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| Matsuzaka showed signs of brilliance, but was inconsistent for the Sox. |
Now almost five years later both Japanese imports look like a lost cause as Matsuzaka is set to undergo Tommy John Surgery, ending his season before it even got started.
Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-Day disabled list back on the 18th of May, two days after what would be his final start of the year against the Baltimore Orioles, surrendering five runs and seven walks in only 4.1 innings. Originally diagnosed with a right elbow strain, it was later determined the right-hander would need season-ending elbow surgery and was transferred to the 60-Day DL Thursday.
The Japanese import had a rough start to the 2011 season, allowing ten earned runs in his first two starts of the season in only 7 innings, accumulating to a 12.86 ERA. His next two starts, he would show signs of vintage Matsuzaka tossing 15 scoreless innings on only two hits, lowering his ERA to a respectable 3.81.
That was only temporary as his final four starts were not good only making out of the fifth once. Matsuzaka finishes the year at 3-3 with a 5.30 ERA, leaving Red Sox Nation to wonder if he has thrown his final pitch in a Boston uniform?
Most pitchers that undergo the Tommy John procedure average a year to a year and half recovery process before they have full healed, leaving Matsuzaka's future in doubt. The 2012 season will mark the final-year of a six-year $52 million contract Matsuzaka signed prior to the '07 season and with him sure to miss a good portion if not all of next season, he might have very well thrown his final pitch for Boston.
The Japanese import had a rough start to the 2011 season, allowing ten earned runs in his first two starts of the season in only 7 innings, accumulating to a 12.86 ERA. His next two starts, he would show signs of vintage Matsuzaka tossing 15 scoreless innings on only two hits, lowering his ERA to a respectable 3.81.
That was only temporary as his final four starts were not good only making out of the fifth once. Matsuzaka finishes the year at 3-3 with a 5.30 ERA, leaving Red Sox Nation to wonder if he has thrown his final pitch in a Boston uniform?
Most pitchers that undergo the Tommy John procedure average a year to a year and half recovery process before they have full healed, leaving Matsuzaka's future in doubt. The 2012 season will mark the final-year of a six-year $52 million contract Matsuzaka signed prior to the '07 season and with him sure to miss a good portion if not all of next season, he might have very well thrown his final pitch for Boston.
Even though Matsuzaka was hampered by injuries the last three seasons, his time in Fenway was productive. In his first season with the Sox, Matsuzaka was 15-12, but proved to be vital part to them winning their second World Series title in a four-year span after sweeping the Colorado Rockies in the '07 Fall Classic.
2008 would mark his best season with the Red Sox when he finished 18-3 with an ERA at 2.90. Opponents only hit .211 in '08 as he finished fourth in the American League Cy Young voting. From there on it was down hill for "Dice-K", making five of six trips to the DL the last three seasons.
In his five years with the Red Sox, Matsuzaka has gone 49-30 with a 4.25 ERA, only eclipsing the 200 innings and 200 strikeout plateaus once, both coming in his first year with Boston.
Matsuzaka showed signs of being the dominant pitcher he was in the '06 & '09 World Baseball Classic, winning the MVP in both of Japan's run to the championship, but his stuff and so called "Gyroball" never quite translated in the major leagues.
As for the Yankees' Igawa, he has only made 16 appearances in the big leagues since signing with New York. His career ERA in the majors is the devil's 6.66 and was never to be heard from again, making his last major league appearance back in '08. Igawa is currently pitching for the Yankees Double-A affiliate Trenton Thunder.
Matsuzaka is the second player to hear the bad news this week as the Kansas City Royals top highly touted prospect John Lamb will also require surgery to repair a ligament in his left elbow. The left-hander was the No. 5 prospect in the Royals unbelievable farm system and ranked 27th throughout Major League Baseball.
With the success rate of the surgery being so high we have yet to see the last of Matsuzaka. The question remains what uniform will he be wearing. You can sure a major league club will roll the dice on the thirty-year-old right-hander.
2008 would mark his best season with the Red Sox when he finished 18-3 with an ERA at 2.90. Opponents only hit .211 in '08 as he finished fourth in the American League Cy Young voting. From there on it was down hill for "Dice-K", making five of six trips to the DL the last three seasons.
In his five years with the Red Sox, Matsuzaka has gone 49-30 with a 4.25 ERA, only eclipsing the 200 innings and 200 strikeout plateaus once, both coming in his first year with Boston.
Matsuzaka showed signs of being the dominant pitcher he was in the '06 & '09 World Baseball Classic, winning the MVP in both of Japan's run to the championship, but his stuff and so called "Gyroball" never quite translated in the major leagues.
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| Igawa might be the biggest bust of a signing by New York since they signed Hideki Irabu. |
Matsuzaka is the second player to hear the bad news this week as the Kansas City Royals top highly touted prospect John Lamb will also require surgery to repair a ligament in his left elbow. The left-hander was the No. 5 prospect in the Royals unbelievable farm system and ranked 27th throughout Major League Baseball.
With the success rate of the surgery being so high we have yet to see the last of Matsuzaka. The question remains what uniform will he be wearing. You can sure a major league club will roll the dice on the thirty-year-old right-hander.
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