other.... 14-15 wins but no cy or rookie awards.

15-17 wins, front line or #2 starter, but no awards.

I voted for other: between 14-18 wins and 10-14 losses. 

Matsuzaka is the real deal. 

I expect his first MLB season to be the best of his career as hitters face  his  delivery and numerous offerings for the first time. 

He's durable and should post excellent ratios.  The only real question mark in my view is the number of  HR he'll yield this season. 

He's got as good a shot as anybody to win the AL Cy Young Award this season.

Had he signed with an NL team he'd almost certaintly post an ERA below 3.00 with more than a K per inning but I can see him going 200 plus innings with 180 K, 50-60 BB and a 3.50-4.00 ERA.  He's shown an ability to pitch deep into games over his career in Japan and should stick around long enough to pick up a few extra wins.

I can confirm my attendance for his first start in the Rogers Center, whenever that may be.

 

After reading about his past training I voted for injuries. Here is a guy who has been throwing 150+ pitches on a regular basis before turning 26. He had his own training methods which the Sox are now adjusting which imo is dangerous to do as who knows how it will affect his arm health. He has pitched once a week for years and now has to go once every 5 days. Again, how will that affect things?

My bet is a hot start then DL before the AS break and lots more DL time throughout his contract.

I think it'll be a tale of two seasons for Daisuke kind of like Beckett's season of last year. I think he'll wow initially and make batters look silly out there. But after the all-star break, division rivals will start picking him apart. I don't think his second half stats will be horrible, but they won't be Cy Young-like. He'll win the ROY because his overall stats will look good (4.00 ERA, 1.20 WHIP in 200+ IP).

I'm more interested in how he'll fare late in the season and onwards into next season once hitters learn more about him.

I'm thinking something like Hideo Nomo's first year: around 13 wins, ERA around 3.00 and 200Ks with ROY and up there in CYA balloting.  Then as North American batting gets a better read on him, his numbers (like Nomo's) should gradually decline.

He'll be a good pitcher, 16-13 or so, but he won't win the rookie award.

So who do you think will be ROY then Craig?  16 wins seems like it would give a guy a decent shot at the ROY.  Maybe that should be the next poll question?   (I think Alex Gordon wins it, with Dice K coming in second)

As much as I hate the guy...he's the real deal. 20 wins this year and ROY. Next 10 years he's in the mix for Cy's Award. Except when he's against the Jays he's gonna be a joy to watch. I think I'll go eat rat poison.

mylegacy - why the hate ?  Just because he's in Boston ? Dice-K is one of the players I'm most looking forward to watching this season.

How about this :  Cy Young but not ROY.  I think he will be the real deal and as already mentioned his first year should be his best since the league has not seen him.  Matsui didn't win ROY and I think voters will go for a true rookie instead.  Who that is I have no idea.