The moment we've all been waiting for as Red Sox fans, or Japanese people, was a bit of a bust for the hometown team. As big as the furor was around Fenway, it was equally as anticipated here in Japan. The nightly news programs this week have been wall to wall with coverage of the upcoming Fenway debut of Daisuke Matsuzaka, but not for the same reasons as folks back home in Beantown. While Red Sox nation was antsy to get their first glimps of the $100 million man in the flesh, Japan was geared up for the showdown between Daisuke and Ichiro. The game was broadcast nationally at 8 o'clock this morning. I caught the first half inning and then had to head to work, but was able to follow for a while online. It was only fitting that the first batter Daisuke faced was Ichiro, who ended up tapping a grounder back to the mound. And that was about the apex of Matsuzaka's night.
He didn't pitch bad, though by no means great. The problem, as I heard one sports radio caller aptly describe it today, was that the Red Sox ran into a buzz saw named Felix Hernandez. Amid all the hubbub surrounding the Daisuke/Ichiro armageddon, Hernandez quickly stole the show, 1-hitting the Sox in a display of domination. Scary that he just turned 21 in the past week.
So, the mighty Sox scored 14 runs on Tuesday, and barely scrounged 1 measely hit on Wednesday (thanks JD Drew). Not exactly a paradigm of consistancy, but it's early, the weather's nuts, and that whole thing about running into a buzz saw. I'm keeping the faith for now.
7 comments:
I was pretty happy he didnt no hit us. It would of been depressing to get no hit at home. Dice-K is looking good tho despite losing, but who wouldnt of to that?
i know, that wouldn't have been a good start to the daisuke era at fenway...you have tickets to any games yet?
Not the best outing he will have with the Sox. It was cold and he couldn't get the curveball going. He will get better as the season goes. I was wondering if you were able to watch it.
you red sox fans and your "its early in the season" is that sentence like programed in once you decide to be a fan?
ha - you know who this is! -s.
um, how's your team doing there SHERYL!!! did you hear about mike mussina and his groin?
or was it his hamstring?
I was supposed to go the last seattle game but it got rained out and rescheduled to when Ill be in alaska. Im sure ill make it to at least one game. at least, i hope so.
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