Dice-K

I know I haven't really talked about them much to date, but I am a big Boston Red Sox fan (growing up in Massachusetts and all), and it will become a regular part of my blogging once the regular season starts in earnest. I am watching the Sox spring training game this afternoon (on ESPN) against the pirates, and its my first real look at the Japanese phenom we have all heard about over the winter.

Former Seibu Lion Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka's adventure in coming to Boston has been told many times, but for those who haven't heard it yet the Wikipedia Version should provide a nice primer. I am more interested in the game today because this is the first time I got to see him pitch in a game situation (since the '06 WBC, where I wasn't looking critically at what he could do to help the team I root for). I got to say, he looked pretty sharp today. From what announcers said today its really the first time he's cranked it up. Hes got a 93-96 fastball that sinks or rises, an 85-88 changeup that moves all over the place (Adam LaRoche called it a "Fog Ball", and said he couldn't even see it), a curveball with a pronounced drop to it and a slider slurve thing. I didn't see any gyroball pitch, but add the rumor of that and I gotta say that he looked downright intimidating. It this is what the Sox get from him on a regular basis, Look Out!

Matsuzaka 5 2/3 IP 1ER 1H 6K

In an unrelated not, Mike Timlin will start the season on the DL with an oblique strain. Hopefully it will not linger.

Go Sox!

TomC