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October 28, 2007
BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
DENVER -- Daisuke Matsuzaka told manager Terry Francona that he was a good hitter.
And Francona had seen video of a home run Dice-K had hit when he was pitching in Japan.
But Francona’s advice to Matsuzaka and his other pitchers when they were competing in National League ballparks and batting in the order was to just stand still in the batter’s box and take pitches. He didn’t want them pulling any muscle doing something that has become unnatural for any American League pitcher – swinging a bat.
Matsuzaka, though, came up with a key base hit in Saturday night’s victory that put Boston on the brink of its second World Championship in four years. Dice-K threaded a two-out, two-run single through the right side in the Sox’ six-run third-inning rally.
''That shows you they (pitchers) are athletes. I know they take batting practice (before interleague and World Series games when they have to hit) but to be able to just pick up a bat and make contact, they have to be athletes,'' he said.
Francona said he wasn’t necessarily surprised by the hit.
''Pleased,'' said Francona. ''You never bank on a guy getting a hit who hasn’t swung a bat since June. He got the bat on the ball, it found a hole, good for us.''
Not that he wasn’t a solid pitcher this year, but Francona said he thinks Matsuzaka will show even more next year for the Red Sox, noting all the adjustments he had to go through this season, including cultural and language issues.
''I think he has a great ability to make adjustments,'' said Francona of Matsuzaka, who notched the Game Three win, going 5 2/3 innings.
''I think next year you’ll see more consistency from him. What level does he get to as a pitcher, I think we’re excited about that, to see how it plays out. But I also think there will be a bigger comfort level for him next year just because he was here for a full year.''
Posted by Art Martone 
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