The Empire is Evil No More

The Boston Red Sox have finally managed to turn the tables on New York’s so-called Evil Empire by outbidding the Yankees for the right to have a simple, unguaranteed conversation with unproven Major League hopeful Daisuke Matsuzaka. The move obviously is the foundation for the construction of Boston’s own Death Star as finishing in 3rd place with the second highest payroll in the Majors ($120 million) has left a bad taste in the mouths of New Englanders everywhere. So in an effort to prevent another Jose Contreras meltdown, Red Sox’s president Larry Lucchino finally managed to loosen his tie and allow uber-young lap dog Theo Epstein to shell out $51 million for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka and his agent Scott “Dracula” Boras. Let them think what they want, Theo knows this move is not pent up angst for all those years of the Yankees controlling their offseason with the almighty dollar, it is a move that, when all is said and done, will only cost the Sox roughly $100 million for a future ace that will jam his “gyroball” down the throats of the New York lineup.

Now Daisuke Matsuzaka is young and unproven at the Major League level, but stats are stats, and they look really good when put on paper. So Matsuzaka will bring his 17-5 record with a 2.13 ERA and 200 strikeouts for the Seibu Lions this season and test his talent on baseball’s best division, the AL East. Oh wait, did I forget to mention that the $51 million was just negotiating money? The Red Sox have 30 days to reach a contract agreement or Matsuzaka stays in the Pacific League for another season until he becomes a legitimate free agent. Maybe Larry Lucchino isn’t as dumb as the moves he makes look like. If Matsuzaka isn’t signed, the $51 million comes back and the Red Sox get what they may have set out to do, spite the Yankees and keep Matsuzaka from landing in pinstripes. Whatever their motives, it is a gamble, you don’t know if you are getting the next Nideo Nomo (early in his career) or Hideki Irabu. But one thing is for sure, it is baseball business at its best, so welcome to the lonely club Boston and enjoy the hate because there is no turning back now.