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12/17/2002 Archived Entry: "Matsui a Yankee!"
Yomiuri Slugger Agrees to Record Setting Deal With Yankees
According to both Sports Hochi, which is owned by the Yomiuri media conglomerate, and Chunichi Sports, the New York Yankees have reached agreement on a record breaking three year deal for Hideki Matsui. Godzilla will be paid a base salary of $6 million a season plus an undisclosed signing bonus as well as incentives that makes this worth more than $20 million over that time.
Furthermore, Chunichi Sports, which was the first Japanese outlet to break the story of the Yankees and Yomiuri getting together on a far reacing working agreement, claimed that the Yankees feared that Baltimore or L.A. would swoop in and perhaps take Matsui when the deal was at $18 million. Consequently, the amount was jacked up at the orders of George Steinbrenner in order to deter the others away from the Yomiuri slugger. Boston dropped out of the bidding earlier today to concentrate their money on their weak bullpen.
There could be an official announcement as soon as either Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. Matsui will fly to New York later on in the next week or so for the signing.
What makes the deal record breaking is that it is the most money ever paid to any new player coming into the league in MLB history, surpassing the $19 million contract the Yankees threw at now struggling infield prospect Drew Henson. Now with the Matsui matter settled , GM Brian Cashman will turn his attention to offloading Raul Mondesi and Rondell White to avoid the luxury tax.
By the way, you classy New York fans, the Japanese for "you suck" is"hetakuso" (pronounced "heh-tah-kso"---the "u" is slurred), since I know you'll want to shout that when Matsui doesn't hit a 20 homers in his first week like you did at Jason Giambi, you miserable bastards.
Hot Shots....
The Kintetsu Buffaloes gave reliever Akira Okamoto a $295,000 raise to about $900,000 after a season that saw him appear in 65 games and notch seven wins to go along with two losses and 18 saves while posting a 1.82 ERA. Okamoto's teammate, DH Kenshi Kawaguchi, maintained his $310,000 pay packet....Over in Nagoya, Chunichi Dragons reliever Eiji Ochiai saw $24,000 subtracted from his yearly paycheck and will receive $680,000 next season. Dragons outfielder Kazuki Inoue also had $24,000 chopped to $425,000.
Replies: 21 comments
for those of yous that keep insulting the Yankees, you should learn to shut the hell up (especially the Red Sucks fans - other fans like Royals', Brewers', and other "waste-of-time-taking-the-field" teams, you don't even have any right to talk). All your teams have to do is try to be better than the Yankees - which they can't seem to do. Enough with the jealous inferior complex that you have (once again, the Red Sucks fans). Look at your offense and the Yanks' - sorry they'll be in the playoff again and your team won't.
Posted by Yanks 4ever @ 12/21/2002 03:28 PM EST
Yankees fans are not "bastards". They are the world's pre-eminent students and conisseurs of the great game. I live in Seattle and acknowledge this great fact.
Your curse will not end until a century has passed.
Seattle Joe
Posted by babe74 @ 12/20/2002 04:37 AM EST
Well, I'm reading about this deal on every Japanese news site out there. Thanks for breaking the story for us, Guru. Reliable as always.
Posted by Bee @ 12/19/2002 04:30 AM EST
"Is there a Japanese word for ignorant dipwad?"
Yes, it's "Petezs"
Are you trying to tell us that NY fans are more kind-hearted in there treatment of players? You can' t be serious.
If a star leaves town with class, Boston fans will always embrace them back. Guys like Fred Lynn, Carlton Fisk, Dave Cowens (brief comback), Robert Parrish and Drew Bledsoe got standing Os on their return visit. Clemens was an arrogant jackass and basically gave the region the one-finger salute on his way out.
And Knoblockhead is a bad comparison. Instead, let's imagine this hypothetical scenario: A star pitcher spends his first 13 years with the Yankees, pitching extremely well, looked up to by many, but never winning a world championship. He goes 1-2 in 5 playoff series, and the one chance he has to win the big one, he asks out of the game with a "blister." He whines about carrying his own bags, gets in scaps with the media, and coasts through his last four years overweight and performing sub-par. He battles with the GM, says he wants to leave to be closer to his family in Texas, and then bolts for CANADA. He then gets traded to the Red Sox.
Would you boo or cheer?
Posted by SlyBook @ 12/18/2002 03:12 PM EST
>>By the way, you classy New York fans, the Japanese for "you suck" is"hetakuso" (pronounced "heh-tah-kso"---the "u" is slurred), since I know you'll want to shout that when Matsui doesn't hit a 20 homers in his first week like you did at Jason Giambi, you miserable bastards.
No excuse for drunken idiots...just like there's no excuse for the moronic Bawston fans that booed Clemens after he left the Red Sawx. All the things he did while he was there were magically forgotten - even though he was the one that wasn't invited back.
Geez, Yankee fans even cheered for Knoblauch when he came back. That's more than I can say for them bean-eatin' Chappaquidick dwellers.
Is there a Japanese word for ignorant dipwad?
Petezs
Posted by Pete @ 12/18/2002 01:51 PM EST
I was told that baseballguru.com was a reliable source, but it's looking more and more like that's not the case.
I don't know where this guy gets his information, but I won't be reading this site any longer, nor considering it a reputable source of information.
Posted by Bozidar @ 12/18/2002 01:40 PM EST
"Pedro does not throw a curve" ?
WHAT AN IDIOT
"Beaten badly by the Yankees" ?
3 earned runs in 6 innings
WHAT AN IDIOT
"My name is Jonah Falcon and I'm a Yankee lemming" ?
WHAT AN IDIOT
Posted by SlyBook @ 12/18/2002 12:14 PM EST
"Pedro does not throw a curve" ?
WHAT AN IDIOT
"Beaten badly by the Yankees" ?
3 earned runs in 6 innings
WHAT AN IDIOT
"My name is Jonah Falcon and I'm a Yankee lemming" ?
WHAT AN IDIOT
Posted by SlyBook @ 12/18/2002 12:09 PM EST
Pedro does throw a curve, he throws four pitches as well as anyone, fastball, circle change (which they won't have seen this quality changeup in Japan), curveball, slider. If you don't believe me, try this link, and don't be calling people idiots if you don't know what you are talking about. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4875
Posted by Norton @ 12/18/2002 11:47 AM EST
"Buckle under Pedro's curve"?
What an idiot.
a) Pedro does not throw a curve, he throws a changeup.
b) Pedro has a .500 record against the Yankees, and a hefty bulk of that was earlier in his career. Last I saw, he got beaten badly by the Yankees, getting shut out, and quit the season before it was over.
c) Matsui comes from the Japanese League, where they throw NOTHING BUT OFFSPEED PITCHES. To get a Japanese League player out, the formula is to try to throw it past them.
Posted by Jonah Falcon @ 12/18/2002 11:20 AM EST
I just checked out Sports Hochi and Chunichi Sports website, and found nothing like those being reported here. All they had is "according to NY papers, Matsui might get a contract from the Yankees soon, the undisclosed salary ranged from $6M to $8M per".
It doesn't look like a done deal to me yet.
Posted by CCLu @ 12/18/2002 10:09 AM EST
I can't wait for Yu-sucki's knees to buckle after Pedro slides a curve past him. How do you say "strike three" in Japan? Ca$hman, good luck with Mondesi and White, but you've got bigger problems than ridding yourselves of those loads. How about that 8.21 ERA in the playoffs last year? SOLID! And David Wells? Gets his teeth knocked out in a bar, AND gives up 8 runs in games 4? WHOOPS!
Best of luck to Yu-sucki, welcome to the cesspool.
Cheers,
SlyBook
Posted by SlyBook @ 12/18/2002 09:55 AM EST
Sounds like some loser is upset about the Yankees signing! You will get over it, like you got over the fact that you are a loser! HAHA
GO YANKEES BABY!!! ALL THE WAY!!!
Don`t call us Miserable bastards, you rat fink. The True Yankee fan cheers his players Guru-san.
Yep, you Yankee fans are a class act all right. What were you thinking, Gary?
Posted by Jeff @ 12/18/2002 08:22 AM EST
this is bogus
Posted by yankeeblows @ 12/17/2002 06:23 PM EST
This is a bogus story.
Posted by Vern @ 12/17/2002 06:07 PM EST
Sounds like some loser is upset
about the Yankees signing! You will
get over it, like you got over the fact that you are a loser! HAHA
GO YANKEES BABY!!! ALL THE WAY!!!
Posted by NEWYORKMINUTE @ 12/17/2002 05:06 PM EST
What a mistake by the Yankees.
This guy will have serious problems without the help of the
Tokyo Yomiuri Giant umpires.
Good luck Yankees, you will
need it.
Posted by BABE RUTH @ 12/17/2002 04:14 PM EST
If this article is true, then I welcome Mr. Matsui to the greatest sports franchise in the world :)
As for your bias against NY fans, it's understandable. Giambi was booed for no reason, and those that did it are morons. No excuse for them.
I just have one questions though.. it's 4:30 in japan right now.. when and how did this story break? Why hasn't any american media outlet picked it up yet?
-- Boz
Posted by Bozidar @ 12/17/2002 02:36 PM EST
All this guy is just going to be, is just an oversized Shinjo. Ichiro is good because Ichiro can friggin' fly and plays the field like Freddy Ballgame. This Godzilla stiff is Nick Johnson with a set of chopsticks. I've seen bigger arms on a Kangaroo. And I love that the Yankees are taking all the risk on this overpaid addition to their long list of busted talent: Shane Spencer, Raul Mondesi and Rondell White. Keep up the good work Cashman, you're luxury tax payments are well received in Kansas City.
Theo for Prez!
Binbinse
Posted by Binbinse @ 12/17/2002 02:17 PM EST
Don`t call us Miserable bastards, you rat fink.The True Yankee fan cheers his player`s Gurusan.
Posted by Bob Michaels @ 12/17/2002 01:48 PM EST
Hi,
Thanks for the article that you posted. Hopefully he'll sign soon and enjoy success here.
I like the Japanese Culture but basically the old fashion way. Matshui-san seems to be a class act in that mode and hopefully he'll do well. The new generation as your comments imply is not like he is thought.
Unfortunately most of the new generation including some here tend to be like some people in this City. Maybe they check their manners at the airport ? Who knows.
Truth is that not everyone Boo Giambi, only a few fools that will probably do the same to Matsui-san. However, those are not the typical fans, just a bunch of beer drinkers knuckleheads. They also do not represent most people here.
There're some people here that are not like that. I guess the same can be said for many big cities like Tokyo where manners are not the norm for young people. I thought that Osaka and Kyoto were much better in that sense and people were much nicer.
Have a nice day.
Yori
Posted by Yori @ 12/17/2002 12:09 PM EST
