Matsuzaka Watch: Episode 15
I'm back. My trip to the US was a lot of fun, but I'm happy to be back at the keyboard bringing you the latest in the annals of Daisuke Matsuzaka history. There are two performances to bring you today. One is an actual start for Seibu, and the other is an appearance in one of the 3 Japanese All-Star games featured at mid-season. Yes, there are 3.
Let's get down to business with Matsuzaka's July 8th start against the Chiba Lotte Marines. This was his 3rd start of the season against Lotte, going 9 innings of 1 run ball for his second win of the season, and the ill-fated two thirds of an inning he pitched on June 24th before leaving with an injury. In this up and down season against the Marines, young Daisuke found another way to make things interesting by pitching 8.2 innings of shutout baseball, before giving up the walk-off sayonara home run to Lotte rightfielder Matt Watson.At one point Matsuzaka retired 19 straight batters, and looked every bit the dominating force he is. Unfortunately for our hero and the Seibu Lions, no run support was offered against Bobby V's talented bunch. A 1-0 loss was added to Daisuke's record, and a disappointment prior to the layoff.
On July 21st Matsuzaka got the start in the first All-Star game of the season in Japan. In the first inning he gave up a lead off infield single to Yakult Swallows outfielder Norichika Aoki, who was promptly erased on a double play ball off the bat of Yokohama Baystars outfielder Tatsuhiko Kinjoh. Yakult third baseman Akinori Iwamura then struck out. So far, so good, right? The second inning saw Hanshin Tigers outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto draw a walk, and Seung Yeop Lee launch a run scoring double to the right-centerfield gap tying the game at 1 apiece. Matsuzaka settled down and got the next three batters to pop out weakly, ending his day at the ballpark. He clocked 95 on the gun during his brief appearance and didn't figure in the decision as the Pacific League dropped the game 3-1 to the Centrals.One final note. It seems that the young Seibu ace is pushing for a move to the majors, and has begun to ready himself by tinkering with a two seam fastball that he recently unleashed at the World Baseball Classic and will use again against the Orix Buffaloes in his next start. NY Newsday reports that the Yankees have hired associate scout Shoichi Kida, formerly of Matsuzaka's alma mater Yokohama High School. He was senior to Matsuzaka at Yokohama, and actually played briefly for the Yakult Swallows after graduating. There will be a bidding war, and the Yankees will win at all costs. More when it comes in. Go get 'em Daisuke.
posted by Mike Plugh @ 7:34 PM
2 Comments:
Love your sight. Best there is. Am a huge Matsuzaka fan, having learned about him and Pro Yakyu from colleagues at work in the US(a major Japanese company). Am very strongly hoping that "Dice-K," (you know what the signs the Yank fans will post to note his K's), Wang and Hughes are our big three when the new Yankee Stadium opens up in 2009.
Have heard great things about Seibu teammate Hideaki Wakui. What do you thing about Wakui's Major League Potential? How about Koji Uehara rejoining Godzilla on the NYY? Any great lefty NPB pitchers?
Keep this up. What a great sight!
Thanks.
Uehara started like gangbusters this year, but has really struggled on one of the worst teams in Japan. The mighty Giants have fallen and can't get up.
As for Wakui...he's shown good stuff this year, but the sample size is way too small. He's pitched a combined 1 season between last year and this year and the results are generally inconclusive. I'll continue to keep an eye on him, but it's early.
I have another blog for a stellar young pitcher that I like. Click the link for Darvish Watch in the right hand column of the main page and you'll see.....
Thanks for reading.
Mike.
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