松坂ＵＰＤＡＴＥ、Boston Globeの記事 - Chat ３

12. He was on the DL for almost three months with the sore elbow. His speed has gone down a MPH or two, but he's becomming more of a pitcher than the thrower he used to be. He's using his head more. He used to try to strike everybody out. He doesn't do that anymore.

13. Japanese teams are not profit-oriented businesses. They are run by parent corporations who use them as promotional tools. So the team is funded by the parent company's advertising budget. Seibu has been having financial problems so they could certainly use the money. $50m will pay two years of payroll for the Lions.

14. You can't take a translator out to the mound, so you'd have to hire Hasegawa as an assistant pitching coach. The language barrier is overrated. Not difficult to master "how do you feel?" and "keep the ball down."

15. In Japan, the catcher runs the show. Pitchers do what they're told, generally speaking. So he shouldn't have any problems. It's in America where pitchers tend to take the lead. You see a lot of shaking signals off. How can you not get along with Jason Varitek?

16. This year Saito was the best pitcher in Japan. He and Matsuzaka were neck and neck all year. Saito, who was 18-5 with a 1.75 ERA, edged him out as the best pitcher. The two met head to head in a playoff game. Saito won 1-0. Saito is awesome. He's 6' 4" and weighs 220 but he is very loyal to Softbank, so the question is whether he wants to go or not... thanks for chatting folks! Good luke Daisuke... please don't call him D-Mat!

ソフトバンクの斉藤で、ドジャースの斉藤ではない。
結論：松坂はMLBでも大活躍する。長谷川を投手コーチで雇うのはいいアイデアだ。

松坂ＵＰＤＡＴＥ、Boston Globeの記事 - Chat ２

6. These days the Pacific League is superior to the Central League. Interleague play started last year. PL teams have won the majority of the games. PL has a DH, makes it harder to pitch.

7. Avoiding the temptation to try to blow his fastball by hitters in a tight situation... that could result in disaster. That's his weak point.

8. He said, before the posting began, that he wouldn't mind going to the Yankees, Red Sox, or the Mets. I don't think it matters that much to him. I think he understands what a great organization the Red Sox are.

9. The shuto is a fast cutter and sometimes it breaks down. The Americans used to say shooter back in the 20's.

10. Another $50 million over four years at the most. Boras would want him back on the market sooner rather than later.

11. Japanese hitters are harder to strike out than American hitters. They're very patient. They tend to go to 3-2 a lot. They don't have the power of Americans, generally speaking. There's nobody like Pujols or Howard in Japan.

日本には、プホールスもハワード程の強打者はいない。

松坂ＵＰＤＡＴＥ、Boston Globeの記事 - Chat記事

Robert Whitingの回答より抜粋。
1. There's no magic formula for dealing with the Japanese. Just be polite and patient.

2. The Red Sox are buying more than the rights to Matsuzaka with this money. They're making a statement and establishing a presence in the Far East. Japanese pitchers in general have more pitches and better control than Americans. They practice a lot more, startingin Jr. High School and High School where it's required to practice 11 months a year. Japanese have turned baseball into a martial art.

3. Marty Brown, an American who manages the Hiroshima Carp, and played with Curt Schilling, says that Matsuzaka reminds him of Schilling in his prime. Matsuzaka has five pitches, none of which is the Gyroball by the way and he's got speed in the low to mid-90's and can get you out with the breaking ball on a 3-2 count.

4. I don't thik English really matters. Think of all the latin stars in MLB who couldn't speak Engish, e.g. Fernando Valenzuela. Matsuzaka will have a good support group from the Japanese community in Boston. He's got a pretty tough mental makeup. Strong than Kaz Matsui's, a lot stronger. When the Boston fans start hurling abuse at you, not being able to understand English is an advantage.

5. I'm sure he knows a lot more now than he did last week. But everybody in Japan knows about Schilling and the bloody sock.

ブラウン監督「今の松坂は絶頂期のシリングと同じ」

投手のＭＶＰは難しい

サイヤング賞があるので、ＭＶＰは野手対象と考えているふしがある。
ＭＶＰ投票で３位以内の投手を検索。

年度　リーグ　選手　順位　ポイント　－　成績の順
1999　ナ　Pedro Martinez　2位　239 - 23勝4敗 2.07
1995　ナ　Greg Maddux　3位　249 - 19勝2敗 1.63
1992　ア　Dennis Eckersley　1位　306 - 7勝1敗51セーブ 1.91
1990　ア　Roger Clemens　3位　212 - 21勝6敗 1.93
1986　ア　Roger Clemens　1位　339 - 24勝4敗 2.48
1984　ア　Willie Hernandez　1位　306 - 9勝3敗32セーブ 1.92
1984　ア　Dan Quisenberry　3位　235 - 6勝3敗44セーブ 2.64
1981　ア　Rollie Fingers　1位　319 - 6勝3敗28セーブ 1.04
1980　ア　Rich Gossage　3位　218 - 6勝2敗33セーブ 2.27
1978　ア　Ron Guidry　2位　291 - 25勝3敗 1.74

過去30年で、投手のMVPは4人のみ。前回のMVPは20年前のクレメンス。

サッカーの視聴率ガタ落ち

テレ朝の日本 vs. 韓国の視聴率は 7.3%。妥当な数字。中村俊輔が出れば、15%以上は確実。
世界男子バレーは、日本の予想外の健闘で、アルゼンチン戦は16.9％。

Ｃｏｃｃｏが紅白に初出場

日刊より抜粋。
Ｃｏｃｃｏは９７年に「強く儚（はかな）い者たち」でブレークしたが、人気絶頂の０１年４月に「マイペースに活動したい」との思いを抱き突然活動中止を宣言した。休止期間中は、故郷の沖縄の海をごみから守る「ゴミゼロ大作戦」に携わり絵本作家としても活動していた。

紅組の出場歌手は、既に森昌子、ドリームズ・カム・トゥルー、新人歌手絢香らが内定しており、白組ではＣｏｃｃｏと同じ沖縄出身のオレンジレンジも出場が濃厚。

「こっこ」と読むらしい。森昌子の内定が決まっているということは、和田アキ子の落選が決定ということか。朗報を待つ。

安倍首相「国旗の掲揚や、国歌の斉唱が行われないとすれば問題」

安倍首相の発言は、７０歳以上の政治家の発言に思える。５２歳の首相がこういう発言をすることは、大問題だ。早く首相退陣を望む。
取り合えず、復党問題で、支持率を低下させることだ。

日体大レスリング部員逮捕、女子寮から下着盗む

サンスポより抜粋。
日体大体操部の女子寮に侵入して下着を盗んだとして、神奈川県警青葉署に窃盗の現行犯で逮捕されていたことが２１日、分かった。未成年なのに飲酒して愚行に及んだらしい。部員は無期停学処分を受け、レスリング部は１カ月の活動停止処分となった。

男子部員は１１月４日午前２時５５分ごろ、横浜市青葉区奈良町の同大体操部女子寮に無施錠のドアから侵入、２人部屋の室内に干してあった２年生の女子部員（１９）のブラジャー１枚、パンティー２枚の計３枚（時価３０００円相当）を盗んで逃走した。

　女子部員は就寝中だったが、不審な物音に気付いてほかの女子部員３、４人とともに追跡。１人を寮の正門に待たせていたところ、男子部員が寮を１周して正門に戻ってきたという。問い詰めると、ポケットから“ブツ”が出てきたため１１０番。駆けつけた青葉署員に引き渡した。

-----
女性とはいえども、さすがに日体大。

小笠原巨人入り

巨人と小笠原のファンだが、小笠原の巨人入りには反対。

松坂ＵＰＤＡＴＥ、MLB HPの記事 － レッドソックスが食事に招待

According to published reports, the dinner took place at the Southern California home of Red Sox chairman Tom Werner on Saturday. Matsuzaka, who had already been in Los Angeles with agent Scott Boras, was entertained by not just Werner, but also Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry, club president/CEO Larry Lucchino, general manager Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona.

Speculation is that the Red Sox would like to secure Matsuzaka for as long as possible, while Boras is in favor of a shorter contract -- perhaps three years -- that would allow the pitcher an out to become a free agent at the end of the pact.

レッドソックスは大金を投じたので、長期契約を目論む。一方、代理人のボラスは、３年の契約で済まし、３年後にもっと大きな契約を目論んでいる。納得。
年俸金額より、契約年数で揉めそうだ。