Celebrity Hairstyle, Fashion, Tattoo And performance

Friday, May 25, 2007

Dice-K is looking like...Vicente Padilla Again

Dice-K was shelled tonight, giving up 5 runs in the 4th against the Rangers. Thankfully for Red Sox fans everywhere however, the Sox bats came alive and pulled Dice-K out of trouble and into the winner's column with 2 runs in the 5th inning. So now Matsuzaka is the proud owner of a glowing 7-2 record, but I am sure he has a hollow feeling when he thinks of how his season has gone thus far. Dice-K's record is a greater reflection of Boston's run scoring prowess than of his own pitching ability. Now, this is not to say that he is a bad pitcher: far from it. Matsuzaka has had his moments of brilliance thus far, especially his past three starts leading up to tonight. What has been maddening though, is his inconsistency. What it boils down to are two issues, both of which were exhibited tonight:

1. Control Consistency: It seemed that Dice-K had turned the corner on his erratic ways, not surrendering a walk in his previous two starts. He walked 3 batters tonight however, marking the fifth time in ten starts this season that he had walked at least three. This does not even include his 4 hit batters and one wild pitch that he has also thrown this season. Dice-K is going to have to be more consistent in his location, because the extra base runners he has been allowing are part of his second problem...

2. The Big Inning: Dice-K has not shown the ability to pitch his way out of a tough situation. Rather, he has shown a propensity to lose his composure and give up runs in bunches. Don't believe me? In all seven games this season where Dice-K has given up more than one run he has had at least one inning where he gave up multiple runs, including five times this season where he has allowed three or more runs in a single inning.

If Dice-K is going to win on a consistent level, he is going to have to be able to pitch out of a jam and not put himself into a jam by allowing extra baserunners. While he has been able to get away with his early troubles this season against the Mariners, Rangers, and the reeling Yankees, if he is still having these same troubles come October the Indians, Angels, or Mets will gladly beat the tar out of him. The question remains then: what does the future hold? Will Matsuzaka pitch at the level of his previous three starts, or will he spend the entire season oscillating from game to game between the level of a staff ace and the level of an average 4th starter?

And so this leads us back to the matter at hand: who is Dice-K looking like? The answer is one that you have heard before, and it reflects the fact that Dice-K has regressed in light of his most recent outing. So lets give a big hand for our first ever return guest, Dice-K is looking like...Vicente Padilla!