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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Struggling Matsuzaka out of Red Sox rotation

Sports Jun. 21, 2009 - 02:38PM JST ( 9 )

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9 Comments

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isthistheendJun. 21, 2009 - 08:46PM JST

I remember after the WBC alot of people here gave me heat as to why American doesn't take the event more seriously and send a better team? I tried explaining they didn't want to risk injury by speeding up training before the long season ahead. Looks like there is something to that argument after all.
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pawatanJun. 22, 2009 - 01:52AM JST

Looks like there is something to that argument after all.

...or it's pure coincidence. Plenty of pitchers get injured who didn't compete in the WBC, yet everyone uses the example of Matsuzaka to say how flawed the WBC is. Correlation =/= causation.

If you haven't noticed, the Japanese players in NPB train much, much harder than the MLB players, and throw a lot higher pitch counts (140+ is not unusual). Matsuzaka trained very hard for years in NPB, and now he's in MLB and he's injured. Perhaps the problem is really MLB's babying of starters to stupidly low pitch counts and not-rigorous-enough training regimens?
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lostrune2Jun. 22, 2009 - 04:54AM JST

Pawatan,

Each pitch takes added weight the higher level you go. A high school pitcher can pitch 160+ pitches and still be OK because of lower level of competition. A minor leaguer can go probably 130. But in the MLB, each pitch takes a lot more effort to get the batters out. Furthermore, the decrease in performance due to tiredness the higher the pitch count goes, the MLB sluggers would punish those. The MLB season is also longer (then add the playoffs) with smaller 5-man SP rotation. They also don't play small ball as much (even in the NL), so there's not as much "easy outs to advance the runner" philosophy. There are no tie games, so pitchers can get used up with no predetermined ending inning. New stadiums with smaller foul areas mean less foul outs and more pitches per out (NPB star Matsuzaka often throws 100 pitches in just the 5th inning). All in all, the pitchers have to be protected more because the consequences are greater.
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timorborderJun. 22, 2009 - 06:43AM JST

So much for the WBC. Locally, you had Japan's best homerun hitter (Murata) end up on the DL with a torn hamstring (he is now back in action). You have also had Ichiro go on the MLB DL with "stress" (understandable when every man and his dog is focused on your every move). And you have Matsusaka, who appears to have peaked in March?
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AltriaJun. 22, 2009 - 10:45AM JST

Matsuzaka-gyu needs to get on the treadmill and lose a few pounds!
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timorborderJun. 22, 2009 - 11:17AM JST

Good point Altria. I don't think excess intake of beef is an issue, however, more likely beer - based on the adverts you see on TV.
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some14someJun. 22, 2009 - 12:35PM JST

I don't think excess intake of beef is an issue, however, more likely beer - based on the adverts you see on TV.

so, it has something to do with 'One Cup Ozeki' not 'World Cup Classic'
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terebikoJun. 22, 2009 - 01:32PM JST

Hopefully he'll get things turned around after the all-star break. Okajima has also struggled this season, hasn't he?
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sfjp330Jun. 25, 2009 - 04:38AM JST

Before Matsuzaka came to Boston, he pitched too many innings in Japan. He has 40 years old arm on a 28 years old body. This guy is a one year sensation in Boston and has nothing left.