Boston's "Dice-K" challenged by Pride's "A-OK"

Published on January 23, 2007 under Canadian American League (Can-Am)
American Defenders of New Hampshire News Release


(NASHUA, NH, January 23, 2007) The Nashua Pride today announced that the professional New Hampshire baseball club has challenged the recently signed Boston Red Sox Ace Daisuke Matsuzaka, "Dice-K". The Pride is assured that its newly acquired Japanese pitcher, Akira Okamoto fondly known as "A-OK" by Nashua's faithful, will top Matsuzaka's win total for the 2007 season. A-OK spent eight seasons in the same Japanese Pacific League as Dice-K, where he went 39-42 with a 3.71 ERA, 30 saves and 415 strikeouts in 698 innings of work. A-OK joins an experienced pitching staff and is expected to post close to 15 wins for the Pride this upcoming year.

THE CHALLENGE

If A-OK wins more games than Dice-K, the Red Sox will grant the Nashua Pride's front office admission to Fenway Park's prestigious EMC Club for the same number of games that A-OK bests Dice-K in wins.

If Dice-K wins more games, the Pride's front office will clean Fenway Park for the same number of days that Dice-K betters A-OK in wins.

Even though the Pride plays a total of 94 games, 68 less than the Red Sox, Nashua's owner, John Stabile is confident that A-OK will deliver the goods and amass more wins than Dice-K in 2007.

"I look forward to a season-long competition on an owner to owner level with Mr. John Henry and would like to invite him out to a game or two. I understand that John is a wine enthusiast, so I am willing to wager a case of 1990 Brunello di Montalcino Banfi, for a dozen of Boston's tastiest lobsters," proposes Stabile.

A-OK becomes a member of the Pride after an outstanding stint with the Dutch club SV ADO in 2006. The 33-year-old right-hander posted a 6-1 record, 1.11 ERA and 100 strikeouts over 105 innings in 13 games in the Netherlands Major League (Honkbal Hoofdklasse).

On November 23, 2006, SV ADO officially granted permission for A-OK to participate in the "posting" process as outlined in the agreement between the Can-Am and Dutch leagues. On December 23, 2006, SV ADO informed the Can-Am League that they had accepted the highest bid of 51.1 million yen, submitted by the Nashua Pride, for the negotiating rights to Okamoto.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Pitcher Akira Okamoto Daisuke Matsuzaka

Nickname "A-OK" / MOTO "DICE-K" / MONSTER

Pro club Nashua Pride Boston Red Sox

Position Pitcher (R) Pitcher (R)

Date of birth 5/3/73 9/13/80

Specialty Pitch Wasabi-ball Gyro-ball

Salary Per Start ¥62,030.18 ($511.66) $270,000

Home Venue Historic Holman Stadium Historic Fenway Park

Manager Butch Hobson Terry Francona

Capacity 2,929 36,108

Parking Free $20.00

Average Ticket Price $8.50 $46.46

Signature Feature Monkey Boy Green Monster

The Nashua Pride, entering its tenth anniversary season, provides a fun, affordable, community-based and fan-friendly source of sports entertainment. The Pride is participating in its second year of play in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball and plays its home games at Historic Holman Stadium.

For more information call 603-883-BALL (2255), or visit www.nashuapride.com.

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Canadian American League Stories from January 23, 2007


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