Miceli Picked up by Red Sox

When I read that in today's Nikkan Sports, my thought was that this is another MLB PR piece. The reason I thought that is because they were hyping the fact that Okajima and Miceli were once team mates with the Yomiuri Giants. But what they left out was that Miceli couldn't buy an out while throwing with the Giants and that their time together was very short. That leads me to believe that the person who wrote the PR piece didn't know what Miceli did (or more accurately - didn't do) with the Yomiuri Giants. Thus, the article must have been written by a Major League public relations "reporter."

I really am starting to believe that the MLB is paying the Japanese press to run PR stories for them.

P.S. The "Dan Miceli" who writes here on occasion has stated that he uses the pseudonym as an ironic gesture to how Miceli did with the Giants. Or something to that effect.

The poster who goes by the handle of "Dan Miceli" actually hates the guy who pitched for the Yomiuri Giants. This has been discussed before.

While we're on the topic of Miceli, I have to say that he's probably one of the most popular foreign players to fail in NPB history. I don't think anyone who can't understand Japanese knows how famous he is among baseball fans. I'd say he's easily in the top 5. There have been popular failures before, but the fact that Miceli played for the Giants, had a role as important as closer, and then said all the wrong things to the media led to a snowballing effect. He became a legend in Japan for all the wrong reasons and he probably wouldn't be able to match that recognition even as a successful player.

I think all the really bad failures in NPB's past help future players not repeat those same mistakes. I like the fact that we're seeing more and more players coming to Japan with positive mentalities and a will to learn. The old stereotype of the spoiled, out of shape, past his prime Major Leaguer is slowly disappearing. Part of the reason for this is because teams aren't signing these types anymore, since they rarely lead to anything good.

NipponHam11, I look forward with great anticipation to Dan Miceli's spring training debut with the Red Sox.

I'm sure he'll show up in tip-top shape, perhaps hungrier than ever to revive his sagging career, and help the Red Sox to another World Series title.

I'd say the odds of Miceli making the Sox are about the same as Powell winning 20 for Orix this year.

I don't have much hope for Miceli either, but if this is any indication, I think Miceli has a better chance to make the roster than Dan Kolb.

- I think Miceli has a better chance to make the roster than Dan Kolb.

Of course that doesn't mean much, no MLB team (minus maybe the Houston Astros) would put Dan Kolb on a MLB roster, much less the Boston Red Sox. Miceli is here to fill a role for AAA Pawtucket. And even with that said, I don't think he will last the whole season in AAA either.