Tokyo vs. Kyoto: Sox-Jays Gamer VII

Tonight our enigmatic import, Tokyo-born, takes the hill against Tomokazu Ohka, a Kyoto kid.  "Kyoto" actually means "capital city" -- it formerly held the imperial throne of Japan.  This honor was later transferred to the city of Edo (meaning "eastern capital"), which then renamed itself "Tokyo".   Kansai Prefecture (which contains Kyoto) and Tokyo have a long-standing rivalry, not unsurprisingly, now manifest in the battles between the Hanshin Tigers and the Yomiuri Giants, the Sox-Yanks of Japan.

Some more history, also baseball-related: Ohka pitched in Japan for the Yokohama BaySox and was purchased by the Red Sox in 1998 (Kyoto's "local" team is considered to be the Hanshin Tigers, though the Tigers hail from Kansai).  Ohka also holds the honor (I think) of being the only pitcher the Sox have ever traded for someone convicted of attempted murder, sent to the Expos in 2001 for Ugueth Urbina.  Matsuzaka, as is more famously known, went to high school in Yokohama and then played for the Seibu Lions; we all know his recent history, pretty much.  Tonight they face off in only the fourth matchup between two Japanese starters in MLB history.  As a (strange?) point of fact, the previous three were all lost by the same man, Mac Suzuki.

Use this as your game thread for tonight's action.  Lineups from the Globe after the jump.

(HT to Wikipedia for the facts)

Red Sox

1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Coco Crisp, CF
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Eric Hinske, 1B
9. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

-- Daisuke Matsuzaka SP (3-2, 5.45 ERA)

Blue Jays

1. Alex Rios, RF
2. Adam Lind, LF
3. Vernon Wells, CF
4. Frank Thomas, DH
5. Troy Glaus, 3B
6. Lyle Overbay, 1B
7. Aaron Hill, 2B
8. Sal Fasano, C
9. John McDonald, SS

-- Tomo Ohka P (2-3, 5.50 ERA)

Comments

[Lar]

As a Fantasy owner for DMat, anyone knows what's going on? I haven't watched him pitched, but he's killing my ERA..

[Josh SF (D1)]

Besides the first game against NY where he was touch-and-go throughout, it's been one brutal inning per game where he just loses it completely and gives up a bunch of walks and a couple of hits. His FIP is only 3.26, which would normally indicate bad luck in terms of hits falling in and/or poor defense behind him. Of course, in this case, it's not so much bad luck as the way in which the runs are getting scored...everything he gives up seems to come in bunches, while his overall numbers remain strong.

He fixes whatever keeps messing up in these innings and he'll be fine. He's striking out better then a guy an inning, and opponents are slugging a tiny .331 against him. Walking a few too many, but that's a symptom of the problems he's been having; he loses control for an inning and walks a bunch, then settles down and doesn't issue many more free passes. It'll likely work out.

[LocklandSF]

He's got a serous case of 1 really bad inning-itis, let's hope he turns it around tonight.

Do we know if the roof is open tonight?

[Tyrel SF]

To-kyo and Kyo-to are syllabic inversions of each other. I never noticed that before.

[Steve]

The thing that sucks is that he's been beating himself.

Even in the "1 bad inning-itis" moments, teams haven't been hitting the ball hard off of him often. Three walks and a squbbling single an inch out of the first baseman's glove, and there's two runs. A sac fly, there's the third. Crap like that.

[Steve]

Good to see Youks getting some rest, as well.

Pitchers have been kicking the shit out of him lately, he's been doing his best Kendall/Biggio impression.

[ToddSF]

I sure hope DM can put together a solid, consistent outing tonight. That would go a long ways to boost whatever confidence he may be lacking so far. And another D-Pod dingah would be nice too.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Given Ohka's tendency to give up lots of homers, this would be a great time for Pedroia to crush two in two games. But I wouldn't put money on it...I'd be almost as happy if he gets on base two or three times.

Nice to have something of a bench this year, too, so a resting Youk doesn't spell "black hole." Hinske's not great defensively at any of his positions, but he's at least passable in all of them. And a career .808 OPS vs righties coming off the bench definitely has its usage.

[Tyrel SF]

Word. I like having Hinske around too. Useful guy, and he seems to ave a good attitude, from what I've heard from him.

[Devine]

Let's go 'zaka!

(Let's go offense before that, even.)

[Devine]

Yay! MLB.TV broadcast just went from Blue Jays' network to NESN.

[Josh SF (D1)]

...wasn't Gerry Davis the guy who blew that call at second base against New York a few days ago? He's our homeplate umpire?

...Not good, Julio. Not good.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Ohka. Works. So.....slowly. 2 on for Manny after Ortiz rips a single over Hill's head, 1 out.

[Devine]

Wild pitch eliminates the double play...cool...2nd and 3rd for Manny, 2-2 pitch.

[Devine]

2-1 pitch (correction).

Groundball scores Crisp from 3rd. Papi still at 2nd.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Manny hits a chopper to short, only thing MacDonald can do is go to first. Thanks to the WP, it's 1-0 Boston. Be a really, really nice time for Drew to stop slumping...though I'd take a sac fly, too.

Or they can fall behind and then intentionally walk him. That works too, I suppose. Make him pay, Lowell. Make him pay.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Oh wait, there are two outs. I'm dumb. Heh...c'mon Lowell...

[Tyrel SF]

Bases clogged up for Mike Lowell, c'mon Mikey.

[Devine]

This is good stuff even if they don't score anymore. 3 walks this inning.

[Tyrel SF]

I meant bases clogged for Tek. C'mon Toast.

[Rain SF]

I thought Ohka was overpriced. Then again, starting pitching was the theme of the offseason.

Bases loaded. Come on, Tek.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Umm...well, he walked another one. Tek with the bases loaded and the chance to help Boston break the game open for the second night in a row.

[Tyrel SF]

"This is good stuff even if they don't score anymore.'

They've gotta take advantange of these situations. I'm so tired of us letting pitchers off the hook.

[Devine]

Like they did last night, Tyrel?

[Rain SF]

..and just when Tyrel says that, Tek pops up.

Bleah.

[Josh SF (D1)]

3-1 to Lowell, last two nowhere close.

And Varitek swings at the 3-1 for reasons I fail to understand and pops it up harmlessly. Ugh. I don't see any reason to swing on the 3-1 when he clearly can't find the f*cking strike zone. Dammit.

[Tyrel SF]

Does anyone here use GameDay Audio? Anyone know what broadcast they use, or is there a method to it?

[Devine]

29 pitches. Well on their way to going the standard route for the Red Sox (unlike last night). Battle the starter (but don't score much), then feast on the pen (already weak tonight). Gotta keep making him throw a few more innings, though.

Let's go, Matsuzaka!

[Josh SF (D1)]

I have mlb.tv but it lets me use GD Audio...right now, it's Toronto's broadcast. Dunno how it decides, though.

[Rain SF]

Now its time for the Dice!!! Let's see if John Farrell adjusted his mechanics and if the side session helped.

Come on, Dice.

[Devine]

I think you can actually pick your broadcast, Tyrel. On Boston's team page, click on the Multimedia link (upper left) and you can see the audio (both home and away) available.

[Rain SF]

Rios singles. Hmm.

At least Dice seems to be finding the strike zone.

Now its time to pitch from the stretch.

Oh boy.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Well...at least he's throwing strikes...I missed the single, but it was well-hit. Shouldn't really happen on a 1-2 pitch, but still; so far this year, when he's throwing strikes he's pitching well.

Ooooh. Nasty fastball on the outside corner to strike out Lind. Very nice.

[Devine]

3-pitch K on Lind (after Rios singles).

[Rain SF]

And Dice-K strikes out Lind on fastballs.

Wells is up.

[Devine]

Sweet! Wells pops up (high curve?).

[Tyrel SF]

Thanks for the info.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Remy saying Farell spent a lot of time trying to get Matsuzaka to slow down when he's coming out of the stretch. Says he was getting out in front of his arm, which would explain why he sometimes had no idea where the ball was going.

Gets the always-tough Wells to pop out to Lugo.

[Rain SF]

Gameday is showing that Dice-K is only throwing between 88-92 mph.

He's spotting it well, though.

[Devine]

Walk to Thomas. 1st and 2nd, 2 out.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Falls behind Thomas, second pitch fastball misses all the way across the plate and inside. Third fastball is just a bit low on the outside corner. Wells fouls the 3-0 fastball on the outside corner. Looks at strike 2 at the knees. Ball 4 low and outside...sh*t. C'mon, get it together...looks better then last time, at least, but he's still putting himself in bad positions where some BS grounder through the infield will hurt him again.

[Devine]

Welcome, Tyrel.

[SF]

Another popup. Clean(ish) inning, no runs at least!

[Devine]

Glaus pops up. Hard-hit single, K, pop up, walk, pop up.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Strike 2 to Glaus was supposed to be low and in, but ended up low and away and he missed. Actually a pretty good pitch...just not really the one he wanted.

Glaus pops the 1-2 up harmlessly to Pedroia. I feel pretty good about this...he wasn't usually missing by much, and even in his good starts typically got better as the game went on.

Would still like to see them knock Ohka around a bit, just to be sure.

[SF]

Ohka cannot throw strikes. TAKE EVERYTHING!!!

(I'd make a terrible manager...)

[Josh SF (D1)]

Ohka still can't find the strike zone. His slider's got lots of movement on it, too, it's just never anywhere close. And since he hasn't even located his fastball lately...no reason to swing.

[SF]

Full count to Hinske, with a couple of foul balls thrown in. At the very least, a 7, 8, or 9 pitch at-bat. I've lost count.

And he walks.

[Devine]

Hinske will see at least 8 pitches. Keep going...

[SF]

Brilliant bunt by Pedroia, and Ohka does something inexplicable, trying to flick the ball (while rolling on the ground) to first base. It eludes Overbay and goes towards the stands. Hinske now at third, and the Droid at second.

[SF]

Come on, LFRS.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Wow. Already 4-0 NY and the first inning isn't over yet. I can't for the life of me figure out how a team just rolls that badly, that often, over that many years. I mean Boston owns Baltimore, but not ALL the games are blowouts.

Hinske walks. That looks to be a recurring theme tonight.

Pedroia drops a very nice bunt down the first baseline, which Ohka swipes at with his barehand towards first. He like, rolled it towards Overbay...but missed badly. Weird play, runners on first and third and Pedroia gets credit for a hit.

[SF]

LFRS grounds out, productively, at least, to Hill at second, scoring Hinske and pushing Droid to third. Good job.

[rootbeerfloat]

Naive question - does Pedroia make the call to do that or does he get strict instructions from Francona?

[Josh SF (D1)]

Oh, apparently they were on 2nd and third. My bad.

Lugo does a nice job hitting the ball towards second. Just what you want your leadoff guy to do there. 2-0 Boston.

[Rain SF]

Pedroia!

I just looove this kid.

[SF]

Crisp with a horrid at-bat, falling behind early in the count, then grounds to short weakly, Pedroia can't score. Blech.

[SF]

That was a bunt for a base hit, RBF. Not a designed play.

[Josh SF (D1)]

No idea, RBF. I don't remember the last time I saw him bunt, though, and a sacrifice doesn't make a whole lot of sense there. I wonder if he saw Overbay playing back and did it on his own.

Crisp with the most useless ab imaginable. This is why he doesn't belong batting f*cking second...

[SF]

Papi picks up Crisp, lining one over third for a double. Great at-bat, working the count full after falling behind, then going with what Ohka gave him. 3-0 Sox.

[Devine]

Ortiz! Doubles to left and it's 3-0.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Papi comes through! Is it just me or is he going opposite field a lot more often this year?

[Josh SF (D1)]

Heh, you can hear the ump sometimes. That first ball to Manny was "about 3 inches outside." Now he's saying, "You may be yelling at the wrong guy." I'm not actually sure if it is the ump...kinda funny though.

[Rain SF]

Now Dice has run support.

All he needs is to pitch effectively.

Come on Manny.

[Devine]

29 pitches PER INNING for Ohka thus far.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Damn. Ohka actually threw a series of very good pitches to Manny there. He's got a wicked slider when he can throw it near the plate, and everything that ab was at the knees away. 3-0, Ohka's at 58 pitches, and the pen's already warming up. Great start.

[SF]

It's come up in the Yankee game thread how scary the Yankees will be in June. Glad we don't have to wait for our team to be scary until June, right?

[SF]

Solid work by Daisuke on Overbay, though at least one pitch was badly mislocated. Blows the fastball by him on 1-2 for the K.

[SF]

Behind 3-0 on Hill very quickly, no location. Uh-oh.

[SF]

Hill takes the 3-0 for a strike, then a good slider (I think) is fouled off for strike two. And a third strike on the inside corner is taken! Nice comeback.

[Rain SF]

Dice strikes out Overbay. Nice.

[Devine]

Heck yes!

[Josh SF (D1)]

Yeah, SF, but apparently our team is only going to fall apart. Because it just HAS to get injured like it did last year, and everyone knows Boston tanks in the summer...

Can't blame 'em for being optimistic. Still, weren't we getting snickered at in the early going as our rotation mowed through a weak early schedule? And, uh...pretty much everyone since?

Falls behind Hill 3-0, but comes back and gets him looking at a nasty fastball on the inside corner. He looks good so far, real good. (knocks on wood)

[SF]

Fantastic low fastball for another K!

[Devine]

That ruled.

[Rain SF]

Three straight Ks!!!

Woohoo Dice K!

[SF]

Drew strikes out looking on a low breaking ball, borderline call though Daisuke got a couple so no complaining.

[Devine]

I'm willing to believe he's just in a weird slump, but Drew has just been hideous recently.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Wow. That second pitch swinging was just nasty; cutter/slider thing that looked like a fastball til he started to swing and then just darted down and out of the zone. And strike 3, yet another nice fastball on the inside corner. Awesome.

And it seems like he hasn't broken out much of the soft stuff yet, either. Lots of fastballs, cutters and two-seamers, the occasional breaking ball, but lots of stuff he doesn't seem to have used quite yet.

Called strike 3 to Drew that he didn't like. Davis had a tight zone last year; doesn't look that way right now. Borderline-low calls for both sides to this point.

[Rain SF]

And Gameday is showing me that Ohka threw to pitches in the K zone, and got ball calls.

Is this accurate?

[Josh SF (D1)]

...my feed's a little behind, it looks like. That and I talk too much. Lowell doubles, as Jerry Remy gives dating advice. Apparently if the lady is wearing a big bonnet, make sure you complement it. If she has a scorpion tattoo, ditto. Orsillo says you have to be a good listener, and Remy agrees, but advises against rubbing her head like Manny did.

Our TV guys are so much better then everyone else's.

[SF]

Davis is now all over the place with his zone. Interesting to see how it changes over the next couple of innings. The 1-0 call to Hinske was really off, the ball looked at least 3-4 inches off the inside of the plate, then the 1-1 pitch appears better, but it's called a ball. Oy.

[Rain SF]

Just three innings, and already 71 pitches for Ohka.

That bullpen is gonna be exhausted by tomorrow.

[Josh SF (D1)]

Rain, there have been borderline calls going both ways so far, like SF said, so it might be. I don't really know.

Didn't see that called 3rd to Hinske...but hitters from both teams don't seem very happy. Ohka's definitely finding the plate better now, though...hopefully the Sox don't regret not knocking him out when they had the chance.

[Rain SF]

Strike zone is all over the place today. Yikes.

Off-topic: who's Jerry Remy? (Bonnet? Scorpion?)

[Rain SF]

Rios walks. This kid is really something. I think he's gonna become a good outfielder for the Jays.

Not to mention he flubs flyouts into homers in Fenway. :P

[Rain SF]

Lind really battling Daisuke. Dice is hitting his usual 94-mph mark now.

[Devine]

Grounded to 2nd, Pedroia has no play at 2nd base, throws to 1st. 2 out, man on 2nd.

Vernon Wells batting (yick).

[SF]

Wells hits it hard at Lugo, third out recorded.

[Devine]

Wild pitch. Rios to 3rd. Next pitch is a ball. 3-1. Hmmmmmmm....

[Ayuh - SF]

Rain- Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo are the Sox TV announcing team. Remy is a former 2nd baseman for the Sox, and also a Massachusetts native.

Sometimes their commentary gets a bit, ah, off-topic; they were discussing a speech that Orsillo was supposed to give.

[Devine]

Nice.

DM at 53 pitches after 3. Not terrible, not great.

[Rain SF]

Another nice inning by Daisuke.

After that, comes the fateful fourth inning....

Will he lose control? Will he lose the strike zone?

Stay tuned! :P

[Tyrel SF]

I wonder if Remy really dates girls with bonnets and scorpion tattoos.

Dice K has 53 pitches through 3. That's pretty high.

[Ayuh - SF]

Remy was on the '78 team, if I recall correctly.

[Rain SF]

Wouldn't that be weird?

"Hey, nice scorpion tattoo. Goes well with the bonnett."

Ohka gets Pedroia and Lugo. Now on to Coco Crisp.

Coco still makes me think he can start his own breakfast cereal brand. :P

[Devine]

Demarlo Hale...infinitely better than Dale Sveum.

[Devine]

First clean inning for Ohka. 85 pitches through 4.

[Andrew F]

Okha throws strike three twice to Coco Crisp, then throws him a pitch right down the middle. Coco promptly grounds to 2nd.

[Ayuh - SF]

Devine- don't forget the immortal Wendell "Send-him-in" Kim!

To be honest, 3rd base coach is a thankless job. The only time anyone notices is when he screws up.