B is for 野球

Well, the deal is done. Six years, $52 million for Daisuke Matsuzaka. I am ecstatic. Maybe Dice-K (I refuse to call him "D-Mat") won't be completely lights out, maybe his adjustment to life in the States will take a significant amount of time, but I have a good feeling about this guy. Plus, his blood is Type O, which, by Japanese standards, makes him a warrior! (Anyone interested in that bizarre New York Times article can check it out here.) And the 2007 Red Sox starting rotation will be loaded, providing plenty of protection for Matsuzaka:

Curt Schilling
Josh Beckett
Jonathan Papelbon
Dice-K
Tim Wakefield
Jon Lester (?)

Looks good to me.

So, $52 million is a lot of money for anyone. It'll get you a more than comfortable living situation and certain luxuries that the average person only dreams of. But Daisuke doesn't have to worry about all that. While at Boston Beerworks for the Seahawks-49ers game last night (sitting amongst several Japanese journalists and the amusing drunk girls hitting on them), a graphic popped up on the NESN screen. It looked something like this...

Other contract benefits

• physical therapist
• massage therapist
• interpreter
• personal assistant
• a total of 80 to 90 flights over the course of the contract
• special transportation
• living accommodations for Matsuzaka and his wife

Wow. I would take any and all of those things... though I'm partial to the massage therapist.

But welcome to Boston, Dice-K. Enjoy Fenway Park, the never-ending media coverage, a fan base that adores you, and dedicated teammates, one who is learning Japanese. The only thing I ask is that you ditch the puffy black jacket with fur trim. Maybe the Sox brass can add "fashion advisor" to your contract perks?