He sees slight difference

TORONTO -- Tomo Ohka was not available in the Blue Jays clubhouse before last night's game. Reporters who cover the team say the former Red Sox righthander customarily makes himself scarce when there are numerous Japanese reporters on the premises, like the contingent here to see Daisuke Matsuzaka pitch against Ohka tonight.

Chances are, Ohka might not have been able to put into words what this game means to him. It goes well beyond the bit of trivia that this is the first time Japanese-born pitchers have faced each other in a major league game since June 19, 2002, when Ohka, then with Montreal, faced Mac Suzuki of the Royals.

When Ohka goes to the mound tonight, he is likely to take with him some of the rawest of emotions: anger, resentment, jealousy, hurt, and a burning desire to settle a score.

Matsuzaka is a hero in Japan. Ohka, who was pitching in minor league obscurity when the Japanese team that owned him essentially packed him off to the Red Sox under murky circumstances, feels he has never been given his due in his homeland. When he signed with the Sox, not a single Japanese reporter came to spring training. And even though he now has 50 big-league wins, more than any other Japanese pitcher but Hideo Nomo, he is mostly an afterthought in the Japanese media.

"Some media have funny questions," Ohka told the Toronto Star last week. "When I faced Ichiro [Suzuki] at Boston, five years ago, the first question [was], 'How do you feel about Ichiro?' First question.

"I pitched in the game. I started. I lost. But, 'How do you feel about Ichiro?' So like that, for example. No respect."

The difference, Ohka acknowledges, is that Ichiro and Matsuzaka and Hideki Matsui were established stars in Japan before they came here. He wasn't.

When the Jays were in Boston a couple of weeks ago, the Star reported, Ohka was asked about Matsuzaka by a member of the Boston media. He answered in a loud voice and perfect English. The sarcasm could have split the reporter's notebook in two.

"Matsuzaka is a great pitcher," Ohka said. "Matsuzaka is a special pitcher for the Japanese people. I am not so special."

Tonight, Matsuzaka will try to pitch better than he has in his last three starts (2-0, 8.50 ERA, 18 H, 17 ER). As usual, the game will be televised in Japan. Ohka? He will be pitching for a taste of something he has never known. Respect.