Miceli Signs

This is the Ninth Wonder of the world, next to Houston's Astrodome.

I don't understand why players such as Miceli and Gabe Kapler got a major league contract when the players like Roberto Petagine or George Arias, both of whom performed as good as Hideki Matsui, were signed to minor-league deals.

- I don't understand why players such as Miceli and Gabe Kapler got a major league contract when the players like Roberto Petagine or George Arias, both of whom performed as good as Hideki Matsui, were signed to minor-league deals.

It's mainly because teams have questions on how those numbers will be they sign in the majors. A person such as Hideki Matsui will surely out-peform Arias or Petagine in the major leagues.

In Japan, Matsui outpeformed Petagine and defintely Arias. As a major league team, I'd be very weary of giving Arias a major league deal. With Petagine I could give him a major league deal, though I'd lean more to give him a minor league deal.

As for Miceli and Kapler, you're guess is as good as mine. Miceli pitched like pure c**p last year, and I can't see what team would give him a major league deal. It seem as though teams can't have enough pitching, but Miceli isn't a very good choice at that. Also, remember Kapler was released by Boston this off-season, and as today is still unsigned.

Maybe GMs will get criticized less for signing a former major leaguer instead of an "unknown" from overseas. Risk aversion.

I don't understand the double standard either, though. Ichiro, Tuffy, and Cabrera all faced the same pitching.

Kapler has re-signed with Boston on a minor league deal. He is injured and will likely miss most, if not all, of the year.