Matsuzaka Goes Public With Red Sox Complaints

[Mulboyne]

[Yokohammer]

[Iraira]

Ichiro seems to be able to perform well in the ethnic, racial, and physiological biased American system. Sorry, Daisuke, if you can't cut the mustard.

[Mike Oxlong]

Dice-K: It's a shikona of short careers...

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[Gilligan]

The thing is, his first year, Daisuke was about an average MLB pitcher, and last year, while his ERA and record were quite good, other things were not--his strikeout were down slightly and his walks were up (his K/BB ratio dropped from 2.5 in 2007 to 1.6 in 2008). But last year, he got unbelieveably lucky, letting up far fewer homeruns than league average and having a batting average against balls in play much lower than league average--statistics that pitchers, in general, don't have much control over. So in reality, he hasn't ever been all that good in the States.

And it's surprising that a guy who already is disliked by Red Sox nation would publicly blame the team for his poor performance. Maybe he's working to get released or bought out, so he can come back to Japan. Let's face it, he's like the Red Sox 7th best starter--in a 5-man rotation.

[canman]

So let's get this straight. The guy wants to pitch more. I thought his problem was that he had pitched too much during the WBC and that is the reason his shoulder or whatever is crap. I know we are in the middle of the high school baseball tournament where the poor pitchers routinely throw anywhere upwards of 200 pitches and then come back the next day and do it again. But this is the majors and I don't think pitchers arms can do that.
Other than Ichiro, I am quite disappointed with the results from the majority of Japanese stars who head to the majors. If I was a major league gm, I would look long and hard at the next superstar who is ready to jump to the mlb. Matsui was ok, but nothing what the Yankees had hoped for. Kaz Matsui can't hit his way out of a paper bag. Fukudome is passable at best. It seems most of the pitchers have a two or three year shelf life. I imagine their pitching style is a little different and takes the hitters a while to adjust, but they do, and the talent is just that much better than it is here in Japan.

[Mulboyne]

It wouldn't be the first time that a Japanese public figure has said something to the home media without thinking it might also be picked up internationally. Then again, in his two years in the States, Matsuzaka ought to have worked that out so perhaps he doesn't care.

I suspect a lot of this is psychological. Daisuke wants to train like he did in Japan but the Red Sox think that would be a fast track to wearing out his arm. Consequently, he feels under-prepared and, when he's having a rough day on the mound, that preys on his mind and makes it worse. As a professional, it's up to him to work out how he can deliver what his team needs him to do rather than expect them to operate like a Japanese ball club.

When a foreign player in Japan bad-mouths his team or manager, he picks up a lot of criticism in the Japanese press for disloyalty, stupidity or what have you. It'll be interesting to see how the local media regards Matsuzaka now. Probably most will focus just on whether he has a genuine complaint about Japanese players being different rather than the question of what his responsibility is to his employer and team mates.

[Iraira]

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2009/07/just_dicek_being_dicek.html

As it turns out, they have divas in Japan, too.

They have multimillion-dollar athletes who take all of the credit and none of the blame, and they have overpaid excuse-makers just as proficient at passing the buck. Apparently, at least in Daisuke Matsuzaka's house, they just don't have mirrors.

"I think we all share, in a word, that it's disappointing," Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said a short time ago in the Boston clubhouse -- veins all but bulging from his neck -- in response to critical comments made by Daisuke Matsuzaka. Added Farrell when asked if he was frustrated, "The disappointment comes in airing his dirty laundry."

Disappointed? No, no, no. The Red Sox are not disappointed. They are downright angry. At instants during an impromptu gathering in the middle of the clubhouse prior to tonight's game with the Oakland Athletics, Farrell looked as if his head were about to explode. The truth is that the Red Sox were tired of Matsuzaka's high-maintenance act a long time ago, but they kept their mouths shut and put up with it because Matsuzaka won games.

[wuchan]

The rumor back home is he doesn't like to use the weights, he just wants to throw the ball around and he was shaking off too many of Varitek's signals. To me it seems like he is just totally unwilling to try or he thinks the Japanese way is the only way to play.

[Mike Oxlong]

His success in Japan likely leads him into thinking the Japanese way is the best/only way. Maybe he should talk to the judo players to see how that's working out these days...

[Mulboyne]

Here's the link to the Japanese story if anyone's interested:

http://allatanys.jp/B001/UGC020005920090726COK00348.html?from=yoltop

[Greji]

To me it seems like he is just totally unwilling to try or he thinks the Japanese way is the only way to play.

Well of course, the J-way is the only way. After all, they have one two straight WBC's which makes them the best of the rest, right?

I see Dicey making one of three points:

1. His arm is really shot and he feels he's got to blame it on something.
2. He is actually psych'ed, and does think this is the only way he can compete with the big boys.
3. A point that has not been looked at is that he could be pulling the Popular Gaijin Ball Player in Japan trick. Make yourself into a crowd displeasing asshole and force the team into releasing you, so you can go home with all your contract money without having to play out the season(s).

Having said that, we also have to remember that Dicey only went to middle school and high school and did that as a baseball player at baseball oriented schools, which means no studies for team members. The boy is dumber than a box of rocks and if he couldn't throw a baseball, he would probably be re-arranging gravel on a road crew for a living.

So, if he isn't broadcasting a line pre-arranged by his agents for a purpose, he is just exercising his God given right of being dumb in public with priors....

[BO-SENSEI]

Not a real good way to want to stick with the Red Sox who love to get rid of players who aren't hardworkers. Daisuke needs to shut up get begin pitching like an MLB player, because guess what, he is one. He doesn't like to lift weights? Too bad, you need strength to pitch in this league. You blew your shoulder out and cost the Red Sox a number 3 pitcher, I have never seen such behavior in a baseball player. You want to become the Ichiro of Japanese pitching, you need to shut up, work hard, and more importantly be a man. And this is comming from a Diehard Red Sox fan.

[wuchan]

Not a real good way to want to stick with the Red Sox who love to get rid of players who aren't hardworkers. Daisuke needs to shut up get begin pitching like an MLB player, because guess what, he is one. He doesn't like to lift weights? Too bad, you need strength to pitch in this league. You blew your shoulder out and cost the Red Sox a number 3 pitcher, I have never seen such behavior in a baseball player. You want to become the Ichiro of Japanese pitching, you need to shut up, work hard, and more importantly be a man. And this is comming from a Diehard Red Sox fan.

must be a new fan.

[Uthark_Runa]

What a cry baby. I like how he tries to make his lack of a work ethic into a racial thing. He hated conditioning in Japan, and he hates it even worse in the states, because they focus on it more in Majors. Look up when he first got in, his conditioning is real poor I remember seeing an interview on TV explaining on the work they had to do to get him up to speed. I for one think that program worked really well, and he got in much better shape, and should be thanking the S&C coach....not whining like a little brat in the toy dept. of Jusco.

[Greji]

What a cry baby. I like how he tries to make his lack of a work ethic into a racial thing. He hated conditioning in Japan, and he hates it even worse in the states, because they focus on it more in Majors. Look up when he first got in, his conditioning is real poor I remember seeing an interview on TV explaining on the work they had to do to get him up to speed. I for one think that program worked really well, and he got in much better shape, and should be thanking the S&C coach....not whining like a little brat in the toy dept. of Jusco.

As I said, he dings when he walks. He got a letter in baseball in HS and the coach had to read it to him....

[Mike Oxlong]

I'd be tempted to let him play the remainder of his contract on the farm team. Not very practical, perhaps, but still somehow satisfying...

[Mulboyne]

ZakZak carries a report (Japanese) of the uproar in Boston over Matsuzaka's comments, quoting the article posted by Iraira which calls him a "princess". It is largely factual, explaining how he has got into hot water by making these comments despite having had lengthy meetings to clear the air. It also says that playing the race card is a no-no in America and has only worsened his situation. Matsuzaka has apparently claimed that he was misquoted but no-one appears to believe him.

[Mulboyne]

There's a short audio broadcast here which wonders whether the Red Sox should just now let Matsuzaka do what he wants to do. They think that he now has a psychological barrier with his current conditioning regime and so it will be a waste of time trying to get him in the right frame of mind to follow it.

[BO-SENSEI]

must be a new fan.

Oh, I am sorry I have never seen such behavior in a REAL baseball player, the shit Manny pulled, not saying this compares to that, but you get my point. This guy gets paid way to much money to blow off the off-season and come back to work out of shape.

[wuchan]

Oh, I am sorry I have never seen such behavior in a REAL baseball player, the shit Manny pulled, not saying this compares to that, but you get my point. This guy gets paid way to much money to blow off the off-season and come back to work out of shape.

But he also doesn't duck behind the scoreboard to get in on the blunt.

[BO-SENSEI]

Ah, but he is doing sake-bombs.

[Bucky]

[Gilligan]

Ahh, the Red Sox could take Johjima off the Mariners' hands and really give Dice K one less excuse.

Johjima?

Here's a list of one person't thoughts on the 15 MLB players with the least trade value. Not surprisingly, Johnjima is ranked 14th.

Anybody want a 33-year-old catcher with a .299 on-base percentage and little power? Didn't think so.

Dice-K made the "dishonorable mention" section, but that was before he went crying to the press.

[Bucky]

Here's a list of one person't thoughts on the 15 MLB players with the least trade value. Not surprisingly, Johnjima is ranked 14th.

Nice to see three of those 15 were on the Mariners opening day roster. If you consider the Mariners were able to foist Betancourt off on the Royals, it makes you wonder about KC's acumen.

Congrats Gillian, no O's on that list. They ought to start climbing in the standings in the next year or two shouldn't they?

[Greji]

Congrats Gillian, no O's on that list. They ought to start climbing in the standings in the next year or two shouldn't they?

If I were the O's, I'd trade Gil

[Kuang_Grade]

This sounds like the opportunity that Oil Can Boyd has been looking for.

[Gilligan]

If I were the O's, I'd trade Gil

They've tried, but I won't waive my no-trade clause.

[Mike Oxlong]

Dice-K clarifies controversy in statement