority was to find a spot in a starting rotation for 2015.

It appears that Softbank is counting on a return to Japan as being exactly what Matsuzaka needs to provide a boost to the back end of their rotation. It’s true that he showed a vague glimmer of life in his final season with the Mets. If he’s able to expand on that, the Hawks will get the boost to their pitching staff they’ve been looking for in 2015.

Spring is a season of hope, after all.

AROUND THE BASES

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters rewarded phenom Shohei Otani with a ¥100 million contract after just his second season out of high school. The dual-threat pitcher/outfielder had a slugging percentage of .505 last season to go along with his 2.61 ERA and 11-4 W-L record.

The Orix Buffaloes are apparently not satisfied to stand pat with their second-place finish in the Pacific League last year, and have been active in free agent signings. They added slugger Tony Blanco, who is just one year removed from a 41 HR campaign with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and will likely bat cleanup. They also bolstered their pitching rotation with RHP Bryan Bullington who spent the previous four seasons with Hiroshima.

Perhaps Orix’s biggest move, however, is a non-move. Ace pitcher Chihiro Kaneko finally ended his “will he or won’t he?” flirtation with both Japanese and North American teams and decided to re-sign with the Buffaloes. The Pacific League MVP and Sawamura Award winner inked a four-year contract to stay where he is. However, Orix fans shouldn’t get too comfortable, as Kaneko confirmed that he’d still like to try his hand in the MLB at some point in the future.

The Rakuten Golden Eagles acquired 30-year-old relief pitcher Kam Mickolio, formerly of the Hiroshima Carp. Last year Mickolio finished third in the Central League with 25 saves.

© Japan Today

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12 Comments
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Highly over rated Mattuzaka.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Over rated and over paid. Probably won't last the season.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Matsuzaka chalked up a sterling 108-60 record,

Sterling? Either way he isnt worth the money.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Okaerinasai, Daisuke-san. Wishin' you all the best !

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

He really was an outstanding young talent. But I do recall several non-Japanese in the game (Bobby Valentine maybe one of them) cautioning against his possible burnout due to ridiculously excessive pitch counts. Sure he wasn't the only one but I wouldn't be surprised if that is what's occurred. Still, he's 34 and apparently worthy of the big Yen for a few more years yet.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

after a disappointing eight-year stint in North America.

Now there's an understatement.

It was his performances for Japan’s national team, however, that cemented his status as a nationwide hero. He helped Samurai Japan win the bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and led them to the title of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, where he was named MVP. He repeated the feat in 2009, earning his second MVP crown while helping Japan successfully defend their WBC championship.

IMO, the above is exactly why he was such a disappointment in the U.S. He spent too much of his off seasons pitching for Japan, as opposed to resting up for the next MLB season.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

jerseyboy: IMO, the above is exactly why he was such a disappointment in the U.S. He spent too much of his off seasons pitching for Japan, as opposed to resting up for the next MLB season.

Agreed. If I remember correctly, there was also an issue where the Red Sox had given him permission to pitch in the WBC, as long as the Japanese national team (I think this was the '09 WBC so that'd make Hara the manager?) give updates about his health and pitch-count and etc., which the Japanese team completely reneged on and ignored, pitched Matsuzaka into the ground, causing injury issues all season.

I think part of the issue is that the Japanese and American baseball communities value international play and professional play differently. In Japan, the national team is everything and a major source of pride. In the U.S., most people don't even know international baseball exists. Olympic baseball isn't a thing, and the WBC gets next to no attention, so players prefer to focus on their pro team (which gives them their salaries) and either skip or take lightly all the international stuff. American kids grow up dreaming of winning the World Series...not making their country proud as far as baseball is concerned. So, it makes sense why Matsuzaka would put so much focus on the Japanese national team, and it also makes sense why the American fans may think less of him for it.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Heard his wife is still in the USA.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

A "disappointing stint"? It was a total DISASTER, and proof of why the media here needs to stop making golden boys for everything under the sun when they are not deserving. At least these guys can always wash out and come home.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

@smith

It was a total DISASTER

I hate Seibu, I hate the Red Sox and I really hate the Hawks. That being said, calling Matsuzaka "A Disaster" is really inaccurate. He was quite good - if overpaid - before the injury problems set in.

You could name a whole lot of MLB pitchers in that boat.

@jerseyboy

He spent too much of his off seasons pitching for Japan, as opposed to resting up for the next MLB season.

Nonsense. The rest of the Japanese pitchers did the same thing and were just fine. These guys are used to training, training, training and the Red Sox wouldn't let Matsuzaka do that.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

I really do not see Matsuzaka reclaiming his former glory!! Does anyone else?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

How can Dicegay blame the Red Sox for his troubles when he ignored their advice.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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