From the desk of “Are you kidding me?” Department comes word that Daisuke Matsuzaka imploded on the mound once again today against the Tampa Bay Rays. I know it is spring training and the games are meaningless. It is a time for everyone to strengthen their arms and build towards opening day. I understand that, but this is getting ridiculous.
How long does a team put up with this kind of performance? You hear that teams, like the New York Mets, are considering eating the $12 m contract of Oliver Perez; maybe it is time for the Red Sox management to sit down and discuss options for Dice-K. It’s just not working here. He is a train wreck and this is too talented a team with plenty of options to stroll this man out to the mound every fifth day.
Did you see how bad he was today? Well, let me tell you. He pitched 3.2 innings, allowing 5 hits and 5 earned runs. Fabulous, don’t you think? Even better, the first two batters he faced walked, on 4 straight pitches each. Evan Longoria (notorious Sox killer) hit the first strike he threw into centerfield to drive in one run. On the next pitch, Matt Joyce hit a sac fly for run #2. By the time he mercifully left the game, the Sox were down 5-0.
Thanks to back to back home runs in the ninth inning by Oscar Tejeda (the Beast of spring training) and Drew Sutton, Daisuke will escape without being charged with the loss. The Sox still ended up losing 8-6 on a 2 run walk off homer by Tampa Bay’s Robinson Chirinos. That’s a moot point; this is about a pitcher who has done nothing in the past 3 years to demonstrate that he can still pitch in the big leagues.
Bottom line is enough is enough. There is no way to trade him with that outrageous salary, besides, who the hell would want him?! Please, for the love of God, stop the madness before my head explodes! I don’t care who they put on the mound, just not Daisuke. Pull a name out of a hat, I don’t care. Anything would be better than what we have now.
Sorry Daisuke, you have worn out your welcome, at least with this Sox fan. Maddening, I tell you, maddening.
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