岡島の記事、Boston Heraldより

The perception was Hideki Okajima was brought here merely to hang out with Dice-K, help make him more comfortable and occasionally come in to get a left-handed batter out.

That was his role.

We know better now.

In one series, Okajima has blossomed into so much more. Can you say Yankee stuffer?

Daisuke Matsuzaka may have all the star appeal, and media hordes following him around like Elvis, but after what Okajima produced in two appearances against the Pinstripes, he could very well turn into the Hub’s next cult hero.

Thrown into the closer’s job Friday night with Jonathan Papelbon　unavailable, Okajima quickly earned himself a place in the hearts of Red Sox fans.

The Sox were clinging to a one-run lead, with the meat of the order - Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez - due up.

Talk about finding out about someone’s makeup in a hurry. The southpaw got Derek Jeter to ground out, and, after walking Abreu, got the hottest hitter on the planet in A-Rod to lineout to Alex Cora before fanning Kevin Thompson to end the game.

Luck? An accident?

Francona went to Okajima again in a critical situation in the seventh inning of yesterday’s 7-5 win. Josh Beckett was clearly running out of gas. After retiring the first two batters, two singles sandwiched around a walk produced a run. And the Yankees were within two.

Francona summoned the lefty to face Jason Giambi in the most pivotal at-bat in the game. Five pitches later, Giambi went down swinging. Okajima dashed to the dugout to wild applause, while Beckett gave a double arm pump in the dugout.

Okajima came back in the eighth for one more batter, getting Robinson Cano to ground out before Francona pulled him in favor of Mike Timlin
. The Fenway Faithful gave Okajima a standing ovation, although he ran so fast into the dugout, he probably didn’t notice.

Could it be, another weapon in the bullpen beyond Papelbon? Could it be, another Yankee expunger in the bullpen?

Okajima doesn’t have a 6- or 7-pitch repertoire like Dice-K. He doesn’t throw 94 mph. He doesn’t have people guessing about a gyroball. At $1.125 million this season and next, he also cost the Sox roughly $100 million less than Matsuzaka.

No matter.

The Yankees have been mesmerized by him. They haven’t touched his 88 mph fastball, his nasty curve or his changeup. And if that’s on your resume, that’s the start of something big.

“It’s only two games,” Okajima said through interpretor Sachiyo Sekiguchi. “The season’s very long.”

The left-hander’s not only good, but he’s also extremely wise. Okajima knows things can turn quickly, but for now, he’s the talk of the town.

“We had a pretty good idea he was going to pitch well, or we wouldn’t have done that,” Francona said of Okajima closing Friday’s game. “But it’s nice to see him respond to the Yankee-Red Sox and that whole bit. He was valuable again today.
He bounced back day game after night game. He got Giambi in probably the biggest at-bat in the game.”

The crowd roared with every pitch. When he got to 2-2 on Giambi, the decibal level was Papelbonesque.

“I heard them going crazy,” Okajima said. “I got the power from the crowd, but at the same time, I wasn’t too conscious about that. I was concentrating purely on how I was going to get the out.”

He’s certainly not intimidated by anyone.

“When I’m facing a batter, I don’t think of who he is, or what his name is,” Okajima said. “I perform what I have to offer. I do my pitching. That’s what I bring to the table. If the batter hits my pitch, life goes on.”

Right now, life couldn’t be better for Boston’s newest fan favorite.

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岡島がこれほどやるとは、誰も思っていなかった。巨人にいた時の自信なさの顔はどこに行った。

松坂の記事、Boston Heraldより

Always among the most veteran teams in baseball, the New York Yankees typically have the luxury of relying on experience when facing a pitcher rather than needing to dissect video.

When they face Daisuke Matsuzaka for the first time tonight, however, the Red Sox’ archrivals understand that they will step in blind against an international phenom, whose vast repertoire often belies video representation.

“We haven’t faced him, so he has the advantage right now,” designated hitter Jason Giambi said. “The only thing you can do is make sure you swing at strikes and give yourself a better chance to make contact."

Yankees manager Joe Torre said that, in this instance, poring over video of the opposing pitcher may not be much help.

“It’s still tough because you’re up there 60 feet away,” he said. “You can watch a lot of video but it’s still not 60 feet away . . . in terms of stopping (the film), being able to see the movement and things like that.”

Facing a hurler for the first time hasn’t always been easy for Torre’s lineup. The Yankees lost eight times to rookie pitchers last season, including five times in a 22-game stretch from July 23-Aug. 16. First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz said he looks forward to seeing Matsuzaka tonight if, for no other reason, to get the experience out of the way.

“Sure, just to see what it’s all about,” he said. “This is a guy we’re probably going to be facing a lot more times and it’s kind of tough to find out what he throws and try to be successful at the same time.”

Mientkiewicz feels somewhat certain he faced Matsuzaka when he played for the U.S. in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and he’s aware that the 26-year-old right-hander has only improved with time.

“You know, when you come in here, it’s not going to be easy as a hitter,” he said. “You know your chances are limited and you’re going to have to work for everything you get (because) they (Red Sox) don’t sign guys that aren’t very good over there. Guys they do sign are the best of the best and you understand that coming in here.”

Giambi is confident Matsuzaka will not have any difficulties adjusting to the pressure of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry due to his extensive experience in Japan and on the international scene.

“He’s not 19 years old,” Giambi said. “He’s a veteran pitcher. They have big rivalries over there in Japan, so he’ll be prepared. I think he’s going to go out and be poised.”

After Toronto beat Dice-K, 2-1, last Tuesday at Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays strongly hinted that Matsuzaka is most vulnerable when pitching out of the stretch. If nothing else, numbers confirm that his command isn’t as perfect out of the shortened delivery. With the bases empty this season, he has struck out 19 and walked none in 51 batters faced. When a runner reaches first, however, Matsuzaka has walked five and struck out four in 24 plate appearances.

Even so, catcher Jason Varitek said that working out of the stretch is not a concern.

“I’ve seen him, too, when he was more comfortable out of the stretch,” Varitek said. “There was that start in Vero Beach (March 16) where he threw the whole second inning out of the stretch (without runners on), and he was more comfortable. I just think he got a little quick out of the stretch (on Tuesday), but I don’t see it as an issue, honestly. I think he was rushing himself, that’s all, but his stuff didn’t change and that’s the important part.”

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松坂は、走者無しの時、５１人の打者と対して、１９の三振を奪い、四球はゼロだった。走者一塁の時、２１人の打者に対し、５つの四球を出し、三振は４だった。

松坂の記事、MLB HPより

The latest big "first" for Daisuke Matsuzaka comes Sunday night at Fenway Park, when the right-hander officially gets his initiation into the madness known as Red Sox-Yankees.

When the Red Sox invested $103.1 million in acquiring Matsuzaka, certainly there were thoughts of how this talented right-hander from Japan could shift the balance of power in the American League East in both the present and future.

This will be Matsuzaka's first chance to show how well he can stand up to the mighty Yankees, and their never-ending offense.

A win would give the Red Sox their first three-game sweep of the Yankees at Fenway since 1990, and also create a four-game gap between the American League East foes.

"I don't know what to expect since I've never experienced it before," Matsuzaka said of pitching in the rivalry. "But certainly I'm looking forward to it."

Though Red Sox-Yankees adds yet another element of hype for Matsuzaka, he's used to it. His every move has been followed since the moment he arrived from Japan.

"He's been the center of attention and he's been a really good pitcher," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "This certainly won't overwhelm him. From what I've seen of him, he enjoys immense things like this. He'll be just fine."

When asked who on the Yankees he looked forward to facing the most, Matsuzaka offered four letters and a dash.

"A-Rod," he said.

Alex Rodriguez, of course, has been nothing short of torrid at the plate. Perhaps Matsuzaka can keep A-Rod guessing with his six-pitch arsenal.

Matsuzaka's thoughts on entering the rivalry everyone talks about?

"I think I'd like to head into the [start] with the same mentality that I would when I face any other team," said Matsuzaka.

Once he actually experiences it, Matsuzaka figures to have a better gauge of the sheer intensity that takes place whenever these two teams meet.

"He's certainly not lived through it," said Francona. "I know my first year I think I said all the right things, but I had no idea. I don't think anybody does until you go through it. But in saying that, he has pitched a lot of professional games and he's been a big deal."

Matsuzaka followed enough baseball in Japan to know what type of clout the Yankees carry.

"Even though it has been a few years since they won the World Series, they are always one of the strongest teams in our division and I know that they are a great baseball team overall," Matsuzaka said. "I know they are a great team with a lot of great players."

The Yankees have heard all about Matsuzaka. Now they'll see what he looks like from 60 feet, six inches away.

"The biggest thing is to try to swing at strikes," said Yankees slugger Jason Giambi. "Just try to keep it that simple. If you just swing at strikes, hopefully you'll get some type of advantage. You know, we haven't faced him. So he definitely has the advantage. He has the advantage right now."

The biggest problem for Matsuzaka in his last two starts has been run support. In losses to the Mariners and Blue Jays, the Red Sox scored a total of one run. Matsuzaka allowed three runs over seven innings to Seattle and two runs over six to the Jays.

Pitching matchup
BOS: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-2, 2.70 ERA)
Matsuzaka is trying to snap a two-game losing streak, though he pitched well enough to win in both starts. Matsuzaka has given up three earned runs or less in all three of his outings. Control betrayed him during his last start against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, when he walked three batters in the fourth inning of a 2-1 loss. This will be his second start at Fenway Park.

NYY: LHP Chase Wright (1-0, 5.40 ERA)
Wright earned the opportunity for his second Major League start with a solid five-inning effort in a win over Cleveland on Tuesday. The 24-year-old was called up from Double-A to start, gave up three runs on five hits, walked three and struck out three in an effort in which two of the hits and walks were yielded in the first inning.

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松井はいなくても、Ａ－ＲＯＤとジアンビには、速球勝負で行きたくなる選手。松坂がどこまで我慢できるかがカギ。

Role of The Dice

SI.comより抜粋。
After a disastrous home record against the New York Yankees last season, the Boston Red Sox are on the verge of their first sweep over their archrivals at Fenway Park in more than 16 years.

The Red Sox look to accomplish the feat behind highly touted Daisuke Matsuzaka , who gets his first taste of the rivalry with the Yankees in Sunday's series finale.

While Matsuzaka (1-2, 2.70 ERA) has grabbed headlines around the globe with his six-year, $52 million contract and his dominance in Japan with his famous "gyroball,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre is not allowing his team to get caught up in the hype surrounding the Japanese right-hander.

"It's the Yankees vs. the Red Sox ,'' Torre said. "We don't sit up at night to see who they're pitching.''

Boston (11-5) defeated New York 7-5 on Saturday after rallying from a 6-2 deficit with five runs in the eighth inning to win Friday's series opener.

Last season, the Red Sox also won their first two home games of the season over the Yankees, before dropping the final seven at Fenway. That included a critical five-game sweep from Aug. 18-21 that essentially wrapped up New York's ninth straight AL East title.

Boston has not swept the Yankees (8-8) at home since winning a three-game series Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 1990.

Saturday's victory was the fourth straight and seventh in eight games overall for the Red Sox . The only loss in that span, though, came with Matsuzaka on the mound.

Since winning his major league debut, Matsuzaka has allowed five runs in 13 innings over his last two starts, but has taken the loss in each of those games because the Red Sox have scored just one run.

Matsuzaka - the MVP of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006 - gave up two runs and three hits in six innings his last time out, but forced home the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning of Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Toronto. He also struck out 10 for the second time in three starts, becoming the first pitcher to accomplish the feat since Fernando Valenzuela did so for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981.

"Even if I pitch well and the team does not win, I'm definitely not happy with that result,'' Matsuzaka said through a translator. "The weight of that loss as a team weighs upon me more heavily than my loss as a pitcher.''

Boston's David Ortiz is just 1-for-12 in the three games Matsuzaka has started, but had a two-run homer and four RBIs on Saturday. Ortiz has four home runs and 10 RBIs in his last seven games overall, and seven homers and 20 RBIs in 20 games against the Yankees since the start of last season.

"Him and Manny (Ramirez). Both of them have done so much damage to us over the years,'' said Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter , who went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

New York's Alex Rodriguez failed to hit a home run on Saturday - snapping a four-game homer streak - but did extending his hitting streak to 21 games dating to last season. Rodriguez, who hit two home runs on Friday, went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI single, and is batting .372 (16-for-43) with four homers and 15 RBIs in his last 10 games at Fenway Park.

The Yankees oppose Matsuzaka with Chase Wright (1-0, 5.40), who makes his second major league start.

Wright was called up from Double-A Trenton to fill a spot in New York's injury-depleted rotation, and in his major league debut, the left-hander allowed three runs and five hits in five innings of a 10-3 win over Cleveland on Tuesday.

"He went after people. There was a lot of quality there,'' Torre said. "He has a presence about him that makes you feel pretty comfortable.''

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松坂が勝てば、ボストンの本拠地でのヤンキース３連勝は、１９９０年以来１６年ぶり。
昨年は本拠地で２連勝と幸先が良かったが、その後は７連敗している。
相手投手がライトなので、レッドソックスは４点以上は取れる。