FORT MYERS, Fla. - A more normal spring training than last year's Daisuke-palooza?
"Yes," Daisuke Matsuzaka said in English after throwing a mere dozen pitches over two shutout innings against the Minnesota Twins last night in an 8-3 Red Sox win in their exhibition opener.
"Being watched was a source of stress," Matsuzaka said through translator Masa Hoshino. "Knowing that the pairs of eyes that are on me at all times has been reduced feels a lot more comfortable."
Then, in something of an afterthought, he said: "I don't really like being watched in practice that much, either."
Matsuzaka gave up a single to Denard Span to start the Twins' first - shades of Boston College's Johnny Ayers, who doubled on Matsuzaka's first pitch in a Sox uniform last spring. But after a fly out, Matsuzaka converted a comebacker by Michael Cuddyer into an inning-ending double play.
Delmon Young, the Twins' big offseason acquisition from Tampa Bay, singled with one out in the second, but again Matsuzaka induced a double-play ball, this one by Mike Redmond to shortstop Julio Lugo.
The Sox got consecutive home runs off righthander Kevin Slowey in the fourth inning from Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek, with Youkilis hitting his with a man on base.
Bringing their 'B' game
The Sox have added a "B" game against the Twins for Monday (10 a.m.) at City of Palms Park. Josh Beckett will remain behind and throw in the game, saving him a bus ride to Jupiter, where Kyle Snyder is scheduled to throw three innings against the Marlins. Manager Terry Francona, who will also make the trip to Jupiter while leaving pitching coach John Farrell to monitor Beckett, said the Twins approached the Sox about adding the game. With the Sox needing to get in as many innings as possible during a schedule abbreviated by the pending trip to Japan, Francona said he welcomed the extra game . . . Outfielder Bobby Kielty, talking about the departure of Torii Hunter from the Twins, said Hunter reminds him of David Ortiz in terms of the things they say. "Some things David says you laugh at not because it's so funny, but because you're surprised that David even knows some of the stuff he says," said Kielty. "Like the other day, he said, 'You act like you're another Nostradamus.' We cracked up because we didn't think he knew who Nostradamus was."Long man
Bartolo Colon had another session of long toss with Farrell, who said the former Cy Young Award winner is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session Tuesday. Colon is scheduled to throw three bullpens, every other day, and then a couple of sessions against live hitting, putting him on track for his first game action March 15. That's assuming, of course, he has no setbacks physically. Farrell and Francona had a positive read on Craig Hansen's early work in camp, including a scoreless inning Thursday night against Northeastern (one hit, two strikeouts). "The way he's carrying himself, the way he's going about his work," Farrell said when asked the difference between last year and this. "Work ethic has never been an issue for Craig. I think he feels more comfortable with who he is in this organization and in this big-league camp. Fundamentally, [Thursday] night, I think was a very strong indication that some of the subtle changes he's gone through with his arm action has created a little more deception for the hitter, allowed him to throw on a downward plane a little bit more consistently, and we're seeing the depth and power and late actions of the slider he showed." Francona: "I think he's grown up. That doesn't mean it all clicks in this week. He's young, and did not necessarily make the best decisions all the time. I hope [the maturity] shows up on the field." . . . The Sox' crack public relations staff noted this was the first time the team has played Feb. 29 . . . Five pitchers on the bubble for a spot in the bullpen are out of options, meaning they cannot be sent to the minors without clearing waivers.
