This just in … Matsuzaka can pitch
Feb 24th, 2007 by Rob Bradford
Just off field No. 2 where Daisuke Matsuzaka threw 44 pitches in a batting practice session. Hitting against the hurler was Bobby Scales, Kevin Cash, Luis Jiminez, and Jacoby Ellsbury.
“Impressive,” Ellsbury told me on the way to another round of BP. “His fastball got going as he went along. But his breaking balls were really tight, which is what you want.”
Matsuzaka got seven swings and misses, most coming on his fastball (the hitters are traditionally behind in these first rounds). Twenty-two of his pitches were fastballs, 20 breaking balls, and two pitch-outs. Jason Varitek was the catcher.
His first 20 pitches came from the stretch, and was a bit wild at first. As Ellsbury mentioned, the fastball picked up life as he went along, especially from the wind-up.
Before Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling threw batting practice. Few balls were hit hard off of either.
Be back soon with more extensive coverage of Matsuzaka’s showdown with Bobby Scales.
Clck here to read today’s column “Clement proves he’s not a big softy”
One comment so far... to “This just in … Matsuzaka can pitch”
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1Anonymous said:
When will Matsuzaka throw batting practice against Ramirez and Ortiz? I want to see how they do against him.
Love the Blog
