During a trying season on the pitcher's mound, Daisuke Matsuzaka took some refuge in the batter's box, as he and other Red Sox pitchers took batting practice earlier this week in preparation for this weekend's interleague series in Philadelphia.
Matsuzaka is the final piece in Boston's starting rotation riddle - the one who hasn't put it in gear. In his last start, Matsuzaka was caught on camera looking down at his fingers. The team has said nothing about a possible injury. Yet it's something to watch for during Matsuzaka's next start, Saturday night.
After all, the Red Sox have a roster decision looming as early as Tuesday, when John Smoltz may make his first start for the Sox, against the Marlins. The obvious possibility to create a spot for Smoltz is a trade involving No. 5 starter Brad Penny. Another would be for Penny to move to the bullpen and Daniel Bard to head back to Pawtucket.
Matsuzaka certainly has been the least productive of the Sox' five starters, but given his status and contract there's no reason to believe he would be demoted. Matsuzaka also has a full no-trade provision in his contract, and while there might be interest in him, given that he's in the third year of a six-year, $52 million deal, the Sox are committed to him after he won 33 games in his first two seasons, including 18 victories with a 2.90 ERA in 2008. The Sox could option Matsuzaka to Pawtucket, but only with the pitcher's permission.
Matsuzaka didn't get off to a good start with the Sox this year when he decided to play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic after an offseason in which the Sox were unable to monitor his workouts. Matsuzaka pitched very well in the WBC, earning his second straight tournament MVP award.
When he returned to Boston, Matsuzaka didn't seem like his old self. After two poor starts, including April 14 when he lasted one inning and allowed five hits and five runs to the Athletics, his velocity had dipped into the mid-80s and the Sox decided to shut him down, placing him on the disabled list. Against his wishes initially, they put him on an arm strengthening program. Matsuzaka told the media he was not injured, but the Sox diagnosed his condition as a shoulder strain.
Matsuzaka didn't pitch in a game again until May 22, and while his velocity is back in the low-to-mid-90s, he's not been able to get through the sixth inning in any of his starts.
Thus, Saturday's outing is important to the Sox on many fronts. Matsuzaka certainly needs to earn his keep in a competitive rotation, which not only has Smoltz nearly ready, but Clay Buchholz in Triple A.
But the focus earlier this week turned from an underachieving pitcher to one holding a bat and hitting home runs in batting practice.
"I love it so much. I'd love to hit every time I'm pitching," said Matsuzaka through interpreter Masa Hoshino.
"When I signed my first contract in Japan, I wanted to sign in the Central League because I wanted to be able to hit," said Matsuzaka, who instead played for the Pacific League's Seibu Lions, for whom he was able to bat only in interleague games.
"So when I was going to pitch in America, I wanted to sign with the National League so I could hit," said Matsuzaka, who is 0 for 6 in interleague play.
Matsuzaka once homered in an interleague game in Japan. He recalled feeling, "It's not easy to hit a home run, so it would be along the lines of pitching a two-hit shutout. When I hit a home run in an interleague game in Japan I was definitely happier than if I'd pitched a shutout. I got the win in that game but the thing I remembered most was hitting a home run."
Matsuzaka took four rounds of batting practice with the other pitchers and took about 16 swings.
"It's hard to tell whether or not I still have the same swing, but it's not something I keep a close eye on either," he said.
What he's hoping to do is get his act together so he's no longer looked upon as the lone ranger of the Sox' rotation. Maybe he will hit and pitch his way out of his slump.
Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. 
