Daisuke Matsuzaka Will Headline an Impressive Red Sox Pitching Rotation

But Can He Help De-Throne the Yankees?

I am now able to say that after some 20-odd days of intense baseball drama that can only be reproduced through television (take note of the sarcasm or else that comment can be misperceived as serious) that Daisuke Matsuzaka is finally a member of the Boston Red Sox. For days, we have all been roped back and forth through the contract negotiations; will he sign or not? Is that 50 million just enough to keep him happy or do the Red Sox have to spend more? With the prolonged signing (a six-year, 52 million dollar deal) of one of the most popular Japanese imports this side of the Wii, one has to take a look at how the Red Sox will be spending more than 100 million dollars total when this is all said and done. In the race to always be one step ahead of the Yankees, this was a necessity.

Either way, it seems by many to be a great signing. He better be, because after paying 50 million just to have the rights to talk to him is just a bit hefty although I have been known to use 50 million dollars daily to light my fireplace in the living room. His career statistics and résumé can certainly justify to some the amount paid by the Red Sox. Also, the popularity the player is garnering is already out of control, as it is finding its way into every sports talk show on the planet. Matsuzaka is only 26-years-old but has enough experience and talent to immediately become the ace of the staff. For years in Japan hitters have marveled at Matsuzaka's ability to hide his pitches so well and the inability to hit the infamous gyroball. The pitch still remains a mystery, but rest assured the country will be waiting to see it during the 2007 season.