It doesn't compare to the umpteen million dollars that the new Boston Red Sox pitcher, Matsuzaka will make, or the million that the Matsuis make in New York. And it definitely won't compare to Seatlle giving Ichiro the whole franchise to keep him there next year when he is eligble for free agency.

There are other million-dollar Japanese ball player. One is a 37-year old who hit just .266 last year…Taguchi So.

A million dollars for a man who hits only .266?  

Wasn't Michael Jordan hitting over .200 when he was in the farm leagues? Perhaps he should have stuck it out.

I like Japanese ball players in America. They emulate was is good about Japan…hard working, faithful, diligent, persevering, reliable…

In this case, getting the job done one fourth of the time is worth a million.

Do you think a million dollars is too much to pay for a fair ball player?

USA Today