Matsuzaka headed to Florida for long rehab
Daisuke Matsuzaka played catch yesterday, making 60-foot throws in his first baseball activity since June 19, the day before the Red Sox placed him on the disabled list for the second time this year. Matsuzaka will fly to Fort Myers, Fla., Monday and begin an extended shoulder strengthening program.
Yesterday and Monday are the only dates the Sox have attached any significance to in regards to Matsuzaka’s rehabilitation. The Sox have one objective, and time will not be determining factor.
“This time,’’ manager Terry Francona said, “we’re going to make sure that he’s ready to pitch.’’
Francona met with Matsuzaka “for a pretty lengthy amount of time’’ Thursday. They mapped out his regimen, making certain not to rush Matsuzaka. Francona intimated Matsuzaka may miss a long period.
“We have something in our head that we maybe think is realistic, but it’s a long way off,’’ Francona said. “It’s going to be entirely based on how he’s doing.’’
Matsuzaka will follow a conditioning program from strength coach Dave Page, and organizational pitching coach Glenn Gregson will monitor the throwing portion of his program. The Sox hope Matsuzaka will also improve his overall physical shape while strengthening his shoulder.
Before he went on the disabled list, Matsuzaka acknowledged he felt frustrated and was searching for answers. After an 8-2 loss to the Braves June 19, Matsuzaka’s ERA had risen to 8.23 and opponents were hitting .378 against him. Francona could tell the inability was wearing on Matsuzaka.
“I think he probably needed a little bit of a mental break, too,’’ Francona said. “That was probably it more than anything, just the idea of giving him some time off.’’
“He’s that kind of good,’’ Francona said. “You give Felix a run of righthanders, and it might be a quick inning.’’
The switch paid off immediately, when Bay blasted a two-out, RBI double over Ichiro’s head in right on the first pitch he saw. Bay finished 1 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts, and his at-bat rejuvenated him.
“I’ve gone through spells before where you kind of lose your contact point,’’ Bay said. “You’re just really flailing. You’re fighting yourself. Today, I finally felt again like I was just hitting. I was trying so hard before. ‘I gotta get a hit.’ Today was a lot more relaxed. That’s how it’s supposed to feel. When you don’t have it, it’s the hardest thing to get back.
“Felix Hernandez wouldn’t have been my ideal guy to try to bust out of a slump against. But some days are better than others.’’
Even while Bay suffered his worst slump since he joined the Red Sox, Francona said he couldn’t see a difference in his demeanor.
“I don’t know that you could ever tell,’’ Francona said. “There’s nothing different. When we win, he’s happy. He’s never very loud. Maybe that will change with his newfound citizenship.’’
On Thursday, Bay, born in Trail, British Columbia, was sworn in as a US citizen at Faneuil Hall.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet,’’ Bay said. “I guess it might not hit me until they ask me to serve in the Army or something like that. I’m very proud to do it. That being said, I’ll always be Canadian.’’
While studying for the citizenship test in the clubhouse, Bay threw out questions for his teammates. One of them was asked to name one war that took place in the 1800s. “Everyone got the War of 1812 right,’’ Bay said.
Lowell will return after the All-Star break. Lowell has been running with a trainer, and he said he feels better running than he has in two months.
Lowell said he could play now if he had to, but rest is what will allow him to play most frequently and effectively down the stretch. Lowell wants to avoid what happened last season, when he had to be removed from the playoff roster.
Lowell said the Synvisc shot he received last week felt like “a good oil change.’’ The pain and tightness in his hip also was relieved by having fluid drained. Lowell can receive a shot every 6-8 weeks, but he hopes he won’t need another one this year.
