Don't call it a comeback

In reading and watching all the hand wringing that went on when Daisuke Matsuzaka lasted all of an inning in his first start since coming off the DL, it struck me how quick we forget.

We forget his 15-12 record last season in his FIRST YEAR in MLB, his 204 innings pitched, and his 32 starts. Now, I'm sure the talent in Japanese baseball is good, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say there are no A-Rods, Vladdys, or Ryan Howards he ever had to face over there. Which makes what he did in his First season in big boy ball even more impressive.

To do it in a Seattle or Arizona or even Los Angeles is one thing; to do it in a fish bowl like Boston, in the beast that is the AL East is even more impressive.

As for 2008, all the man has done so far is go 8-1 with a 3.46 era and strike out 56. Yes, he's walked 41 batters, throws entirely too many pitches, and I'm sure makes Tek want to stuff him in a locker every now and then.

Bottom line is, he's a gamer, he's got mad skills, and if Boston wants a repeat of last season, we need him to sack up and be the front of the rotation pitcher we need to go with The Commander.

Tomorrow night in Houston he gets a chance to make us all forget about that last start when he goes up against Runelvys Hernandez and the Astros. Yes, the great Runelvys Hernandez; personally, I think Dice can take him.

I just hope Tek pulls him aside and issues the following instructions:

"Look, that guy Lee? He can mash. And that guy Berkman? You throw ANYTHING remotely close to the plate and I'm playing tether ball with your head after the game. We clear? Good. Go get 'em, kid."

My adopted sis Tex will be present for 2 of the games this weekend, tomorrow and Sunday, which I'm positive will bring the boys luck. So if you see a slightly deranged looking woman charging the mound and waving a Texas flag at Beckett?

Don't be worried; she means no harm.