Dice-K goes to Disabled List

The Red Sox are preparing to place pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder fatigue. Matsuzaka lasted just one inning Tuesday night and needed 46 pitches in allowing five first-inning runs to Oakland in the Sox’ 6-5 loss. Matsuzaka had alerted the team in Anaheim that his shoulder was feeling weak but assured them that he was well enough to make Tuesday’s start

The Sox attempted to get Pawtucket reliever Hunter Jones to Oakland-Alameda County Stadium in time for this afternoon’s game after depleting their bullpen with 11 innings in relief of Matsuzaka Tuesday night. But Jones is experiencing travel delays and will not be here for gametime.

The Sox plan to have Justin Masterson take Matsuzaka’s spot in the rotation. Masterson was stretched out as a starter for most of spring training and contributed four innings in Tuesday’s
loss.

MY TAKE ON THIS: WBC. Would be nice if the Sox did not allow their players to go next year. I expect Hunter Jones to be around until Beckett's scheduled start on Sunday when he could be replaced with Bucholtz. Currently Clay has a hamstring injury, so that move might be questionable. I am assuming that Beckett is suspended and not awaiting an appeal?

Dice-K gives up 5 runs in first inning

Oakland, CA. Matsuzaka was spotted a 3-run lead over the A's. He responded by throwing 43 pitches in the bottom of the first, allowing the A's to tally 5 men across the plate. Very strong winds tonight. 30-40 miles an hour...almost as fast as Dice-K's fastball, which was lacking in velocity in the first inning. I think the WBC took it's toll on him and he'll be DL'd soon. He has not looked good in either of his two starts this season. Welcome home Clay Bucholz.

UPDATE. Justin Masterson pitched 4 1/3 strong innings after relieving Dice-K. Something is really wrong with him and I truly believe that Masterson will take Dice-K's spot in the rotation for a few starts. As for Bucholz.... perhaps they will bring him up to spot start him in Beckett's place this weekend and he'll be around for a couple weeks if Dice-K is disabled. Think about it.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH PAPI?

Dice-K to pitch in March World Baseball Classic

Manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Daisuke Matsuzaka will likely pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

"I know he’s very excited about it also. I don’t know how to get around it," Francona said. Matsuzaka was MVP of the WBC in 2006 before signing with the Red Sox. Ichiro Suzuki is also expected to play for Japan.

MY TAKE ON THIS: A great opportunity for Matsuzaka, of course. He deserves to go there. However, one must wonder if this trip will take a toll on him...at the beginning of the season AND in September when we make our run for the pennant.

Sox shutout Jays 3-0; Rays lose

September 21 TORONTO.. The Red Sox moved one step closer to the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. Big Papi hit a two-run homer, Dice-K remained unbeaten on the road and the Red Sox beat Toronto 3-0 on Sunday, eliminating the Blue Jays from postseason contention and clinching at least a tie for the AL wild card. Boston (91-64) needs one more win or a New York loss to secure a playoff spot. New York beat Baltimore 7-3 in the final regular season game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday night, a game Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he didn't plan on staying up late enough to watch.

Matsuzaka (18-2) improved to 9-0 with a 2.31 ERA in 13 road starts, holding the Blue Jays to just two hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked two. Varitek said Matsuzaka was "phenomenal." "That's not an easy lineup to face," Varitek said. "He was able to move the ball in and out, use his breaking ball to both sides, set it up with his heater. He did an awesome job today."

MY TAKE ON THIS: Here's another case of Dice-K being Dice-K. One of his better outings of the year. He used up a lot of pitches (44) in the first two innings, which was very typical of him. He managed to last 7 innings this time, which is what we really want of him. Going 5, 6 innings really taxes the bullpen. Too bad he's not going to win the Cy Young Award despite his 18-2 record and 2.80 ERA. Pretty darn good numbers.

Dice-K, Youk, Tek Beat Orioles 7-2

August 19, 2008: Baltimore, MD - On a night in which he struggled to get through five innings, Daisuke Matsuzaka got offensive support from an unlikely source: batterymate Jason Varitek.
Matsuzaka won his fourth straight start, the Boston Red Sox got homers from Varitek and Kevin Youkilis in a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.

Matsuzaka (15-2) gave up two runs, six hits and five walks. The right-hander failed to retire the side in order but stranded nine runners, including five in scoring position, before being lifted after 105 pitches. Whether I allow hits or I allow walks, I always think that the important thing is not to allow the runners to score," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "That's the way I thought last year and it's still the same this year."

It was Matsuzaka's 30th career win, most ever by a Japanese-born pitcher in his first two major league seasons. Hideo Nomo had 29 in 1995-96. "He finds a way to win. That's all you can ask from a starting pitcher," teammate Dustin Pedroia said. "He's not giving in and we know that. Sometimes it's frustrating, but it keeps you on your toes."

Varitek's second homer in two games put Boston up 3-0 in the second inning. The drive enabled Boston's captain to become the first Red Sox catcher to hit at least 10 home runs in nine seasons, breaking a tie with Carlton Fisk.

Dice-K Scuttles Mariners 4-2

July 23. SEATTLE, WA -- Even though Matsuzuka had to leave in the eighth inning, he continued his masterful pitching away from Fenway Park, as the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 on Tuesday night. Matsuzaka (11-1) was dominant for the first seven innings, scattering two hits before Seattle finally got to him in the eighth, ending any hopes for the second complete game of his career.

Matsuzaka's scoreless innings streak ended at 24 1/3. Dice-K's countryman, Ichiro Suzuki, lined an RBI double over center fielder Coco Crisp with one out in the eighth for the first run allowed by Matsuzaka since the first inning against Tampa Bay on July 2 when Evan Longoria hit a two-out RBI single. Matsuzaka had not allowed an earned run in his previous two starts.

"Facing off against Ichiro I wanted to make good pitches to good spots," Matsuzaka said.

Jose Lopez followed the double with an RBI single to score Suzuki and knock out Matsuzaka, who walked three and struck out six. Hideki Okajima got the final two outs of the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 34 chances. "If our starters get us deep like that we should be OK," Francona said. "Sometimes your pitching gives your offense time to kind of get straightened out. If we get deep in games on a consistent basis we should be fine."
Boston's offense got a jolt from the start thanks to J.D. Drew. His 18th homer sent with two outs in the first sent Matsuzaka to the mound with a 1-0 lead.