Dice-K willing to pitch in Classic
Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Most Valuable Player of the inaugural World Baseball Classic two years ago, told the Associated Press in Tokyo that he wants to help Japan try to repeat as the champion.
"I'll accept the offer if I'm asked to play," Matsuzaka said. "I'll pick up the pace of my training in December so that I won't have to scramble at the last minute."
Matsuzaka went 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in three starts at the 2006 tournament, earning the victory in the championship game against Cuba. He signed with the Red Sox nine months later.
Matsuzaka has won 33 games in his two seasons in Boston, including an 18-3 mark with a 2.90 ERA last season, which was good for a fourth-place finish in the AL Cy Young voting.
"I won 18 games, but in the United States, people severely look at the way you perform," Matsuzaka said. "I had a fulfilling season, though, with both good and bad experiences."
The second World Baseball Classic begins March 5.
please.......... DON"T !!!!!
I really hope the WBC gets its games put on at marquee times this time and not 3AM. If it was on when people are out at the bar, say friday/saturday night, it would be much better for marketing and awareness of this cool concept.
Also, I think my preference would be to play this during an extended all-star break and not during spring training.
I think this year DK should put his American team first and skip the event all together.
Whether you want to admit it or not, but that trip (and Mike Timlin) this past season to Japan cost the Sox the Division
I don't like this World Basseball Classic. It shouldn't be played with MLB players at all!
When he pitches, it's long and boring!
Wonderful, now he will be worn out by September. It's painful enough watching him pitch in a regular season. He's pushing his luck
Dice-K should represent his country in the Classic if he chooses. The Sox know that and I expect they won't try to stop him , nor should they. He's a class act, a pure talent, and makes the Sox a ton of money both here and abroad; he also gives them a leg up in negotiations with future Japanese talents, as they see his success here and how well he is received by the fans and the club.
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