Matsuzaka expects to return this season
August 5, 2009
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Dice-K expects to pitch again this season.
Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka(notes) is scheduled for his first bullpensession Tuesday since going on the disabled list June 21 with a strain in hispitching shoulder.
Matsuzaka, who has been at the Red Sox spring training complex in FortMyers, Fla., worked out with the team during a two-game series at Tampa Bay.
He played long toss and threw at 60 feet on flat ground Wednesday, and saidhis goal, “of course,” is to rejoin the team before the season ends.
Boston manager Terry Francona and pitching coach John Farrell spent almostan hour each talking with Matsuzaka, who is 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA in eight startsthis year.
It was the first face-to-face meeting between Matsuzaka and Francona sincethe pitcher went public with concerns over how the team was handling histraining techniques last week.
“It was really productive,” Francona said. “Regardless of whether I thinkhe messed up or was wrong, we all make mistakes. It’s where we go from here.That’s more important to me than what happened last week. I felt real good aboutit and I think he did, too.”
Matsuzaka went 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA last season. He told the reporters inEnglish that he had no intention of criticizing the team.
“Training no problem,” Matsuzaka said. “No problem with Red Sox. Weworked it all out.”
Matszuaka has been working on improving his English speaking skills on adaily basis.
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