Japanese pitcher Matsuzaka won't play in winter MLB tour

Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has decided he won't play in the MLB exhibition tour this winter.

Tour organizers said Friday that Matsuzaka is focusing on improving his conditioning, as he's expected to sign with a Major League club before next season.

Eighteen-game winner Kazumi Saito will likely replace Matsuzaka in the Seibu Lions rotation next year.

Report from AHN, Tokyo, Japan, 10/23/06

• US baseball media must condemn this move as selfish, unpatriotic and greedy and run a multi-million dollar 24-hour campaign to defame and abuse the player. Certainly, his present agent and future agent are also in on the selfish, greedy move not to participate in the MLB tour. (sm)

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