On the Yankees beat

Wow, 103-3 --- thats got to be a record of some sort! Gulp!
Maybe that Japanese kid doesn't understand the word "STOP"!

I don't know what they are thinking, though Matsuzaka was known for surprisingly high pitch counts in his JBL career.

As far as I know he used to throw a 250~300 pitch bullpen session and did it several times in Japanese spring traning.

The Red Sox really want to get their money's worth out of this guy so they've adjusted their rotation for the '07 season. When you see it, I think you'll see why he had the long bullpen session:
Rotation:
1. Dice-K
2. Schilling
3. Dice-K
4. Beckett
5. Dice-K
Emergency starter: Dice-K

Nice job Sox! Gonna use up his arm like they did Papel-flashinthepan.

And as for his 250 pitch games in Japan? 2 points:

1-Would you buy a car with 200,000 miles on it under the presumption that hey, it has been GREAT for those 200,000 miles?

2-Hitters in Japan are NOT MLB hitters. He won't be going that distance against top flight hitters. He won't last.

I believe Dr. Andrews has an openin around August 3rd, if they wanna go ahead and book the appointment now...

This is not a bad thing. Maybe Boston will wear out their starting pitching (like they did last year) to go along with their non-existent bullpen. Let Manny pitch!

Jim B: 103-3. The next time the teams play each other. There should be a improvement with any kind of luck. Who was top score for your team?

Its true the Dice man or whatever his name is, has trained differently in Japan. But this is mlb and every batter or most will look much like Matsui did to him. The stress on the arm will be significantly more than his days in Japan. My prediction is he'll be shut down during the season with arm problems.

Eddie: you make a valid point. Ware and tear on the body is cumulative. A pitcher can break down at anytime or anywhere.

Eddie: You are right, Dice-K will be seeing Dr. Andrews for a "Slice-K" before too long.

103 on the first day! WOW!

With the way the Yankees can foul off pitches and the rest of the hitters in the ML he might have a 103 pitch count by the 4th or 5th during the regular season.

What were his numbers against Matsui? Did he ever pitch to Ichiro?

103-3, those are the kind of moments that stick with you (sorry Jim), there should be a mercy rule for JHS games.

103-3 -- maybe it was like when Kramer beat the little kid in Karate!

I get the feeling this guy is going to be more of a showman and superstar due to past accomplishments than what he achieves here in the MLB. The Boston media will eat him up, the fans won't be able to get enough of him, and this constant attention may cause serious distractions for him.

I see this relationship as one that's been tainted from the start. He's already received a reprimand from the Red Sox for participating in a Japanese beer commercial wearing his Sox uniform. I guess he needs to make up for the huge amount of money the Sox stole from him by awarding his Japanese team over $50 million just to talk with him. The Sox' bargaining approach was a serious slap in the face to this renowned superstar who definitely deserved more money than the team who traded him.

If he does as well as expected, he may steal the psychological thunder out from under the rest of the team -- especially from Schilling who has been their star pitcher (and who, by the way, hasn't been bestowed his much needed recognition and respect in the form of a guaranteed contract extension). Consequently, his obsessive superstardom and tremendously huge expectations may result in his downfall and/or the downfall of some teammates who will surely pale by comparison and thereby suffer from an inferiority complex.

Yankee$ fans: Be afraid. Be very afraid. Dice-K wins 20 and the ROY!!!

I continue to remind "posters" that the Red Sox finished 3rd in "our" division last year. If your intent is to focus on a team that will challenge the Yanks in "07", it's the 2nd place Blue Jays that merit your attention.

103-3? Jim, look at the bright side. Fate was shining down upon you, whispering in your ear, "Jim, you were meant to be a great sportswriter, not a player." I'm wondering, were any of your fellow sportswriters on your team? I guess Destiny has a place for all of us.

Ha-ha, Red Sox fan, funny you should be seeing $$$$$ in front of your eyes. What do you call spending over $50 million just to TALK to a player???? It seems you're just as delusional about money as you are about winning, Mr. Third Place Fan.

Get 'im Lucy!
Hey Red Sox fan, go back to your own blog, oh wait you probably can't afford the entry fee (gotta pay Dice-K somehow don't you?). JD Drew is learning to say "does your shoulder hurt as much as mine? , do you have Dr. Andrews' number handy?" in japanese so he can get along with his new contractmate.

What you saying now, pussies