daisuke matsuzaka

daisuke matsuzaka Daisuke Matsuzaka
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Daisuke Matsuzaka
松坂 大�
Matsuzaka during Spring Training
Boston Red Sox ― No. 18
Starting Pitcher
Born: September 13, 1980 (1980-09-13) (age 27)
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
April 5, 2007 for the Boston Red Sox
Selected MLB statistics
(through September 22, 2007)
Win-Loss 15-12
Earned Run Average 4.40
Strikeouts 201
Teams
Seibu Lions (1999�2006)
Boston Red Sox (2007�Present)

Daisuke Matsuzaka (松坂 大�, Matsuzaka Daisuke?, born September 13, 1980) is a Japanese starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the 2006 World Baseball Classic and is an Olympic bronze medalist[1].

Contents [hide]
1 Biography
1.1 Early life and high school days
1.2 The legendary 3 days at the 1998 summer Koshien
1.3 Professional career in Nippon Professional Baseball
1.4 2004 Olympic Games and the World Baseball Classic
1.5 Awards in Japan
1.6 Major League transition
1.7 Major League career
2 Personal life
3 References
4 External links



[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and high school days
He was born on September 13, 1980, in Higashitsugaru District, Aomori, Japan. Aomori is his mother's hometown. After a month, he moved to his father's home in Koto, Tokyo, so his player profile says he is from Tokyo even though he was born in Aomori. After excelling at the little league and Junior High level, Daisuke Matsuzaka was admitted into Yokohama High School, a baseball powerhouse, in the spring of 1996. By his second year (Japanese high schools consist of three years), he had developed into the school's ace pitcher. Despite his early success, he would experience a setback that summer when he allowed a go-ahead wild pitch in the semi-final game of the Kanagawa Prefecture preliminary round of the National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien). Hungry for redemption, Matsuzaka trained fervently during the off-season. It was about that time that his fastballs started to regularly clock in at around 90 mph and he was given the nickname, "The Monster". After easily pitching his school to the championship of the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Spring Koshien), Matsuzaka set his aim on the 1998 Summer Koshien. He would go on to become a national hero in this tournament after pitching in three particularly memorable games, and, eventually, leading his school to the championship.

Baseball players who were born in the 1980 academic year (from April 2, 1980 to the following April 1, 1981) have been called the Matsuzaka generation (松坂世代, Matsuzaka sedai?) in Japan.


[edit] The legendary 3 days at the 1998 summer Koshien
In the quarterfinals of that year's Summer Koshien, Matsuzaka threw 254 pitches in 17 innings in a win over powerhouse PL Gakuen. The next day, trailing by six runs during an 0-6 score at the end of the top of the eighth inning, the team miraculously won the game by scoring 7 runs in the last two innings (four in the eighth and three in the ninth). In that game he started in left field, but came in as a relief in the ninth inning to record a win. In the final, he threw a no-hitter, the second ever in a final. This performance not only elevated him to rock star status but also garnered him the attention of many scouts. After graduating from high school, he was taken by the Seibu Lions with the first pick of the 1998 draft, although both the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks of the American Major Leagues also recruited him heavily.[2]


[edit] Professional career in Nippon Professional Baseball
In his first professional season in 1999, he had 16 wins and 5 losses as the team ace, and was voted Rookie of the Year. On May 16, 1999, when Matsuzaka was in his rookie season at age 18, he faced Ichiro Suzuki, for the first time and recorded 3 strikeouts in 3 at bats with a walk.[3]

Matsuzaka spent a considerable portion of his 2002 season on the disabled list, which does not count toward his service time.

In 2003, Matsuzaka logged 16 wins and 7 losses. He easily won the Pacific League ERA title with a 2.83 mark. Matsuzaka used to play for Japan's National Baseball Team, and pitched against South Korea.


[edit] 2004 Olympic Games and the World Baseball Classic
Olympic medal record
Men's Baseball
Competitor for Japan
Bronze 2004 Team
He participated in the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece and was a key player in Japan's acquisition of the bronze medal. In 2006, Matsuzaka pitched for Japan in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. He was named tournament MVP after posting a 3�0 record, including a decisive win over Cuba in the tournament's championship game.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was crowned the MVP of the first ever World Baseball Classic after Team Japan defeated Team Cuba 10-6 in the finals. Matsuzaka, the winner of the finale, frustrated his opposition by tossing 4 innings of 1 run baseball before exiting. Overall, Matsuzaka tossed a total of 13 innings throughout the tournament while finishing with 3 wins and no losses.


[edit] Awards in Japan
1999 Pacific League Rookie of the Year (Sai-Yushyu-Shinjin), Best Nine, Gold Glove, Wins champion of the Pacific League
2000 Best Nine, Gold Glove, Strikeouts and Wins champion of the Pacific League
2001 Sawamura Award, Best Nine, Gold Glove, Strikeouts and Wins champion of the Pacific League
2003 Gold Glove, ERA champion of the Pacific League(2.83), Strikeouts champion of the year
2004 Gold Glove, ERA champion of the Pacific League(2.90)
2005 Gold Glove, Strikeouts champion of the year
2006 Gold Glove
All-Star Game of Nippon Professional Baseball 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004(MVP), 2005, 2006


[edit] Major League transition
On October 25, 2006, Scott Boras was announced as Matsuzaka's agent to represent him in any contract dealings in the Major Leagues. On November 2, Matsuzaka was officially granted permission by the Lions to pursue a career in Major League Baseball via the posting system.

On November 14, the Boston Red Sox won the bidding rights to Matsuzaka with a bid of $51,111,111.11, outbidding the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and New York Yankees. [4] [5] [6] The Red Sox had 30 days to sign Matsuzaka to a contract. If a deal could not be reached, Matsuzaka would have returned to the Lions, nullifying the bid. Scott Boras refused to consider the posting fee as part of the contract negotiations, while Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein recalled, "We tried to come up with a total number, for the post and contract, that made sense."[7] On December 11, Epstein, Red Sox owner John W. Henry and CEO Larry Lucchino boarded a plane to "[take] the fight directly to [Boras]". [8] Nick Cafardo of the [[Boston Globe]sf] asserted that Boras, by refusing to negotiate, was using Matsuzaka as a protest or "test case of the posting system."[8]

On December 13, Matsuzaka and Boras joined Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, CEO Larry Lucchino, and Chairman Tom Werner on a private plane owned by Red Sox owner John Henry headed for Boston. During the flight―which was followefsd by both the Boston and the Japanese media [9]―the group agreed to terms on a contract. Journalist Nobuhiro Chiba characterized Japanese reaction to the signing: "I think the people are relieved to send Daisuke to the Boston Red Sox."[9] In Boston, Matsuzaka passed his physical and signed the six-year, $52 million contract, which could be worth as much as $60 million if he fulfills incentives. The details of the contract include a $2 million signing bonus with a $6 million salary in 2007, $8 million in each of the following three seasons (2008�2010), and $10 million in each of the final two years (2011�2012). [10] He also has a no-trade clause, specially constructed by the Red Sox to fit Matsuzaka's contract. [11]

The final agreement was announced Thursday, December 14 at a 5 p.m. EST news conference at Fenway Park.[12] Afterwards some members of the press noted the confusion created by Matsuzaka's translator at that announcement. Art Martone of the Providence Journal commented, "Matsuzaka's interpreter's command of the English language was shaky, and thus the pitcher's translated comments were brief and, occasionally, unintelligible. About the only clear statement relayed by the interpreter was when Matsuzaka said, 'I'm very happy and excited to be a member of the Boston Red Sox.'"[13]

Matsuzaka's first major league spring training took place in Fort Myers, Florida, with the Red Sox during February and March of 2007. Wearing number 18, the same number he wore during his career in Japan[14], Matsuzaka pitched well in most of his exhibition starts. He wears number 18 because Masumi Kuwata also wears number 18.[15]


[edit] Major League career
Matsuzaka made his first major league regular season start for the Red Sox on April 5, 2007 in an afternoon game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. He walked one, recorded 10 strikeouts, and at one point retired 10 consecutive batters. He allowed only a solo home run on 6 hits while throwing 108 pitches (74 for strikes) over 7 innings and recorded the win as the Red Sox triumphed by a score of 4-1. He was, however, beaten 3-0 by Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners in his Fenway Park debut on April 11, 2007 and defeated again, 2-1, by the Toronto Blue Jays in his third major league start despite striking out 10 Toronto hitters in only 6 innings. Matsuzaka still became the only pitcher to strike out 10 or more batters in 2 of his first 3 big-league starts since Fernando Valenzuela did so in 1981.

In the official press conference after the Toronto start, Matsuzaka stated through his interpreter that gripping the American baseball―which is slightly larger than the Japanese pro ball, with higher seams―had presented some challenges, but that he had begun making adjustments and felt they were successful.

Matsuzaka pitched his first complete game in the major leagues on May 14, 2007, a 7-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers; he had pitched well over 60 complete games in Japan.

Daisuke Matsuzaka recently signed a multi-million dollar exclusive deal with Sport Card Giant Upper Deck. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

On August 10, 2007 Daisuke Matsuzaka broke the Red Sox rookie record for the most strikeouts in a season with 156 strikeouts. He now has 201 strikeouts as of September 28, 2007.

On September 28, 2007 Daisuke Matsuzaka went eight innings and threw 119 pitches. He allowed six hits and two runs while striking out eight. With the win against the Minnesota Twins to secure the Red Sox's place as the winner of the Division, he closed out his first Major League season with a record of 15-12 and an ERA of 4.40.

On October 06, 2007 Daisuke Matsuzaka made his Major League playoff debut in front of his home crowd in Boston against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. Matsuzaka started the game but lasted just 4 and 2/3 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 7 hits before being pulled. Although Matsuzaka did not fare in the decision, the Red Sox eventually went on to beat the Angels 6-3.

On October 15, 2007 Daisuke Matsuzaka started in his 2nd playoff game in Cleveland against the Cleveland Indians. Much like his playoff debut, Matsuzaka delivered another mediocre outing. Again, Matsuzaka was not able to make it past 5 innings, lasting 4 and 2/3 innings, giving up 4 earned runs on 6 hits. Matsuzaka was pulled after going over the 100-pitch mark. Matsuzaka suffered his first career playoff loss as the Indians beat the Red Sox 4-2.

Matsuzaka is currently pitching Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS on October 21, 2007 against the Cleveland Indians, retiring eight consecutive batters to begin the game.


[edit] Personal life
Matsuzaka is married to television journalist Tomoyo Shibata. .,[16] formerly of Nippon TV in Japan, and in 2005 she gave birth to the couple's daughter, Niko.[17] Daisuke is nicknamed "The Monster" (怪物 kaibutsu)[18] in Japan and "Dice-K" or "D-Mat" in the United States[19] by the Boston Globe[20][21] and USA Today.[22]


[edit] References
^ Bloom, Barry M. "Japan crowned Classic's first champ - Starter Matsuzaka claims tournament's MVP award", 2006 World Baseball Classic, March 21, 2006
^ John Powers. "At home on the big stage", Boston Globe, 2006-12-15. Retrieved on 2006-12-15.
^ Jack Curry, "A Japanese All-Star Game and a Reunion at Fenway" New York Times, [1]
^ Matsuzaka departs for U.S. to meet agent. JapanBall.com (November 15, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-15.
^ "Red Sox's winning bid for Matsuzaka: $51.1 million"
^ Michael Silverman (December 15, 2006). Why $51,111,111.11? John Henry explains. Boston Herald. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
^ Mike Petraglia (December 14, 2006). Red Sox no longer need to hide secret. MLB.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-15.
^ a b Nick Cafardo (December 12, 2006). Boras demands way out of line. Boston.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-18.
^ a b Karen Guregian. "It's a Japanese stakeout sin Hub", Boston Herald, 2006-12-14. Retrieved on 2006-12-14.
^ Matsuzaka agent Scott Boras told ESPN.com the contract includes a "litany of personal comforts." Matsuzaka will get a massage therapist, physical therapist, interpreter and personal assistant, and the Red Sox agreed to provide Matsuzaka with 80-90 flights over the course of the deal, along with special housing and transportation arrangements and accommodations for his wife. "Matsuzaka, Red Sox agree to terms"
^ Michael Silverman. "Matsuzaka has full no-trade clause", Boston Herald, 2006-12-14. Retrieved on 2006-12-18.
^ "Matsuzaka, Red Sox reach agreement on six-year deal", ESPN.com, December 14, 2006
^ "Red Sox Nation looks to expand", Providence Journal, 2006-12-15.
^ Stan McNeal (February 15, 2007). "Time for Dice-K to get sfinto action". Sporting News. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
^ Gordon Edes (March 22, 2007). Matsuzaka path follows Kuwata's -- to a point. Boston.com]. Retrieved on 2007-06-26.
^ Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa (2006-12-14). Dreams of Rocket(s) have us seeing stars. Retrieved on 2006-12-17.


[edit] External links