Dice-K Dicey Again
May 4, 2007 by Geoff Young
Filed under Personalities
The thing about most “rookies” is that they aren’t being paid like all-stars or playing in an insane sports market. Sure, a guy like Alex Gordon faces a little pressure from hype, but he’s in Kansas City and there isn’t a contingent of foreign media following his every move.
Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka struggled again on Thursday night against the Mariners. The problem? According to manager Terry Francona, it’s a matter of command:
They didn’t knock him all over the ballpark. It goes down for me to command. When he commands, he will go very deep into a game. And right now it’s a little bit of a battle for him.
It could be a simple tweak, or it could be something that requires a little more work. Who knows? The important thing to remember is that this guy has a tremendous track record over in Japan. I have no idea what the prevailing thought in Boston is right now, but I hope that nobody is pushing the panic button.
Matsuzaka is off to a shaky start, that’s all. He’ll get over it. How soon? Hard to say, but probably faster than you can say “Hideki Irabu.” Assuming you say it real slow…
