The only stat that matters

With an array of pitches as sublime and mesmerizing as haiku, $100 million import Daisuke Matsuzaka could tip the American League balance of power to the Red Sox -- and explode the old myths about pampering pitchers

Over his eight seasons with Seibu, Matsuzaka compiled a 108-60 record with a 2.95 ERA while averaging a complete game every 2.8 starts. (The major league average in 2006 was a complete game every 33.8 starts.) His 13 complete games last year were more than the staffs of all but one major league team had.

This guy's a bona fide superhero. Either that or Major League pitchers are even bigger pussies than I thought. If Dice-K comes anywhere near that level of productivity in the States (and if the Sox let him) he'll be worth every penny of that $103 million.