The Matsuzaka Master Plan?
December 12th, 2006 by Jimmy Graham
One has to wonder, with the deadline to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka fast approaching, if not signing the Japanese pitcher was part of the Red Sox plans to begin with.
Was the $51.1 million negotiating offer just a preemptive move to prevent the Yankees from landing the prized Japanese pitching standout?
Probably not, and here’s why. The Red Sox learned from the 2006 campaign that a team can never have too much front-line pitching. When it comes to top-notch, top-of-the-rotation starters, the Red Sox now realize a little goes a long way.
Case in point: While the Sox were tired of Pedro Martinez’s indiscretions, they now understand the impact a quality starter makes on the staff as a whole. There is a cumulative effect. When one piece of the puzzle is removed, the entire staff takes a collective step back.
And pitching is the name of the game. The primary reason the Sox coasted to their 2004 title was starting pitching. The 2004 staff gelled at the perfect time and the team never looked back.
Certainly a strong argument can be made for the Sox not pursuing Martinez. Since he has left Boston, Martinez has not exactly been a world-beater. Also, the former Sox ace has been riddled with injuries.
So the question remains: If the Red Sox were correct in letting Martinez (and Derek Lowe) leave, where have they come up short? By not making the proper plans to address their starting pitching, the Sox have discovered themselves with a mediocre staff.
The fix is as simple as adding a front-of-the-rotation guy. Many baseball observers believe that Daisuke Matsuzaka is the guy. By inserting a starter with the potential to win 15-18 games, you not only gain those wins, but improve the overall quality of your staff.
One can only believe that at this juncture it is simply a question of who is going to blink first - Daisuke Matsuzaka and his super-agent, Scott Boras, or the Boston Red Sox.
Of course, the silver lining to all of this is that, no matter what, the New York Yankees will not be vying for the pitcher’s services this year.
