6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog: Roster Notes

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Roster Notes

Kendry's on the bench: Despite the day-to-day diagnosis earlier, Kendry Morales has not resumed playing in the DWL postseason.
The Dodgers are close to signing RHP Chin-Hui Tsao as a free agent. The Rockies non-tendered him in December.
David Wells is still working on a deal with the Padres but appears to be using the Blue Jays as negotiating leverage — or not.
Raffy Palmeiro was told he wouldn't fit with the Rangers for a comeback bid.
For those with ESPN Insider, Rob Neyer thinks Daisuke Matsuzaka needs to emulate Hideo Nomo if he's going to be successful in the U.S. While noting that Matsuzaka has better Japanese numbers than Nomo-san at about the same point in their respective careers, there are some interesting cautionary notes:
In Nomo's first season he was an All-Star, he led the league in strikeouts while posting a 2.54 ERA, and he was named Rookie of the Year. In his second season he finished second in the league in strikeouts and pitched a no-hitter at Coors Field. But he never was a premier pitcher again (though he did show occasional flashes of greatness, in 2001 and 2003). The Red Sox signed Matsuzaka for six seasons, which was the only way they could justify sending a $51 million posting fee to his ex-employers in Japan. But no Japanese starting pitcher has been effective, let alone excellent, for more than a few consecutive seasons. Not even Nomo. And for a total investment of more than $100 million, the Red Sox are expecting at least four good (or better) seasons from the hottest acquisition of the winter. I think they'll be thrilled with him in 2007 and 2008; it's 2009 and beyond I'm not so sure about.