Friday Random YouTube: Matsuzaka's First out at Fenway

This YouTube video of Daisuke Matsuzaka racking up his first out at Fenway was taken by a fan sitting out in right field. The quality of the video isn't great (it's actually difficult to tell when Matsuzaka makes a pitch), but you can get a good sense of how insane the flashbulbs were during Ichiro's at bat.

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Ichiro! Zen Master

I've lived in Seattle for four years now so I'm familiar with the soul-searching musings of Ichiro! that find their way into baseball articles ("If I'm in a slump, I ask myself for advice"). This one, prompted by a question about opposing Daisuke Matsuzaka, really...uhm...takes the cake. From the Seattle Times:

"I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul. I plan to face him with the zeal of a challenger." -- Ichiro on facing Matsuzaka Wednesday

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The Showdown

I saw this Daisuke Matsuzaka vs Ichiro video over on Deadspin. I have no idea what is being said, but the gist is that a)Matsuzaka has had the upper hand in previous encounters with Ichiro and b)the Japanese are wicked psyched for Wednesday's matchup:

In a twist that will add to the drama of Wednesday's game, the Seattle Mariners announced that their own young stud pitcher, Felix Hernandez, will match up against Matsuzaka. The M's had their entire weekend series snowed out in Cleveland, so Hernandez will be pitching on eight days rest. "King Felix" (as he is referred to in Seattle) was awesome in his first start of the season (8 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 12 K). He will be fun to watch too.

My dad and I have tickets to the game Wednesday, so I'll be doing the "PLEASE don't rain" dance for the next 48 hours (no video footage available). So far, the forecast for Boston is "good":

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"Just do it: Enjoy the pressure" Matsuzaka Nike Ad

Nike is airing this new commercial in Japan featuring Daisuke Matsuzaka. According to SI.com, "the commercial will air once in the United States, on NESN, before Matsuzaka's scheduled home debut April 11."

I suppose I should admit that the commercial made me giddy? Be sure to turn your volume up to get the "full effect."
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Today: The debut of the "much ballyhooed pitcher from Japan"

Sushi and Asahi Super Dry for lunch anyone? Sounds good to me.

Today's Red Sox lineup:

• Julio Lugo, SS
  
• Kevin Youkilis, 1B
  
• David Ortiz, DH
  
• Manny Ramirez, LF
  
• J.D. Drew, RF
  
• Mike Lowell, 3B
• Jason Varitek, C
  
• Coco Crisp, CF
  
• Dustin Pedroia, 2B
  
• Daisuke Matsuzaka, P
  

Red Sox vs. Royals 2:05 pm ET / 11:05 am PT / 3:05 am Tokyo Time

Go Sox!

BTW: The title of this post is a direct quote from the Kansas City Royals play-by-play guy. He actually used the word "ballyhooed" during Wednesday's broadcast. Bonus points and jelly beans for you if you can work the word "ballyhooed" into a conversation today.
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Better than Kool-Aid

Eric Wilbur reports that the Jer-Ne Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton in Boston now serves a drink called the "Dice-K Tini" in honor of Daisuke Matsuzaka. It's created with Vodka, Passion Fruit Puree and Sake and is garnished with pickled ginger and a "glowing red ice cube" made to look like a die.

I'm in Seattle where in public we are served Ichiro-related novelty drinks only. I want to know how the heck the Jer-Ne bartender makes the "glowing red ice cube" so that I can mix the drink for home-based-Red Sox-party-consumption. The Dice-K Tini would make an excellent "rally drink" for Matsuzaka's first start, don't you think?!

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Eleven Days

Click your mouse twice if after watching Daisuke Matsuzaka's brilliant pitching performance today, you wrote a quick haiku, downloaded a Melt Banana single, did a cartwheel and then consulted a calendar to chart the days and hours until Opening Day. Eleven! It's official. I'm excited.

If you haven't seen it yet, check out Tom Verducci's Sports Illustrated article about Matsuzaka. It's long but it is a really good read.

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Get that new guy a pair of batting gloves, seriously

We're not under the misguided impression that Daisuke Matsuzaka is a superhero -- really -- although we don't think he'd look completely out of place behind the wheel of the Batmobile. We are however, impressed by his "superhuman skillset": 1) He can chug 2) He can pitch and now 3) Red Sox Monster has unearthed this video of Matsuzaka going deep in Japan. Daisuke can hit!

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"40 to 50 Percent" and Climbing

Photo from Yahoo sports

Below, in case you missed it, is the line from Daisuke Matsuzaka's spring training outing on Tuesday against the Florida Marlins.

After the game, this is what Matsuzaka had to say about his performance (through an interpreter):

"My readiness for the season is difficult to judge from the outside. I'm probably 40 to 50 percent there."

40 to 50 percent? Is it Opening Day yet?

Update: I'd rather not stroke "gyro-mania," but there are some great quotes in the Boston Herald today from Florida Marlins batters who faced Matsuzaka:

"In Matsuzaka’s Red Sox debut against major leaguers, two Marlins - Jason Stokes and Jeremy Hermida - said they saw a pitch that had movement and action unlike any other pitch they had ever seen before."

"Hermida saw it three times, Stokes once and the UFO broke down and away to the left-handed hitting Hermida and in on the hands of Stokes."

"The ball spun in a clock-wise direction, or reverse to what they are used to. It had a screwball-like rotation that left them shaking their heads."

“It’s a pitch that’s somewhere between a changeup and a splitter but it’s got a sideways spin,” said Stokes. “It’s like a split, but it’s slower, more movement.”

“He threw four different pitches to me - a fastball, slider, gyro and curve,” said Stokes. On the gyro, “He threw it up and in. I could see it was obviously a ball right away. I’m thinking ‘Get out of the way.’ It kind of backs up on you.”

The gyroball may or may not exist, but when Major League hitters refer to a pitch as a "UFO" that carries some weight.
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Perhaps he'll throw the Gyro

Wow! It was fun to watch Dice-K's press conference Thursday. If you haven't seen it, you can check it out here. Even with the grand ol' language barrier, it was evident that Matsuzaka is charismatic and likeable. For example, when asked if he would throw the so-called gyro ball, this was his response:

"[Giggles] How should I answer? [Giggles] I knew this question was coming today. And I was preparing some optional answers for this particular question. Should I say, 'I have that [pitch].' Or I could say, 'Which particular [pitch] are you referring to?' [Giggles] Overall, if I have the chance, I will pitch that ball."

Here are few more highlights from the press conference:

• What would his first Major League pitch be? "I would like to pitch a fastball. That will be my first [pitch] to throw. I would like my first batter, if he is listening, please try and not hit the ball."
  

• How would he deal with the pressure of his large contract? "The scale of the contract does not determine how I play baseball I feel responsibility a little bit, but I am not pressured. I have received a lot of expectations all my life but I always remember the most important thing for me is to play ball and have fun. And I have done so and I will keep doing so and by doing so I will meet everybody's expectations."

• Dice-K had dinner with Ichiro in the off-season and they "talked about life in the United States."

• He is learning English: "In order to get along well with my teammates, communication is very important, and I would like to learn English -- and I am learning English as we speak."

• A new pitch? Matsuzaka might try to learn the knuckleball from Tim Wakefield: "If I can keep my form and can still pitch a knuckleball, it would be very advantageous for me, I tried it in Los Angeles and it didn't work out so well. So for now, I will keep that on the side."

The Matsuzaka Press Conference 2/15 [NESN.com]
"Matsuzaka shows his lighter side" [MLB.com]
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"I want to play catch with him soon..."

The minute by minute Dice-K updates from the Boston Matsuzaka stalkers media contingent in Ft. Myers today were a bit...uhmm...excessive (omg he's wearing gray shorts!), but Matsuzaka did speak briefly as he departed the Red Sox training facility. Gordon Edes reports that Dice-K left the media circus with this cuddly quote about Jason Varitek (Matsuzaka's "favorite player"):

"I want to play catch with him soon, but maybe Mr. (Hideki) Okajima will be my first partner. I will try to communicate with Varitek as much as possible in order to have a good relationship. By talking to Varitek, I would like to know my teammates deeply.''

Aaawwwww.

"Departing Words" [Extra Bases]
"Matsuzaka Plays Catch!" [Clubhouse Insider]
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This photo is in desperate need of a caption

Photo from Yahoo Sports
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