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Dice-K's comments
The following is the transcript of Daisuke Matsuzaka's press conference with the Japanese media after last night's game, translated by the Globe's Daigo Fujiwara.
Q. You pitched your first major league complete game. How did you feel to be on the mound when the game is over?
A. Personally, it is not a big deal [to pitch a complete game], but I am happy to help out our bullpen in this 16-game [no off-day] stretch. And to be able to feel the moment of end of the game myself, as a pitcher, it is a good feeling.
Q. How do you describe today's pitching performance? And your impression of last year's American League champ, the Detroit Tigers?
A. In the pregame meeting [with coaches and catchers] we talked about focusing more on pitching tempo and locations of pitches, and not so much emphasis on my velocity. Tigers have aggressive hitters. I tried to pitch my best pitches early in the count. As a result, I was bale to stay ahead of the hitters, and was able to keep a good tempo. I knew that the Tigers are a good team. From the top of the order, everyone has very sharp swings. I was far from perfect, and when I was unable to finish the batters myself, the infielders helped me out a lot [with their defense].
Q. What is your thought on [unwritten rule of starting pitcher's] 100-pitch count ceiling? Did you have conversation with the manager about whether you were going to pitch the ninth? Terry Francona said he was going to pitch you in the ninth even without the four runs on bottom of the eighth, do you feel that you earned the manager's trust?
A. I have a rough idea of my pitch count on the mound. But I am not counting or anything. No, we didn't have any conversation before the ninth inning today. I wouldn't say I have earned managers trust. Trust is something that you need to build it up and if I keep pitching more and more games like I did today, I will earn that trust. I am not
there yet.
Q. Sixteen ground outs. No walks, but fewer strikeouts. Was that part of your plan? Were you satisfied with the result?
A. No, I didn't go out of my way to get ground outs. It is a team that I faced for the first time and I, for the most part, followed [catcher Jason] Varitek's lead. I think as I face those batters more times, I will be able to make adjustment to each hitters myself. I was trying for strikeouts whenever I had chance [just like I did in other games], but some balls that I missed on execution were hit, and some end up as ground outs. I think my pitching is coming along a little better, but I am not satisfied. I am not easily satisfied. I
am little more comfortable with differences [between the United States and Japan] in the balls and mounds. I try not to think too much about that stuff.
Q. You said some of your teammates told you not to shave after having pitched a good game [last week in Toronto]. Are you going to keep your beard? And I noticed you had your yellow glove today instead of the red one you usually use, is there a special meaning?
A. [Smiles] I don't really believe in that stuff, but maybe I will leave the beard alone. I tend to change my equipment around, and it doesn't really mean anything special. I'm not the type of player who wouldn't change glove because I pitched well, or change the glove
when pitched badly.
Q. Couple of times the fans gave you big ovations when you had two strikes, there were even "Let's Go Daisuke" chant. What do you think about that?
A. Yes, with the two strikes, it did happen a few times and I did notice that people wanted me to strike them out. I wasn't able to finish them off a lot of times, which was disappointing to me, too. When I came out [from the dugout] in the top of ninth, the fans ovation was very special and I felt their presence behind me. It definitely gave me an extra push.
