イチロー、松井等の日本選手の記事より、松坂の部分のみ抜粋。長い、長い。
The making of Matsuzaka
The winning bid of $51.1 million — or about 6 billion yen — significantly topped the bids made by the Yankees and Mets and blew away all the other offers. The amount also is more than the individual 2006 Opening Day payrolls of the Marlins, Devil Rays, Rockies, Pirates and Royals.
If the Red Sox sign Matsuzaka, they get a 26-year-old right-hander who's about 6 feet and 185 pounds and consistently throws in the mid-90s. He has dominated top baseball teams in Japan since his rookie season in 1999.
•How good is he?
Matsuzaka was 17-5 with 200 strikeouts, a 2.13 ERA and 14 complete games in 186⅓ innings last season. In eight seasons with the Seibu Lions, he's 108-60, he has led the Pacific League in wins three times and strikeouts four times and he has captured the ERA title twice. He also won the Sawamura Award, Japan's version of the Cy Young Award.
•What does he throw?
His fastball ranges from 90-96 mph and has good, late movement. On some fastballs, the ball seems to rise. He also throws a sinker, a split-finger changeup and a slider with almost the same delivery on all three pitches.
Matsuzaka might also throw what has been dubbed a "gyroball," a double-breaking pitch that is thought to rotate sideways like a spiraling football and dive in and then out on right-handed hitters or away and then in on left-handers.
•If he signs, what is Boston's rotation?
Boston fans can envision a rotation of Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Jonathan Papelbon, Tim Wakefield and Matsuzaka. Papelbon, who saved 35 games last season with an ERA of 0.92, is expected to become a starter in 2007. He started in the minor leagues.
•If he signs, what else does Boston get?
The Red Sox now have a gateway to the Far East.
In the short term, the Red Sox get a phenomenal pitching talent. The long term will provide opportunities for the Red Sox well beyond our borders.
松坂に死角なし。 悪くても１５勝はする。
