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Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Red Sox to Enter Japanese Player Development Agreement

Six degrees of Bobby Valentine and Larry Lucchino...

The Boston Red Sox will hold a press conference, Weds. at 11:00 a.m. ET to announce that the club has entered into a strategic alliance with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball in the areas of scouting and baseball development in Japan and the Pacific Rim .

Participating in the press conference will be Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino, Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein, and Vice President/International Scouting Craig Shipley, who will be on speaker phone.

Maury Brown Posted: July 04, 2007 at 06:51 AM | 15 comment(s)
Related News: General, Boston

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1. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: July 04, 2007 at 08:48 AM (#2428640)

Sweet, we can have a Nishioka/Lowrie platoon at SS in 09, and we'll have Watanabe as our swingman next year.

2. battlekow Posted: July 04, 2007 at 08:48 AM (#2428641)

So what exactly does that mean?

3. Maury Brown Posted: July 04, 2007 at 09:40 AM (#2428672)

So what exactly does that mean?

Lucchino = Red Sox.
Chiba Lotte Marines = Bobby Valentine.

4. tfbg9 Posted: July 04, 2007 at 10:54 AM (#2428706)

So what exactly does that mean?

Tin Man = Industry

Lion = Military

Scarecrow = Agriculture

Wizzard = Govemment

Dorothy = uhmm...Populace??? never quite sure where to assign her...

5. battlekow Posted: July 04, 2007 at 11:03 AM (#2428712)

Lucchino = Red Sox.
Chiba Lotte Marines = Bobby Valentine.

Thanks? I was asking about the specific nature of the relationship, since "strategic alliance" is pretty vague. Good summary, though!

6. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: July 04, 2007 at 11:06 AM (#2428713)

You think the Red Sox will hire Bobby Valentine? I'd be completely shocked. they've shown no interest in rock-the-boat types anywhere in management.

7. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: July 04, 2007 at 11:07 AM (#2428714)

American yum yum clown monkey = FCC

8. sonoran_fox Posted: July 04, 2007 at 11:17 AM (#2428718)

So the Japanese are signing up to be another feeder system of talent to the majors. IMO, if this activity spreads the Japanese league is going to wind up as another AAA farm system to the big show.

9. b Posted: July 04, 2007 at 11:35 AM (#2428725)

Don't the Yankees have similar deals with the Lions and/or the Giants?

10. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: July 04, 2007 at 11:47 AM (#2428737)

So the Japanese are signing up to be another feeder system of talent to the majors. IMO, if this activity spreads the Japanese league is going to wind up as another AAA farm system to the big show.

Wasn't it already heading in that direction? It seems to be similar to the PCL before WWII, with additional restrictions on movement.

11. Sometimes it Rains (sj) Posted: July 04, 2007 at 11:49 AM (#2428743)

I thought after the Irabu thing they did away with the pipeline system

12. knucklehead7 Posted: July 04, 2007 at 01:36 PM (#2428807)

Interesting to note that Lucchino was in San Diego when the Padres and Marines had a similar relationship that resulted in Irabu coming to the States. Is this alliance much different than the ones that have already occurred? It doesn't seem like this move really changes the way that MLB and the Japanese Leagues already interact.

13. knucklehead7 Posted: July 04, 2007 at 02:01 PM (#2428825)

Also, by different, I mean different since the posting system has been implemented to prevent another Irabu or Nomo situation.

14. villageidiom Posted: July 06, 2007 at 08:03 AM (#2430769)

8. sonoran_fox Posted: July 04, 2007 at 11:17 AM (#2428718)

So the Japanese are signing up to be another feeder system of talent to the majors. IMO, if this activity spreads the Japanese league is going to wind up as another AAA farm system to the big show.

9. b Posted: July 04, 2007 at 11:35 AM (#2428725)

Don't the Yankees have similar deals with the Lions and/or the Giants?

Based on what they said at the press conference, no to #8, and maybe to #9. It's more of an educational alliance. If so, I think it's not a bad team to ally with; I think Bobby V. could help with that... as long as he doesn't try to enlighten Sox management via press conferences and such.

15. Marc Sully's not booin'. He's Youkin'. Posted: July 06, 2007 at 08:11 AM (#2430773)

Yeah all it sounds like to me is once a quarter or something they will get on a conference call and the Chiba Lotte folks will tell the Boston folks who is good in Japan and the Boston folks will tell the Chiba Lotte folks where they might find the next Tuffy Rhodes.

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Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Red Sox to Enter Japanese Player Development Agreement

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