Busts Pt. 20: Daisuke Matsuzaka

Sometimes, offseason acquisitions work out. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes, they are spectacular failures.

DAISUKE MATSUZAKA
We can talk about this now.  Matsuzaka was the subject of the highest posting fee in baseball history to that point.  The Red Sox paid $51,111,111.11 just to talk to Matsuzaka about playing for them.  They outbid the Rangers, Mets, and Yankees among other teams.  Matsuzaka was supposed to be an ace for whoever got him.  They then signed him for a $52 million, six-year contract.  It was the highest contract anyone ever got coming from Japan.

2007 proved to be a reasonably decent rookie year.  Matsuzaka pitched to a 15-12 record with a 4.40 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 204.1 innings.  Not bad, but not quite what was expected.  He finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year vote and won Game 3 of the World Series.  He even helped himself with a two-run single.  All in all it was a fairly successful season.

His 2008 season was even better.  He won 18 games against just three losses and a 2.90 ERA with 154 strikeouts in 167.2 innings.  He finished fourth in the Cy Young race.  He did show a tendency to nibble at the corners at the plate and throw a lot of pitches.  But nonetheless, his numbers looked great on paper.  He looked like he could be the great pitcher the Red Sox thought they were getting.

In 2009 however, the injuries and tendency to throw a lot of pitches started to accumulate.  The next four seasons saw his numbers dramatically decline.  He pitched in only 56 games over the next four years with a 17-22 record and a 5.53 ERA with 254 strikeouts.

At the end, the injuries and the number of pitches did him in.  When he was aggressive, he was good, when he nibbled he had a tendency to get hit hard.  The money just was not worth it at the end.  

Searching for BoSox

I will do these once in awhile. I bought some stuff at the local Target. I only buy cards looking for Red Sox.

Here's what I bought:
2010 Topps Series 2 Jumbo Pack
2010 Topps Chrome Value Pack
2009 UD Icons Retail Blaster

Time for a live break:

2010 TOPPS SERIES 2 JUMBO PACK
PACK 1:
Wandy Rodriguez Astros
Texas Rangers TL w/ Kinsler and Hamilton (I'm rooting for Texas in the ALCS)
Brandon Wood Angels
Joel Pineiro Angels (former Red Sox don't count)
Andy Marte Indians (a Red Sox for about 5 seconds)
Dusty Hughes Royals RC
Jesse English Nationals RC
Nick Markakis Orioles
Alberto Callaspo Royals
Jim Bunning The Cards Your Mom Threw Out Phillies
Derek Jeter History of the World Series Yankees (blech)
Clayton Kershaw 2020 Dodgers (this is pretty cool actually)
Aaron Hill Peak Performance Blue Jays
Joe Morgan Turkey Red Reds (I miss firejoemorgan.com)
Mark Buehrle White Sox
Emilio Bonifacio Marlins
Carlos Guillen Tigers
Mike Napoli Angels

So that was a bust.

PACK 2:
Wade LeBlanc Padres
Brandon Webb Diamondbacks
Mike Pelfrey Mets
Travis Ishikawa Giants
Clete Thomas Tigers
Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig CL Yankees
Jhoulys Chacin Rockies
Trevor Crowe Indians
Kevin Kouzmanoff Athletics
Raul Ibanez Phillies
Red Sox Team Card w/ Youkilis, Francona, Ellsbury, Varitek, Bates (of course I already have this)
Phil Hughes Yankees
Reggie Jackson Vintage Legends Yankees
Bo Jackson Royals/Justin Upton Diamondbacks Legendary Lineage
Josh Johnson Attax Marlins
Chien Ming Wang Nationals
George Sherrill Dodgers
Michael Bourn Astros
Brendan Ryan Cardinals

Another bust. One Red Sox (that I already had), too many Yankees.

TOPPS CHROME VALUE PACK
PACK 1:
Vladimir Guerrero Rangers
Chase Utley Xfractor Phillies
Nick Markakis Orioles
Aramis Ramirez Cubs

Bust. Nice Utley though.

ORANGE REFRACTOR PACK:
A.J. Burnett Yankees
Vernon Wells Blue Jays
Jason Bay Mets (damn, former Red Sox again)

Yet another Yankee. No Red Sox cards

PACK 2:
Justin Upton Diamondbacks
Wilson Ramos RC Xfractor Twins
Howie Kendrick Angels
Tommy Hanson Braves

Beginning to rethink this whole thing.

PACK 3:
Miguel Tejada Orioles
Vernon Wells Refractor Blue Jays
Derek Jeter Yankees
Shin-Soo Choo Indians

Absolutely no Red Sox in this whole thing. I could have saved myself some money.

UD ICONS
PACK 1:
Ryan Dempster Cubs
Jose Reyes Mets
Jason Giambi Athletics
Chris Young Diamondbacks
Roy Halladay Blue Jays

PACK 2:
A.J. Burnett Yankees
Josh Beckett Red Sox (finally)
Randy Johnson 20th Anniversay Retrospective Diamondbacks
David Wright Mets
Stephen Drew Diamondbacks

PACK 3:
Ervin Santana Angels
Brian McCann Braves
Alfonso Soriano Foil Cubs
Derrek Lee Cubs
Albert Pujols Cardinals

PACK 4:
Magglio Ordonez Tigers
Corey Hart Icons Jersey Brewers (the "hit" of the box)
Ken Griffey Jr. Mariners

PACK 5:
Ichiro Mariners
Kosuke Fukudome Cubs
Johan Santana Mets
Garrett Atkins Rockies
Carlos Beltran Mets

PACK 6:
Akinori Iwamura Rays
Chad Billingsley Dodgers
Willie Stargell 20th Anniversy Pirates
Matt Holliday Athletics
Hanley Ramirez Marlins (I wish the Red Sox had not traded him, but he did bring two key components to the 2007 World Series Champs)

PACK 7:
Nick Markakis Orioles (seem to be pulling a lot of him today)
Joakim Soria Royals
Carlos Quentin White Sox
Michael Young Rangers
Jay Bruce Reds

PACK 8:
Daisuke Matsuzaka Red Sox (finally)
Ryan Howard Phillies
James McDonald RC Dodgers 885/999
Cliff Lee Indians
Russell Martin Dodgers

PACK 9:
Adam Dunn Nationals (could he be a Red Sox next year?)
Joe Mauer Twins
Jon Lester Red Sox (that's three new ones, four overall)
Tim Lincecum Giants
Alfonso Soriano Cubs

PACK 10:
Dan Uggla Marlins
Ryan Zimmerman Nationals
Rudolf Giuliani 20th Anniversary (what's this doing here?)
Ryan Ludwick Cardinals
Josh Hamilton Rangers

So that's it. I should have just bought the Icons box. Three Red Sox out of less than 50 cards is a pretty good ratio. The way I figure it, I should be pulling Red Sox once out of every 30 cards for an approximate percentage of 3% of the time.

Today's ratio: 4 Red Sox out of 98 total: about 4%. A little ahead of the game. But, I pulled 7 Yankees (and generally better cards too, a refractor and a couple of inserts). Ah well. I expect these posts to keep track of how I am doing with pulling Red Sox from packs and will also keep track of the Yankees. I have a theory that Yankees cards are easier to pull.