Dice-K dazzles first major-league opponents
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
JUPITER, Fla. - Daisuke Matsuzaka reached to snare a line drive, then grinned and bowed to his shortstop.
It turns out the rookie from Japan is a pretty good fielder.
He can pitch, too: Matsuzaka threw three scoreless innings for the Boston Red Sox when he faced major league hitters for the first time Tuesday.
Dice-K allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three to help Boston beat the Florida Marlins 14-6 in 10 innings. The right-hander threw 47 pitches, 31 for strikes, including a first-pitch strike to 10 of 12 batters. He escaped a one-out jam in the second after giving up a walk and a double.
“My readiness for the season is difficult to judge from the outside,” Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. “I’m probably 40 to 50 percent there.”
His fastball topped out at a brisk 151 — that’s kilometers per hour, as measured by Japanese TV. It translates to 94 mph.
Matsuzaka made the trip from the Red Sox complex in Fort Myers on Monday. That proved wise because the team bus got lost Tuesday and arrived more than an hour late for batting practice.
Matsuzaka, meanwhile, remained right on schedule in his transition from Japan’s Pacific League to the American League. He signed a $52 million, six-year contract after Boston agreed to pay the Seibu Lions $51 million for his rights.
His Grapefruit League debut drew a sellout crowd of 8,044, including some who began lining up for tickets at 5 a.m. Tuesday, and 150 members of the media, the majority Japanese. Because of the small press box at Roger Dean Stadium, some reporters watched from folding chairs set up three deep down the right-field line.
The game was televised live in Japan, where the first pitch was at 3 a.m.
“We heard there was going to be a ton of media, which there is,” Florida’s Dan Uggla said. “As Marlins players we’re not used to this stuff. It’s exciting to us. We had fun with it.
“He’s definitely got the ability to be a dominant pitcher. He’s got the stuff, he’s got the command. He has done it in Japan, and there’s no reason he couldn’t do it here.”
Two dozen cameramen and photographers clustered on the field near the Red Sox bullpen to record Matsuzaka’s pregame warmup. A security guard scolded them when they strayed too close to the foul line.
The first batter Matsuzaka faced was Hanley Ramirez, a former Red Sox prospect, who took a fastball for a strike and was then retired on a one-hopper to the pitcher.
Ramirez lined out in the third to Matsuzaka, who reacted quickly to make the grab.
“I’m working with the manager and the coaches on a lot of infield practice,” Matsuzaka said. “I think you saw the result of that practice today.”
Matsuzaka walked Joe Borchard on a 3-2 pitch to start the second, then gave up a one-out double to John Gall. Borchard would have scored had the ball not bounced off the warning track and over the fence.
When Scott Seabol worked the count to 2-2, catcher Jason Varitek went to the mound for a chat. Matsuzaka is apparently progressing well in the English lessons he’s taking, because he covered his mouth with his glove to prevent the Marlins from reading his lips.
“(Varitek) said, ‘Let’s throw a slider inside. Can you do it?”’ Matsuzaka said. “I said, ‘Yes.’ It was in English.”
Varitek said he used sign language to aid the conversation.
“He understood me, which I wasn’t sure,” Varitek said. “He made a good pitch.”
The slider struck out Seabol looking. Eric Reed popped up the next pitch on a bunt to end the threat.
Matsuzaka threw a bullpen session Monday, a rarity for a pitcher on the day before a start. The Red Sox gave the OK only because it’s part of Matsuzaka’s normal routine.
“It’s a continual feeling-out process on both sides,” manager Terry Francona said.
Dice-K mania overshadowed a strong performance by Marlins starter Yusmeiro Petit. He pitched three shutout innings, allowing one hit while striking out five.
Ramirez homered, but Florida gave up 13 runs in the final four innings and fell to 1-6.
“We’re better than that,” new Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “We’re talented. We’re a good young team. That’s why I’m not panicking.”
It turns out the rookie from Japan is a pretty good fielder.
He can pitch, too: Matsuzaka threw three scoreless innings for the Boston Red Sox when he faced major league hitters for the first time Tuesday.
Dice-K allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three to help Boston beat the Florida Marlins 14-6 in 10 innings. The right-hander threw 47 pitches, 31 for strikes, including a first-pitch strike to 10 of 12 batters. He escaped a one-out jam in the second after giving up a walk and a double.
“My readiness for the season is difficult to judge from the outside,” Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. “I’m probably 40 to 50 percent there.”
His fastball topped out at a brisk 151 — that’s kilometers per hour, as measured by Japanese TV. It translates to 94 mph.
Matsuzaka made the trip from the Red Sox complex in Fort Myers on Monday. That proved wise because the team bus got lost Tuesday and arrived more than an hour late for batting practice.
Matsuzaka, meanwhile, remained right on schedule in his transition from Japan’s Pacific League to the American League. He signed a $52 million, six-year contract after Boston agreed to pay the Seibu Lions $51 million for his rights.
His Grapefruit League debut drew a sellout crowd of 8,044, including some who began lining up for tickets at 5 a.m. Tuesday, and 150 members of the media, the majority Japanese. Because of the small press box at Roger Dean Stadium, some reporters watched from folding chairs set up three deep down the right-field line.
The game was televised live in Japan, where the first pitch was at 3 a.m.
“We heard there was going to be a ton of media, which there is,” Florida’s Dan Uggla said. “As Marlins players we’re not used to this stuff. It’s exciting to us. We had fun with it.
“He’s definitely got the ability to be a dominant pitcher. He’s got the stuff, he’s got the command. He has done it in Japan, and there’s no reason he couldn’t do it here.”
Two dozen cameramen and photographers clustered on the field near the Red Sox bullpen to record Matsuzaka’s pregame warmup. A security guard scolded them when they strayed too close to the foul line.
The first batter Matsuzaka faced was Hanley Ramirez, a former Red Sox prospect, who took a fastball for a strike and was then retired on a one-hopper to the pitcher.
Ramirez lined out in the third to Matsuzaka, who reacted quickly to make the grab.
“I’m working with the manager and the coaches on a lot of infield practice,” Matsuzaka said. “I think you saw the result of that practice today.”
Matsuzaka walked Joe Borchard on a 3-2 pitch to start the second, then gave up a one-out double to John Gall. Borchard would have scored had the ball not bounced off the warning track and over the fence.
When Scott Seabol worked the count to 2-2, catcher Jason Varitek went to the mound for a chat. Matsuzaka is apparently progressing well in the English lessons he’s taking, because he covered his mouth with his glove to prevent the Marlins from reading his lips.
“(Varitek) said, ‘Let’s throw a slider inside. Can you do it?”’ Matsuzaka said. “I said, ‘Yes.’ It was in English.”
Varitek said he used sign language to aid the conversation.
“He understood me, which I wasn’t sure,” Varitek said. “He made a good pitch.”
The slider struck out Seabol looking. Eric Reed popped up the next pitch on a bunt to end the threat.
Matsuzaka threw a bullpen session Monday, a rarity for a pitcher on the day before a start. The Red Sox gave the OK only because it’s part of Matsuzaka’s normal routine.
“It’s a continual feeling-out process on both sides,” manager Terry Francona said.
Dice-K mania overshadowed a strong performance by Marlins starter Yusmeiro Petit. He pitched three shutout innings, allowing one hit while striking out five.
Ramirez homered, but Florida gave up 13 runs in the final four innings and fell to 1-6.
“We’re better than that,” new Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “We’re talented. We’re a good young team. That’s why I’m not panicking.”
<< Home