Matsuzaka's ST debut vs. Boston College

Zen653 · 03-02-2007, 06:07 PM

Top of the 1st inning:

Johnny Ayers with a leadoff double down the first baseline on the very first pitch thrown by Matsuzaka. It was a 92mph fastball over the plate.

Hutchinson thrown out at first. Varitek picks up the tapper in front of the mound and throws onto first base for the out. Ayers advances to 3rd base.

Breaking ball down and away, ball 1. Another breaking ball over the inside part of the plate, 1-1. That pitch had some great movement to it. A high fastball fouled off for strike 2. Called strike 3 over the upper part of the zone on the outside corner.

Strike 1 to Peter Frates on a sinking fastball. Soft foul lined down the third baseline for strike 2. Checkswing on a breaking pitch in the dirt, ball 1. Swing and a miss on a rising fastball for strike 3.

0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts. 11 pitches/9 strikes.

Bottom of the 1st:

Jacoby Ellsbury flies out to left.
Dustin Pedoria cruises into second base with a deep double to the wall.
Jason Varitek with a hard shot liner through short into shallow right. Pedroia to third.
Wily Mo Pena strikes out looking.
Eric Hinske strikes out swinging.

Zen653 · 03-02-2007, 06:37 PM

Top of the 2nd:

Two curveballs low and outside for a pair of strikes against Joe Ayers. Ball 1 in the dirt outside, 1-2. Just off the outside edge for ball 2. Chopped liner to second for the out.

Slider captures most of the plate for strike 1. Outside corner for strike 2 (fastball.) Right down the middle but slightly high for ball 1. (cut fastball.) Strike 3 high in the zone.

Strike 1 on a sideways S-shaped breaking pitch. Really weird looking but extremely effective. Strike 2 on a fastball over the outside part of the plate. Changeup in the dirt for ball 1. Pop up near first, Pedroia hauls it in for the out.

13 pitches/9 strikes

Bottom of the 2nd:

Jeff Bailey hits a homerun to LF to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.
David Murphy with a single up the middle. Murphy steals second.
Brandon Moss flies out to the warning track in right.
Ed Rodgers strikes out.
Jacoby Ellsbury with a triple to deep right. Incredible speed! That would have been a double for most other players. Murphy scores. 2-0 Red Sox.
Pedroia flies out to second.

Zen653 · 03-02-2007, 06:54 PM

Top of the 3rd inning:

New Hampshire's Kyle Jackson now pitching for the Red Sox. I can't see what's going on in the game anymore, as NESN has decided to show an interview of Matsuzaka in Japanese.

There we go, now back to the game. Jackson has apparently retired the side in order.

Bottom of the 3rd inning:

Varitek walks.
Pena grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.
Hinske strikes out.

Zen653 · 03-02-2007, 07:47 PM

NESN switched over to college hockey after the 3rd inning.

AutomatedTeller · 03-02-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

sideways S-shaped breaking pitch

a double break?

Zen653 · 03-03-2007, 01:47 AM

It looked like a double break, yes. If Matsuzaka can consistently throw a pitch that breaks twice, then he's going to be downright unhittable. Whatever it was, he only threw it that one time.

AutomatedTeller · 03-03-2007, 12:57 PM

wow. I didn't know it was possible for a pitch to break twice...

cjelephant · 03-03-2007, 04:20 PM

Thanks for the description - I'm out of NESN land - so your description marks the first time I've seen the new Ace pitch.

So far so good!!

Zen653 · 03-03-2007, 05:47 PM

The Matsuzaka performance was aired again today after the Red Sox/Phillies game. On that pitch that appeared to break twice, I watched it again more carefully, and I guess I would liken it to a 10 to 5 curveball with a knuckleball's final flutter. Sort of like what happens to a top-spinning tennis ball when you slice it in midair.

AutomatedTeller · 03-03-2007, 10:59 PM

cool. Thanks, Zen. I watched that, too, but not near close enough to see when that pitch came.

ingagi · 03-04-2007, 06:34 AM

Great to see Dice-K and Beckett just doing their things.

Did anyone else here get spammed by a 'kaneweber' in a private pm by any shot?? what the-?

AutomatedTeller · 03-04-2007, 10:17 AM

not I, though maybe he let me by because I'm a mod. I'll see if it's an issue on other boards.

AutomatedTeller · 03-11-2007, 01:14 PM

NESN's broadcast needs some shaking out, too. They have Henry and Werner on, and their mikes are too low and the crowd mikes are too hight.

Tracschel looks bad - first two guys for the Sox have reached base. btw - the Sox have what might be the opening day lineup today:

Lugo
Youk
Papi
Manny
Drew
Lowell
Tek!
Coco
Cora

bedir than average · 03-11-2007, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutomatedTeller

a double break?

If that is what was thrown that is the actual gyroball and not someone mislabeling a pitch that they just sucked at recognizing.

DM has said that he doesn't throw it when interviewing with English language sites/papers/mags, but when asked by the Japanese press has said that he throws it rarely.

03-02-2007, 06:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,580	Matsuzaka's ST debut vs. Boston College Top of the 1st inning: Johnny Ayers with a leadoff double down the first baseline on the very first pitch thrown by Matsuzaka. It was a 92mph fastball over the plate. Hutchinson thrown out at first. Varitek picks up the tapper in front of the mound and throws onto first base for the out. Ayers advances to 3rd base. Breaking ball down and away, ball 1. Another breaking ball over the inside part of the plate, 1-1. That pitch had some great movement to it. A high fastball fouled off for strike 2. Called strike 3 over the upper part of the zone on the outside corner. Strike 1 to Peter Frates on a sinking fastball. Soft foul lined down the third baseline for strike 2. Checkswing on a breaking pitch in the dirt, ball 1. Swing and a miss on a rising fastball for strike 3. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts. 11 pitches/9 strikes. Bottom of the 1st: Jacoby Ellsbury flies out to left. Dustin Pedoria cruises into second base with a deep double to the wall. Jason Varitek with a hard shot liner through short into shallow right. Pedroia to third. Wily Mo Pena strikes out looking. Eric Hinske strikes out swinging. Last edited by Zen653; 03-02-2007 at 06:20 PM.

03-02-2007, 06:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,580	Top of the 2nd: Two curveballs low and outside for a pair of strikes against Joe Ayers. Ball 1 in the dirt outside, 1-2. Just off the outside edge for ball 2. Chopped liner to second for the out. Slider captures most of the plate for strike 1. Outside corner for strike 2 (fastball.) Right down the middle but slightly high for ball 1. (cut fastball.) Strike 3 high in the zone. Strike 1 on a sideways S-shaped breaking pitch. Really weird looking but extremely effective. Strike 2 on a fastball over the outside part of the plate. Changeup in the dirt for ball 1. Pop up near first, Pedroia hauls it in for the out. 13 pitches/9 strikes Bottom of the 2nd: Jeff Bailey hits a homerun to LF to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. David Murphy with a single up the middle. Murphy steals second. Brandon Moss flies out to the warning track in right. Ed Rodgers strikes out. Jacoby Ellsbury with a triple to deep right. Incredible speed! That would have been a double for most other players. Murphy scores. 2-0 Red Sox. Pedroia flies out to second. Last edited by Zen653; 03-02-2007 at 06:39 PM.

03-02-2007, 06:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,580	Top of the 3rd inning: New Hampshire's Kyle Jackson now pitching for the Red Sox. I can't see what's going on in the game anymore, as NESN has decided to show an interview of Matsuzaka in Japanese. There we go, now back to the game. Jackson has apparently retired the side in order. Bottom of the 3rd inning: Varitek walks. Pena grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. Hinske strikes out.

03-02-2007, 07:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,580	NESN switched over to college hockey after the 3rd inning.

03-03-2007, 01:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,580	It looked like a double break, yes. If Matsuzaka can consistently throw a pitch that breaks twice, then he's going to be downright unhittable. Whatever it was, he only threw it that one time.

03-03-2007, 12:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
AutomatedTeller Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 544	wow. I didn't know it was possible for a pitch to break twice...

03-03-2007, 04:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
cjelephant Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 47	Thanks for the description - I'm out of NESN land - so your description marks the first time I've seen the new Ace pitch. So far so good!!

03-03-2007, 05:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,580	The Matsuzaka performance was aired again today after the Red Sox/Phillies game. On that pitch that appeared to break twice, I watched it again more carefully, and I guess I would liken it to a 10 to 5 curveball with a knuckleball's final flutter. Sort of like what happens to a top-spinning tennis ball when you slice it in midair.

03-03-2007, 10:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
AutomatedTeller Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 544	cool. Thanks, Zen. I watched that, too, but not near close enough to see when that pitch came.

03-04-2007, 06:34 AM	#11 (permalink)
ingagi Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 30	Great to see Dice-K and Beckett just doing their things. Did anyone else here get spammed by a 'kaneweber' in a private pm by any shot?? what the-?

03-04-2007, 10:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
AutomatedTeller Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 544	not I, though maybe he let me by because I'm a mod. I'll see if it's an issue on other boards.

03-11-2007, 01:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
AutomatedTeller Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 544	NESN's broadcast needs some shaking out, too. They have Henry and Werner on, and their mikes are too low and the crowd mikes are too hight. Tracschel looks bad - first two guys for the Sox have reached base. btw - the Sox have what might be the opening day lineup today: Lugo Youk Papi Manny Drew Lowell Tek! Coco Cora