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Word by Word in April 2007
April 27, 2007
I was careful about the homeruns just like any other batters.
“I was careful about the homeruns just like any other batters.”
Matsuzaka held Matsui with ideal location and control. This match up with Matsui was the first time since the 2002 Japan Series game. Except for one walk, his out pitches to Matsui were low curveballs that he popped up to center.
April 11, 2007
I'm just dying to strike him out in anyway possible.
“As far as Ichiro-san goes, I don't care about the fastball, because I'm just dying to strike him out in anyway possible.” Matsuzaka against ichiro first time in MLB
April 11, 2007
He was angry with me.
"I was thinking of throwing a fastball outside the strike zone for a ball. But after talking with the catcher, Jason Varitek, I threw a curveball for a strike. After I crossed-up Ichiro-san on the first pitch, his demeanor suggested that he was angry with me."
For his first pitch, Matsuzaka chose an inside curveball for a strike, not a fastball outside the strike zone as he had said he would.
April 5, 2007
But surprisingly I felt normal.
“I was looking forward to today’s game very much. But surprisingly I felt normal."
After the first pitch in the MLB game win.
