GM Theo Epstein said Daisuke Matsuzaka is in really good shape compared to where he has been at in other offseasons.
“We’ve been in communication with our training staff and he’s working out extremely hard,” Epstein said. “He’s in really good shape compared to where he has been in previous offseasons. Last I checked, Daisuke and Hideki (Okajima) were the two guys that (new pitching coach) Curt (Young) hadn’t talked to yet because of the logistical issues — a translator and what not. But we’ve been in regular contact with him.”
Is his training markedly different different this offseason?
“No, not markedly different,” Epstein said. “I think he might’ve started throwing a little bit earlier but in moderation. There’s sort of a lot of give and take and try to apply the lessons that he and we learned from the previous year in preparing and focusing on the specific body parts that ached last year and make sure they are better prepared going into the new year.”
Was he a victim of unrealistic expectations coming over from Japan with all the hype?
“I thought he performed really well his first two years as a whole, especially that first year,” Epstein said. “And he had what was basically what was an injured season in 2009, and last year he bounced back to a certain extent. I thought last year was the first year that he pitched better than his numbers indicated or his stuff was better than his numbers indicated. I think that gives us a little bit of reason for optimism going forward. If he can (approximately do) next year what he did in either of the the first two years we’ll be quite happy.”
