| 05 May 2009
From The New York Times:
The departure of Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007 was a momentous and sad time in the proud history of the Seibu Lions, as their prized pitcher of eight years left for glory and riches in Boston. To soothe the pain, the Lions began an ambitious project that would eventually warm the hearts of their disappointed fans, not to mention another part of their anatomy.
With the $51,111,111.11 posting fee the Lions earned from the Red Sox in the deal, they renovated the drab, outdated Seibu Dome, constructing concession stands and seating, resurfacing the playing field, installing an enormous video scoreboard and, most notably, building magnificent bathrooms with electronically warmed toilet seats.
While the Red Sox went straight to the penthouse with Matsuzaka, winning the World Series in his rookie year, Lions fans got the outhouse. But based on the new amenities, it has been a rather equitable exchange.
"Daisuke made such a great contribution to the team for 10 years, so these are kind of his memorial places," said Masanori Takahashi, the senior director of business operations for the Lions.
Some of the game's greats have been honored with plaques in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park. Others have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and a rare few have statues in their likenesses erected in front of stadiums, or even rotundas built in their memory. For Matsuzaka, the great honor is warm and soothing toilets, which is no small gesture here.
"In Japanese custom, it is very important, the toilets," Takahashi said during a recent tour of the stadium, which opened in 1979. "If you are comfortable in the toilets, then everything is comfortable."
Bottom Line: Matsuzaka's 2009 season has been in the toilet so far... let's hope this story inspires him to pitch well in his Pawtucket rehab assignment tonight. Daisuke is expected to throw around 50 pitches as he attempts to recover from a "tired arm."
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