Sayonara!
Bobby Valentine and Dice-K Matsuzaka leave the mound for the last time in the Bronx
(Reuters)

And We Are Never, Ever, Ever Getting Back Together
... Like, Ever

You Too, Bobby
Maybe Teflon Theo Will Sign $2-Million-Per-Win Matsuzaka-san in Chicago?
Remember When Epstein's Pacific Rim Scouts Were The Smartest Guys in the Room?
We Really Love Our $51,111,111.11 Toilets. Sincerely, The Seibu Lions


Sign of the Times in Boston
(BDD Photo Illustration)

This Just In: Red Sox to Plan to Celebrate the 6th Anniversary
Of the Matsuzaka Signing at Fenway Next Week


Never Forget ...

Daisuke Matsuzaka (R) hesitates before he tries on his hat as Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein looks on during a press conference announcing that the pitcher has signed with the Boston Red Sox on December 14, 2006 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Matsuzaka will earn $52 million over six years.
(BDD Photo Illustration / Ryan Sullivan)

... Who Made the Deal

" 'It's highly unusual,' Epstein said of submitting a second offer without receiving a response to the first, 'but it's showing that Matsuzaka is extremely important to the Boston Red Sox. It's normally not a good ploy, but we want to demonstrate to Matsuzaka, and the fans of Japanese baseball, just how important he is to us.' " -- Boston Globe, Dec. 11, 2006

Boston Dirt Dogs Photo Illustration by Meir Weinberg
(BDD Photo Illustration / Meir Weinberg)

The Sun Goes Up, The Sun Goes Down,
And Scott Boras Sucker Punches the Boston Red Sox

"In Japan, he's known as the national treasure. Here, he will be known as Fort Knox." -- Scott Boras, agent for Daisuke Matsuzaka, Dec. 11, 2006


Japan's National Treasure Is In the Rear View Mirror

Dice-K
(BDD Photo Illustration)

Remember Tracking Da Plane! Da Plane!?

track the flight
(Flight Aware live tracking of Matsuzaka flight to Boston)
Boston Dirt Dogs, Fantasy Island
(BDD Photo Illustration)

Those Were the Days

Before his press conference, Daisuke Matsuzaka went to the mound at Fenway Park and threw a pitch to Red Sox owner John Henry, (which he missed), and after he missed he fell backwards, which brought a howl of laughter from the pitcher as his agent Scott Boras (bottom right), rushed to Henry's aid.
(Boston Globe Staff Photo / Jim Davis)
BDD is a feature of Boston.com. All posts are by Steve Silva unless otherwise indicated.

Boston Globe:

Rodriguez looks like the steal deal > Despite effort by Rodriguez, Red So fall > Tazawa has come a long way, on and off field

Boston Herald:

Lauber: Eduardo Rodriguez showing Red Sox he's special > PawSox start looms large for Masterson

ProJo:

Rodriguez gem wasted > Chili Davis doesn't want to turn Red Sox into free-swingers > Red Sox draft catcher in third round

NY Post:

How Mariano Rivera has influenced Yankees' top pick > Why starting rotation could be a big Yankees' strength

Following feed provided by
Subscribe to Dirt DogsWhat's RSS?

Please e-mail us thoughts, images, attachments here.

The "Curt�s Pitch for ALS" program is a joint effort by Curt and Shonda Schilling and The ALS Association Mass Chapter to strike out Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig�s Disease.

Support SHADE!

The SHADE Foundation thanks Red Sox Nation for joining in their fight to save future generations from melanoma.
Hot Stove, Cool Music
Get the CD. Support Paul and Theo Epstein's Foundation to be Named Later.