The Lucchino Connection to Japan

Can the NY Times start a baseball article without putting a Yankee reference in the first sentence, whether or not it's the best example of the thesis? Today, speaking about Japanese players, Richard Sandomir could've mentioned Hideo Nomo in his open, but chose Hideki Irabu, a forgettable former Yankee from Japan.

• But, farther into the article, I'm finally amused by something. Sandomir ties the long-past Irabu debacle with the current story of Red Sox owner Larry Lucchino taking charge of the Matsuzaka negotiations.

"One link from Irabu to Matsuzaka is Larry Lucchino, who was the president of the Padres and now holds the same position in Boston." Lucchino was president of the Padres during the protracted Irabu mess which consisted of Irabu saying he didn't want to play for the Padres, only the Yankees. Ouch.

• Reality: No one will ever know what kind of deal the Red Sox arranged to defray costs of the Matsuzaka posting. "Raised eyebrows" is the most I've heard as possible objection. It's taken for granted that cheating can and will go on, and Selig certainly can't be counted on to do anything about it.

Comments on 12/1/06 NY Times article by Richard Sandomir, "Merely Talking to Japan's Best is Big Business."

• P.S. HOW'S THIS FOR THE WEAK, WIMPY MLB---"There had been speculation that the Red Sox would enlist Seibu's help in closing the deal but Major League Baseball shot that down Tuesday.

"There are no side deals in the situation," executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office Jimmie Lee Solomon said. "Everybody's been assured that's not allowed, and everybody's been made aware of the rules."

• S0, everyone knows it's not allowed? You haven't said a word about how that will be enforced and what consequences would be. I'm totally reassured.

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