The World Baseball Classic might not have been the best moment for American baseball. But the event did wonders to show everyone just how good worldwide baseball has become. The national pastime has become the international pastime.
The biggest stage — PETCO Park in San Diego in late March — helped illuminate one of the brightest future stars of Major League Baseball.
Jeff Francoeur? Matt Holliday? Daniel Cabrera?
No, no, and no. These players will be future stars, but the person I’m thinking about isn’t in the Majors. Yet.
Yulieski Gourriel?
No, not quite, but you’re thinking internationally, that’s good. I’m thinking of Daisuke Matsuzaka, an ace pitcher in Japanese baseball.
With the Seibu Lions last year, Matsuzaka threw 215 innings, striking out 226 batters with a 2.30 ERA. Don’t forget that most parks in Japan can aptly be labeled (and this is an understatement) bandboxes, which makes the ERA even more remarkable. Don’t forget that they only play 135 games per season, which makes the innings pitched total even more impressive. And 226 strikeouts are 226 strikeouts, an astounding number. All of this came at the age of 25.
He’s had success in the Japanese Leagues; the stats clearly bear that out. The big question is this: Can he be successful at the Major League level? The fastball is probably the most important pitch here across the pond known as the Pacific Ocean; guys who throw slop don’t usually survive too long.
Matsuzaka can cross off one of the things in front of him: he’s got a mid 90s fastball and good control. Pitchers also need to have other offerings. Um, does a ridiculously nasty slider count? Throw in a couple of other off speed pitches, and you’ve got a complete repertoire that would make any pitching coach drool. His mechanics are clean, and he can hold up over 215 innings, which is about what he’ll throw in the Major Leagues over a longer time span.
Big game situations are his thing. He’s pitched brilliantly in two Olympic competitions and led the Seibu Lions to Japanese League title in 2002. Perhaps the most impressive part of his resume, however, is the final two days of his high school career. In the semifinals, he threw a 17 inning complete game; for the championship game, Matsuzaka finished up with a complete game no hitter. That was nearly 400 pitches in the span of two days without Dusty Baker’s help.
The biggest obstacle is not having the ability to compete over here. Rather, it’s getting over here that is the problem. The Seibu Lions control Matsuzaka through the 2008 season. After that, he’s free to sign with whomever he wants, whether it’s the Orix Blue Wave or New York Yankees.
The franchise wouldn’t get any type of reimbursement for losing him, however. The only way they could get something in return would be to “post” him, a process in which they accept bids for their star player and whoever has the highest bid receives the rights to him. The Mariners “bought” Ichiro for $13 million last season; imagine how much an ace pitcher will bring in.
If the Lions are ready and willing to see their ace leave, we’ll see Matsuzaka on a Major League mound in 12 months. If not, then he’ll join an American team in 24 months. Either way, chances are that he’ll be doing pretty well.
Daniel is an AtHomePlate.com blogger; to see his archive, click here.
