井川初勝利か

井川
４月　７日　５．０回　９７球　５３ストライク
４月１３日　５．１回　９５球　５８ストライク
４月１８日　６．０回　９２球　６２ストライク

松坂
４月　５日　７．０回　１０８球　７４ストライク
４月１１日　７．０回　１０３球　６４ストライク
４月１７日　６．０回　１０５球　６８ストライク

二人とも投球数では良いペース。

もうすぐオールスター投票が始まる。

MLB HPより抜粋。
In each of his six Major League seasons, Ichiro Suzuki was selected to the American League All-Star team and started the Midsummer Classic in right field.

He moved to center field almost a month after last year's game was played in Pittsburgh, and that could be where he positions himself on July 10 at AT&T Park in San Francisco for the 2007 All-Star Game.

Ichiro heads a list of Mariners' position players vying for fan support and starting status for the 78th Midsummer Classic.

In-stadium balloting begins at Safeco Field on April 27 and continues through June 22. Each Major League club has 25 home dates for in-stadium voting.

Ichiro is gaining on Ken Griffey Jr. as the franchise leader in consecutive All-Star selections. Griffey was selected 10 consecutive seasons, from 1990-99.

The only Mariners player on the AL team in both 2004 and '05, Ichiro had some company last season. Second baseball Jose Lopez, who had a terrific first half, was named to the team as an injury replacement, joining Harold Reynolds (1987-88), Joey Cora ('97) and Bret Boone (2001-03) as the only All-Star second basemen in franchise history.

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ア・リーグの外野手の３番以内に入ることが目標。
ラミレスは、レッドソックスのRamirez、エンゼルスのGuerrero、ブルージェイズのWells、ヤンキースのDamonとAbreu、デトロイトのSheffield。

細木の視聴率もっと下がれ！

４月１８日（火）
１５．１％　－　ズバリ！言うわよ

４月１７日（月）
１２．１％　－　細木数子vs.芸能人50人

４月１３日（金）
１１．１％　－　幸せって何だっけ？

４月６日（金）
１１．７％　－　　幸せって何だっけ？

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細木の番組は全く見ていないが、テレビから消える日も遠くない。

松坂の記事 - Boston Herald ２

American League hitters are trying to formulate the book on Daisuke Matsuzaka, and here’s an early note that’s sure to make the rounds - somehow, some way, get a baserunner. Because he’s a different pitcher out of the stretch.

It’s hard to criticize a starter who only allowed three hits - one an infield single - and struck out 10 for the second time in three big league starts, as Matsuzaka did last night in a 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays. Baserunners clearly were hard to come by.

But as good as Matsuzaka was, Blue Jays hitters acknowledged exploiting something they noticed on tape from his last start against Seattle.

“I’d rather face him in the stretch, to tell you the truth,” said shortstop Royce Clayton, who struck out twice against the windup. “You see that tape and it’s one of those things where you’re better off. It seemed like we had better at-bats when he was in the stretch.”

That’s not actually hard to fathom, since they wilted against the windup. Jason Smith lined a clean single to center in the third and Wells beat out a dribbler to third in the fourth, and that was the end of that. (It’s then interesting to note that with Smith on first and Matsuzaka in the stretch for the first time, Alex Rios lined out to deep center to end the third, but more on that in a second).

So why couldn’t the Jays, who entered the game with the highest batting average in baseball, hit Matsuzaka out of the windup? A large reason is the hitch in his delivery. Since it’s virtually nonexistent among U.S. and Latin pitchers, it’s jarring to see in the majors.

“He’s got that little hesitation that makes him real tough,” Clayton said. “It’s the same thing with (Hideo) Nomo. I faced him a number of times in my career and I always wanted him out of the stretch, because out of the windup he had that deception that throws off your timing.”

The hitch dissipates out of the stretch, where Matsuzaka struggled to command his high fastball, a pitch he expertly forces hitters to chase when it’s lower in the zone. With that pitch high during a four-batter stretch in the fourth - “So high it wasn’t close to being a strike,” Clayton noted - he walked three and allowed an RBI single to Lyle Overbay.

“He works a lot faster out of the stretch,” said Frank Thomas, who struck out twice on seven pitches (zero balls) against the windup, but walked on four pitches against the stretch. “He’s quicker to the plate.”

The Blue Jays picked up on this by watching Matsuzaka’s last start. He easily pitched well enough to beat the Mariners, but ran into the one-hit buzz saw known as Felix Hernandez. Still, he surrendered a number of hard-hit balls out of the stretch, be it Kenji Johjima’s double in the second or Raul Ibanez’s deep fly to center to end the fifth.

When Matsuzaka spoke of the stretch last night, it was in the context of how conscious he was of the dangerous Thomas during his walk. Pitching coach John Farrell acknowledged how perplexing it was that Matsuzaka could walk three in one inning and then throw only six more balls the rest of the night.

“It was the first time he had really pitched out of the stretch for any extended period,” he said. “(But) I can’t say it’s because he was throwing out of the stretch. I think some extra attention was paid to Wells, who will try to take a base, and in a one-run game, every base matters.”

Certainly Matsuzaka did not become a national icon in Japan without being able to pitch from the stretch. And his struggles in this regard have been relatively minor, albeit compounded by an egregious lack of run support.

But Matsuzaka’s every move is going to be scrutinized this season, and if nothing else, it will be worth paying closer attention next time he pitches with a runner on first.

“It could have been a coincidence that he was struggling with his command at that point,” Wells said. “It’s baseball. You can’t have an answer for everything.”

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松坂の記事 - Boston Herald

Constantly stoic and seemingly capable of deploying impenetrable tunnel vision to block out the countless potential distractions that come with each and every movement, the last thing one expects from Daisuke Matsuzaka is an inability to handle rare bouts of adversity.

That’s exactly what happened last night, however, when Matsuzaka paid the price for becoming flustered by a series of events that didn’t go his way against the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth inning at Rogers Centre, leading to a 2-1 Red Sox defeat. Matsuzaka didn’t react well to a close call, a missed ground ball and a simple tactic to disrupt his timing, which led to uncharacteristic agitation and the loss of the slimmest of leads.

Matsuzaka’s overall pitching line was strong once again. He allowed two runs on three hits and three walks in six innings, while striking out 10 to become the first pitcher to strike out 10 or more batters in two of his first three major league starts since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matsuzaka retired 11 of the first 12 Blue Jays but required 38 pitches in the fourth inning, however, which led to 105 after six (68 strikes), when his night ended.

“He had temporary amnesia for a couple of minutes,” manager Terry Francona said. “He was so good before and after, but for about four or five hitters there, he just really lost his touch.”

Wily Mo Pena provided a 1-0 lead in the third inning by slamming Blue Jays starter Gustavo Chacin’s full-count fastball off the roof of the glass-encased restaurant beyond center field. The home run was the first hit of the season for Pena (2-for-3), who got the start in right field.

The one-run advantage, however, proved to be tenuous. Matsuzaka (1-2) struck out Adam Lind to open the fourth and got Vernon Wells to hit a slow bouncer to third base. Mike Lowell charged the ball, deftly barehanded it and gunned a throw over to first base - but umpire Bill Miller called the runner safe on a close play. Francona raced out to argue, allowing Matsuzaka time to regain any lost composure. It didn’t help.

Working ineffectively out of the stretch, Matsuzaka walked Frank Thomas on four pitches. Lyle Overbay then hit a potential double-play ball to Julio Lugo, only to have the scalded grounder skip under the lunging shortstop’s glove for a run-scoring single.

Aaron Hill stepped in and worked the count full before stepping out and asking for time right before Matsuzaka was set to deliver. Predictably agitated, Matsuzaka’s next pitch was ball four to load the bases. Matsuzaka then walked Gregg Zaun on five pitches to force in the go-ahead run before escaping further damage by striking out Royce Clayton and getting Jason Smith to fly out to Coco Crisp [stats] at the base of the center field wall.

Matsuzaka said he was too overcautious after the hit and didn’t dispute the notion that he was bothered by the missed DP.

“I can’t argue against the fact that that’s how it appears,” Matsuzaka said via translator Masa Hoshino.

As was the case in his previous start when Felix Hernandez pitched a one-hitter for the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park in a 3-0 Red Sox loss, Matsuzaka received little offensive support due to another outstanding effort by the opposing starter. Chacin improved to 6-0 lifetime vs. the Sox by allowing one run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. The lefty struck out three.

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次の先発は、２２日のヤンキース戦。ジーター、ロドリゲス、ジアンビの対決が楽しみ。

バレンズエラ以来の３試合で２試合１０三振

New York Daily Newsより抜粋。
Daisuke Matsuzaka's lack of control in a key situation cost him against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Dice-K struck out 10 over six innings but forced in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk to Gregg Zaun in the fourth, and Toronto beat the Boston Red Sox, 2-1, last night despite getting just three hits.

Matsuzaka (1-2) retired his first eight batters and Wily Mo Pena's third-inning homer gave him a lead, but Lyle Overbay's single tied the score in the two-run fourth.

Jason Frasor, taking over as closer while B.J. Ryan is sidelined with a sprained elbow, got four outs for his first save since Sept. 20, 2005, against Seattle. He retired David Ortiz on a groundout to end the eighth with a runner on, then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. Manny Ramirez lined out, and Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell grounded out.

Matsuzaka allowed just three hits and three walks in sixinnings as his ERA rose from 2.57 to 2.70. He struck out 10 for the second time in three starts - the previous pitcher to reach double-digit strikeouts twice in his first three major league starts was the Los Angeles Dodgers' Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.

Gustavo Chacin (2-0) allowed one run and six hits in 6-2/3innings, and Casey Janssen got three outs before Frasor came in.

Matsuzaka's Toronto debut, combined with a $2 Canadian ticket promotion, helped draw a crowd of 42,162, Toronto's biggest since Opening Day.

Pena, starting in right as J.D. Drew got a rest, was 0-for-7 this season before his homer, which bounced off the center-field restaurant.

Vernon Wells started Toronto's fourth-inning rally with a one-out single, Frank Thomas walked on four pitches and Overbay singled under the glove of shortstop Julio Lugo.

Aaron Hill fell behind on an 0-2 count, then worked out a nine-pitch walk, and Zaun walked on five pitches. Matsuzaka threw two balls to Jason Smith, got a swinging strike, then retired Smith on a flyout to the warning track in center.

Matsuzaka struck out four in a row at one stretch, getting Alex Rios, Adam Lind and Wells in the fifth, then Thomas leading off the sixth.

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新人王は間違いなし。サイヤング賞も期待大。

松坂、４回以外は完璧な投球

MLB HPより抜粋。
Where did it all go? At the time he needed it the most, Daisuke Matsuzaka's command went on a brief but painful hiatus. This, on a night he was hardly touched in his first three innings and even less hittable in his final two.

But the frame in between -- that fateful fourth -- left Matsuzaka in the loss column for the second time in as many starts.

It was a tough thing to explain for Matsuzaka and those who watched after the Red Sox were defeated by the Blue Jays, 2-1, on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.

"It was like he had temporary amnesia for a couple of minutes," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He was so good before and after. For about four or five hitters there, he just really lost the touch. That was a long inning."

Thirty-eight pitches long in fact. This, after throwing an aggregate 39 over the first three innings.

All in all, the Red Sox couldn't exactly complain about the performance of Matsuzaka, who is now 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA.

"It just looked like he got a little quick," said Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. "More so than anything, he was just a little quick out of the stretch. We stayed out of damaging innings. We just couldn't score runs."

Matsuzaka went six innings and allowed three hits and two runs while striking out 10. However, all three of his walks -- and both Toronto runs -- were in one laborious fourth inning, and that was enough to undo him on another one of those nights when the margin for error was small.

Though Gustavo Chacin (6 2/3 innings, six hits, one run) certainly didn't resemble the mastery of Felix Hernandez last week at Fenway Park, the fact remained that Matsuzaka was again bested by a strong performance from the opposing pitcher. Chacin improved to 6-0 lifetime in eight starts against the Red Sox.

"I don't know if the fact that the opposing pitchers are performing against me leads them to perform at any higher level," Matsuzaka said through interpreter Masa Hoshino. "I can admit that in both games, both the opposing pitchers pitched very well and had great location, and in a situation like today, given that fact, I regret that I gave up that first run."

The tough-luck defeat came on a night Matsuzaka became the first pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 to register 10 or more strikeouts in two of his first three Major League starts.

"Even if I pitch well and the team does not win, I'm definitely not happy with that result," said Matsuzaka. "We had come in here having won a few games in a row and I'm very disappointed that we couldn't keep that streak going. The weight of that loss as a team weighs upon me much more heavily than my own loss as a pitcher."

The best explanation Matsuzaka had for that sloppy fourth was that he might have been unnerved by the imposing bat of future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas. Vernon Wells opened the inning with an infield hit that Mike Lowell charged and barehanded, only to have his throw to first be an instant too late. Up stepped the Big Hurt, and Matsuzaka walked him.

"That inning, I let one runner on base and then I immediately faced Frank Thomas. I think I was a little bit over-conscious of Thomas' at-bat and I lost a little bit of control there and put myself in a tough spot," said Matsuzaka.

Next up was Lyle Overbay, and he hit a rocket that, on a more fortunate night, could have been a 6-4-3 double play. But the ball went over the glove of shortstop Julio Lugo for an RBI single to tie it.

Then, the real undoing: back-to-back walks to Aaron Hill and Gregg Zaun, the latter of which forced in what proved to be the game-winning run.

"Obviously, I was very disappointed in myself but at the same time, I told myself to not let any more runs score and to have faith in my teammates," Matsuzaka said.

To say Matsuzaka settled down in the fifth would be an understatement, as the right-hander struck out the side. He finished his night by mowing down the Jays in order in the sixth.

Then, he showed his competitiveness to Francona.

"He was politicking, he wanted to go back out [for the seventh], and I'm glad," Francona said. "He must have thrown 40 pitches there [in the fourth], that's tough duty. I told him later in the season, he could definitely talk me into it."

Wily Mo Pena gave Matsuzaka and the Sox a run to work with in the third, pummeling a meaty Chacin offering for a 442-foot homer to center field. The blast landed on the window atop the restaurant in the second deck and then bounced back onto the playing surface. It was Pena's first hit of the season.

Matsuzaka was nasty out of the gate, retiring the first eight hitters he faced and striking out four over the first three innings.

There will likely be many nights Matsuzaka will be able to get by with one subpar inning. This wasn't one of them.

"It was the first time he really pitched out of the stretch for any extended period," said Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell. "Once he got through it, he was dominant throughout except for losing his release point for those four or five hitters consecutively."

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強打者のトーマスに勝負に行きたいのは、良く分かる。試合そのものは見ていないが、負けても松坂らしさが出た試合。３試合とも良い投球だった。