Truth & Rumors > MLB
Japanese angry over MLB's pursuit of prospect
As far as Junichi Tazawa is concerned, the most rebellious acts in his 22 years have been ignoring his homework and sneaking home after sunrise. But as the first high-profile Japanese baseball prospect to spurn his nation's leagues to entertain offers from U.S.-based major-league teams, he has found himself straining relations between baseball leagues on two continents, with accusations of talent raiding and breaking decades-long understandings. Many Japanese baseball officials are outraged that U.S. teams are courting Tazawa, a hard-throwing righthanded pitcher, because they insist it is long-established practice for amateurs like him to be strictly off-limits to major-league clubs. Even some U.S. general managers, including the Yankees' Brian Cashman, agree.
Junichi Tazawa, Sam Yeh/Getty Images
More FanHouse Blogs
- UFC 106 Fight Card
- UFC 106 Results
- Stefanie Spielman Dies at Age 42
- Bears Shun NBC for Sunday Night Game
- Parisyan Pulls Out of UFC 106, Dana White Says Move is Career Ender
- Questions Surround ESPN's NBA Latino Power Rankings
- Steelers Fan Claims He Was Poisoned, Blinded in Chicago Bar
- Bosh Will Consider Joining Wade in Miami
- Chelios Fights Father Time for Last Shot
- Zack Greinke Wins AL Cy Young Award
Stub Hub
The 2009 schedule has been released. Search for tickets!
Truth & Rumors
MOST POPULAR
-
1
Agent: 'Extraordinary' interest in Bay
- Views
- 5196
- Comments
- 1888
-
2
Vikings to consider L.A. move?
- Views
- 65525
- Comments
- 1877
-
3
Bills owner wanted Gruden
- Views
- 9945
- Comments
- 261
-
4
Mayo rebukes Bruschi's Belichick knock
- Views
- 44588
- Comments
- 257
-
5
Can Iverson lure LeBron to Knicks?
- Views
- 9984
- Comments
- 176
Most Active Users
Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns
Message Boards
-
NCAAF > General NCAAF
Are college football coaches…
- Views
- 293
- Replies
- 49
-
NFL > Pittsburgh Steelers
Big Ben accepts Blame for loss…
- Views
- 254
- Replies
- 42
-
NCAAF > General NCAAF
CFB Game Day 11/21/2009
- Views
- 97
- Replies
- 59
Blogs
-
Your Personal ESPN for the…
Week 10 Review: Monday Night Letdown
In front of a national audience on Monday Night Football, the Baltimore…
- Views
- 9551
- Comments
- 1
-
-
From Scrimmage
Why the BCS doesn't need Facebook or Twitter
On the heels of announcing Bill Hancock as Executive…
- Views
- 633
- Comments
- 2
Fantasy Plus
- RotoExperts: An Introduction to Fantasy Soccer
- Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Week 11
- WEEK 11 GAME BREAKDOWNS
- Matt Satten: NBA Fantasy Lab
- SI Fantasy
Blog Roll
Maria Kirilenko
Irina Shayk
Did You See That?
Nation's Top Basketball Recruits
SI Media Kits
|
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
Add RSS headlines.
Copyright 2008 Time Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.
Comments (59) Add A Comment
sounds like a fair deal considering Matsuzaka makes like 8.5 mill. per.
skil89
Braintree , MA
Total Comments (37)
$6 mil sounds like more than enough for someone who hasn't shown he can pitch in the MLB yet. Matsuzaka at least faced plenty of MLB caliber players in the WBC before he signed.
Ysary
Total Comments (26)
The Red Sox have no respect. Most teams don't, but atleast the best franchise in the world honors a vow. Let's go Yankees!
Jason Kidd is a…
Brooklyn , NY
Total Comments (812)
So why would Manchester United be interested in this kid?
BEAST!
Leander , TX
Total Comments (1283)
I guess the Braves offered $5 million.
Question: ESPN says this guy throws 88-90, CNNSI says he can reach 97.
Anyone know what's up?
hyperRevue
Total Comments (12521)
If the reports are true (that the Sox offered $6 million) I think that coupled with the chance to pitch with Dice-K will make Tazawa's decision pretty easy.
hyperRevue
Total Comments (12521)
I think it'd be a more comfortable environment. And Dice-K is a national hero in Japan.
hyperRevue
Total Comments (12521)
Why, did MLB suddenly slap a limit on the number of Japanese players they should have on the team?.... plus, with the Japanese focus already on the Sox, how would this hurt him as opposed to say.... ending up in Milwaukie?.....
Sir Robin (again)
Fan Nation, HQ
Total Comments (16600)
I see your point about being overshadowed. And I agree to a point.
I just think the familiarity of going to a team with 2 other Japanese pitchers is enticing. Less of a culture shock. More of an established support structure.
I dunno. I'm also sure the $6 million doesn't hurt.
hyperRevue
Total Comments (12521)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.