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Matsuzaka returns to Japan to pitch for Softbank

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but he didn’t live up to expectations after that.

That is putting it politely. He won a total of 56 games in MLB, which is almost exactly $1 million per win. He was a bust.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

He won a total of 56 games in MLB, which is almost exactly $1 million per win. He was a bust.

So according to your "math," Jake Peavy was a bust this year because he earned 14 million dollars but won only 7 games while losing 13. Sure, many expected more of Matsuzaka and it's a shame his career in the US was marred by injuries, but winning a World Series and having a winning record usually does not make someone a bust.

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jerseyboy Dec. 06, 2014 - 09:53AM JST That is putting it politely. He won a total of 56 games in MLB, which is almost exactly $1 million per win. He was a bust.

Matsuzaka actually had few good seasons with the Red Sox. He had a good stuff. Boston should've limited the pitch count. If he didn't hurt his arm, he would've had impressive career in MLB. The pitcher that was really a bust is Barry Zito, a 7 year, $126 million contract, he won only 67 games with the Giants. Almost $2 million per win.

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Out of curiosity, which team do baseball fans from Jersey follow? If it is the Bronx Bombers, then I get that the first comment is just sour grapes directed at their main rival in Boston.

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Torasan, I would say that in northern and central Jersey it's an even split between the Mets and the Yankees. There is very little hatred or even awareness of the Red Sox; if you're a Mets fan you want to see the Mets doing better than the Yankees, and vice versa for Yankees fans, and the interleague Subway Series is where the rivalry is settled.

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Daisuke daisuki. Made a splash, and that was good enough.

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Daisuke made more than a splash, he made suckers believers and that translates converting dollars to yen so laugh if you want his bank account goes double ka Ching !!!!!

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Yeah started out good then quickly went south, hope the Sox sold lottsa swag!

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Matsuzaka actually had few good seasons with the Red Sox. He had a good stuff. Boston should've limited the pitch count. If he didn't hurt his arm, he would've had impressive career in MLB.

And it pigs had wings they could fly -- "would've, could've" is all you can offer to support your argument? Tell you what, go to Boston and ask anyone there wearing some form of Red Sox apparel -- like 90% of the population -- and ask them about Dice-K. You won't like whatyou hear.

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I was in Japan when Nomo left for the Major Leagues.... at that time many of the Japanese people I spoke to said he'd never be accepted back in Japan again or play in Japan. 20 Years later... it is common for players to leave and come back an play.

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Me too, Dana. Go Daisuke-san ! Ganabarre !

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I'm actually sad to see Dice-K come back. I figure if he had enough time, he'd do better in the Majors. But I think he'll shine again in Japan. He will do very well with the experience he's gained in the US. I agree with jerseyboy --- we can "coulda', woulda', shoulda'" `til the cows come home, but it won't change the fact that Matsuzaka really didn't live up to the expectations placed on him. Sadly enough, I kinda' see the same thing happening to Tanaka with the Yanks. High expectations, but very low in actual practice. I hope Tanaka does better next season with New York, but what has happened Dice-K I am starting to see taking place with Tanaka, (however, I could be wrong).

At any rate, best of wishes to Matsuzaka as he returns to Japan and pitches for SoftBank.

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@thon, that's interesting because I can't recall anything approaching the Zimmer-Martinez dustup between the two NY teams.

@jerseyboy, any Red Sox fan still whining about the bad half of Dice-K's career is living in the past. If I want to hear some forceful invective, I will go up to random New Yorkers and ask how they like their comeback kid A-Rod. $25 mil well spent?

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@jerseyboy, any Red Sox fan still whining about the bad half of Dice-K's career is living in the past.

Torafusu -- and anyone actually believing Dice-K had a good "half" of a real career in Boston is simply living in a fantasy world.

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Well, as someone who has spent some time covering a MLB team ... if the signing of Dice-K proves to be anything more substantial than a PR stunt by the Hawks, I'll be surprised. Remember, it wasn't just the $52 million the Red Sox paid Matsuzaka -- the team also had to fork over $51 million (actually $51,111,111.11) to have the right to negotiate with him. So the Red Sox paid north of $103 million for 50 wins, or $2 million+ per win. He's strictly a reclamation project at this point in his career. He's lucky now if his fastball tops 135 km/hr. He had awful training habits; he apparently lifted his weights 350 ml at a time. He was spectacularly uncoachable and seemingly went to a full count on every batter, irking his teammates and coaches no end. Like a lot of great pitchers in Japanese history, he went through his best years early. He'll sell some tickets, but that's it.

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He's lucky now if his fastball tops 135 km/hr.

A quick search on google has revealed that to be a downright lie. In 2014 his fastball averaged 90.3 miles an hour, or 145 km/hr.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=daisuke-matsuzaka

Please feel free to down-vote me for posting facts.

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All I can think is Met brew up chance to sign him. Other NL teams are relaxed for next year.

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