Jacoby Ellsbury managed to flag down Jeff Francouer’s liner and slow his momentum before sliding into the base of the Monster.
(Barry Chin/Globe Staff)
Red Sox Notebook
Passing on Matsuzaka’s next turn
DL trip remains likely scenario
Jacoby Ellsbury managed to flag down Jeff Francouer’s liner and slow his momentum before sliding into the base of the Monster.
(Barry Chin/Globe Staff)
With his ERA up to 8.23 and his record 1-5 after a disastrous start Friday night against the Braves, Daisuke Matsuzaka was called into manager Terry Francona’s office yesterday morning and told he was being removed from the rotation, for now.
Francona, along with pitching coach John Farrell and general manager Theo Epstein, had stayed late at Fenway Park after Friday’s game and decided “that going forward next week that we were not going to start Daisuke,’’ Francona said.
Although Farrell on Friday night had pinned Matsuzaka’s slump on “No structural issues. No health issues. It’s a matter of more consistent location,’’ that had apparently changed by yesterday morning.
“When he got here, we called him in to talk about that, and I think it became apparent in the meeting that . . . we need to get him looked at physically,’’ Francona said.
By the time last night’s 3-0 victory was complete, Matsuzaka already had had his MRI, which revealed “no structural change, which is really good,’’ Francona said.
“We don’t have anything official to announce because we really need to let this thing settle down,’’ the manager added. “I will say, I don’t think it’s any surprise, there’s some weakness that we’re going to have to fix. By that I mean it’s going to have to be addressed. But there’s is no official announcement tonight.
“We’ve been fighting this all year. It’s been hard, and I know I keep coming back to the WBC and it’s probably not a real popular thing in baseball to say that, but he didn’t really have a chance to get a foundation. He ramped up to try to get people out probably before he was ready, physically.
“It’s happened to pitchers where they’re pitching in earnest before their bodies or their arm are ready to do that. I think we’ve paid the price for that. We’ve been playing catch-up. We did what we thought was right, to shut him down earlier. I think we all see that it’s not really getting better. It’s been a struggle. We’re trying to address that.’’
The Sox can go slowly in determining a course of action. John Smoltz already was scheduled to pitch in Matsuzaka’s spot in the rotation Thursday.
It appears likely that Matsuzaka is headed for the disabled list for the second time this season, although a roster move isn’t urgent since the Sox have an offday tomorrow. Matsuzaka missed five weeks with a mild right shoulder strain after lasting just an inning against Oakland April 14.
Since coming off the DL, Matsuzaka has struggled with his command and been inconsistent with his velocity. After holding opponents to a .211 batting average last season, when he went 18-3, that average is .378 this season. Friday, when he allowed a home run on his first pitch and three hits over his first four pitches, was simply the latest setback in a difficult seasons.
Despite Farrell’s comments Friday night, the physical issues did not surprise Francona.
“I’ve watched him for three years now,’’ said Francona. “It looks to me like he’s struggling to get the velocity that he could get before a little easier.
“So again I think that’s consistent with when he came back after the WBC. He ramped up pretty quick to pitch in games that meant a lot to him. I understand that. And there wasn’t that base to build off for the entire season. No, I’m actually not surprised.’’
Matsuzaka was unavailable for comment yesterday. But Francona said, “I do think he is searching. From talking to him, this has been tough for him. I certainly acknowledge that and I think he does, too.’’
High on sliding scale
Jacoby Ellsbury helped Josh Beckett emerge unscathed from the third inning, making an outstanding sliding catch before banging into the left-field scoreboard, denying Jeff Francoeur a likely double. “That was a nice play,’’ Francona said. “That’s a ball that’s in no-man’s land. Because of his speed, he has the ability to get there. But because of his athleticism he has the ability to catch it and slide. That made it even a better play.’’ . . . It was the second shutout of the season for the Sox. They also blanked the Yankees, 7-0, June 9 . . . The 2-hour-11-minute game was the shortest nine-inning contest for the Sox this season . . . Beckett tossed his third career regular-season shutout, matching the three he’s thrown in the postseason. This was his first in the regular season with Boston; he also shut out the Angels in Game 1 of the 2007 AL Division Series . . . Beckett has not allowed an earned run in four of his last six starts, starting May 23. In that time he is 4-1 with a 1.44 ERA with 42 strikeouts . . . With two doubles, Jason Varitek passed Nomar Garciaparra for sole possession of eighth place on the Sox’ all-time list with 281 . . . Kevin Youkilis’s single in the sixth inning was the first by the Sox since the eighth inning Wednesday.Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com. 
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
