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。
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.”
---
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。
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