The Not So Odd Couple

Hideki Matsui receives his 2009 WS ring at Yankees 2010 home opener.

Despite a language barrier, it didn't take Hideki Matsui long to fit in with his New York Yankees teammates upon his arrival in 2003. He quickly became one of the favorite teammates of many of the players, including the captain, Derek Jeter.

So it comes as no surprise that the two are now working together to help the victims of Japan's devastating earthquake and Tsunami of 2011. Jeter, who recently held a major fund raising event for his Turn2 Foundation, will help aid the survivors of Japan's Tohoku region by participating in baseball clinics and a home run derby (move the right field fence in).

Jeter compared the victims' plight, especially the children, to those of 9/11.

''The kids will never forget what happened,'' Jeter said. ''But if they can come out and have fun and enjoy themselves through the sport of baseball, that's what we're trying to do here.''

15,000 people were killed when tragedy struck on March 11, 2011. Among other fund raising events will be a baseball game Sunday at the Tokyo Dome. The teams will be made up of players from the Tohoku region. In non-related news, Jeter said he needed "a break from the game", but hopes to return at some point as an owner.

Some Vintage Matsui

With tonight's rainout in Detorit, it's time to take a look back at some early Hideki Matsui. I don't mean Yankee rookie Hideki Matsui, but Japanese All-Star Godzilla. Here goes deep against Al Leiter in a 1998 All-Star game in Japan.



A young guy named Kei Igawa strikes out Godzilla, not once, but twice. Like that would happen today.

Rich Harden is Back

But will he stay healthy? The oft-injured A's right-hander dominated the Red Sox over 6 innings in the A's 5-1 win in Japan this morning. Harden struck out 9 and limited the Sox to 3 hits. Manny Ramirez belted a solo home run for the Sox only run. And of course Manny stood there for 20 minutes admiring it. We continue to wonder why no one puts Manny on his ass for this classlessness.

Jon Lester struggled with his control in 4 innings of work, allowing 4 runs. Emil Brown blasted a 3-run homer off of him in his 2nd game as a member of the A's. Chris Denorfia and Jeff Fiorentino added RBI singles.

The game also marked the return to the big leagues of ex-Red Sox hero Keith Foulke. Foulke, in his second stint with the A's, hadn't pitched in the majors since 2006.

MLB finally got something right too. They're reimbursing the A's for the monies lost by not playing the games in Oakland. The A's generally sell out when the Red Sox are in town.

Steve Phillips was doing the game with Gary Thorne and finally got something right. With the A's leading 5-1 in the 8th, Phillips stated "you or I might run here, but the A's don't run often."

For a team that struggles to score runs, abiding by the moneyball rules is absolutely absurd. If you can't score, you should hit and run, steal, whatever it takes. Billy Beane is a great talent evaluator, but his logic is just dumb.

Boston	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Pedroia, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	.250
Youkilis, 1B	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.143
Ortiz, DH	3	0	0	0	1	1	3	.000
Ramirez, LF	4	1	1	1	0	3	2	.333
Lowell, 3B	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	.375
Moss, RF	3	0	0	0	0	3	1	.250
a-Casey, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Varitek, C	4	0	0	0	0	3	1	.000
Crisp, CF	3	0	1	0	0	2	0	.333
Lugo, SS	2	0	1	0	1	0	1	.500
Totals	31	1	5	1	3	13	11
a-Grounded into a double play for Moss in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Crisp (1, Casilla). HR: Ramirez (1, 6th inning off Harden, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Ramirez 4; Lowell 2; Crisp 2; Lugo. RBI: Ramirez (5). 2-out RBI: Ramirez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ortiz; Lugo; Ramirez. GIDP: Pedroia; Casey. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Lugo (1, 2nd base off Harden/Suzuki).

Oakland	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Buck, RF	5	0	0	0	0	1	5	.000
Ellis, 2B	3	1	0	0	1	1	0	.143
Barton, 1B	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.000
Sweeney, M, DH	4	1	2	0	0	0	1	.500
Brown, E, LF	4	1	1	3	0	0	1	.250
Crosby, SS	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.333
Hannahan, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	2	1	.375
Suzuki, C	3	1	2	0	1	0	1	.375
Denorfia, CF	2	0	1	1	0	1	0	.500
a-Cust, PH	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.000
1-Fiorentino, PR-CF	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	1.000
Totals	33	5	9	5	4	7	10
a-Walked for Denorfia in the 6th. 1-Ran for Cust in the 6th.
BATTING 2B: Crosby (1, Lester), Suzuki 2 (2, Aardsma, Corey). HR: Brown, E (1, 3rd inning off Lester, 2 on, 1 out). TB: Sweeney, M 2; Brown, E 4; Crosby 2; Hannahan; Suzuki 4; Denorfia; Fiorentino. RBI: Denorfia (1), Brown, E 3 (4), Fiorentino (1). 2-out RBI: Denorfia; Fiorentino. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Buck 2. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Crosby (1, fielding). DP: 2 (Crosby-Ellis-Barton, Ellis-Crosby-Barton).

Boston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Lester (L, 0-1)	4.0	5	4	4	3	4	1	9.00
Aardsma	1.2	1	0	0	0	3	0	0.00
Lopez	0.1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0.00
Delcarmen	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Corey	1.0	2	1	1	0	0	0	4.50

Oakland	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Harden (W, 1-0)	6.0	3	1	1	3	9	1	1.50
Casilla (H, 1)	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Foulke (H, 2)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Embree	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

WP: Foulke.
Pitches-strikes: Lester 83-47, Aardsma 20-14, Lopez 10-4,
Delcarmen 18-11, Corey 14-12, Harden 95-60, Casilla 17-12,
Foulke 15-10, Embree 12-10.
Ground outs-fly outs: Lester 3-5, Aardsma 2-0, Lopez 0-1,
Delcarmen 2-1, Corey 1-2, Harden 3-6, Casilla 1-0, Foulke 0-2, Embree 2-0.
Batters faced: Lester 20, Aardsma 6, Lopez 2, Delcarmen 4,
Corey 5, Harden 23, Casilla 4, Foulke 4, Embree 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Lopez 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B: Tim Timmons. 2B: Paul Nauert. 3B: Rick Reed.
Weather: 68 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 2:51.
Att: 44,735.

Rich Harden is Back

But will he stay healthy? The oft-injured A's right-hander dominated the Red Sox over 6 innings in the A's 5-1 win in Japan this morning. Harden struck out 9 and limited the Sox to 3 hits. Manny Ramirez belted a solo home run for the Sox only run. And of course Manny stood there for 20 minutes admiring it. We continue to wonder why no one puts Manny on his ass for this classlessness.

Jon Lester struggled with his control in 4 innings of work, allowing 4 runs. Emil Brown blasted a 3-run homer off of him in his 2nd game as a member of the A's. Chris Denorfia and Jeff Fiorentino added RBI singles.

The game also marked the return to the big leagues of ex-Red Sox hero Keith Foulke. Foulke, in his second stint with the A's, hadn't pitched in the majors since 2006.

MLB finally got something right too. They're reimbursing the A's for the monies lost by not playing the games in Oakland. The A's generally sell out when the Red Sox are in town.

Steve Phillips was doing the game with Gary Thorne and finally got something right. With the A's leading 5-1 in the 8th, Phillips stated "you or I might run here, but the A's don't run often."

For a team that struggles to score runs, abiding by the moneyball rules is absolutely absurd. If you can't score, you should hit and run, steal, whatever it takes. Billy Beane is a great talent evaluator, but his logic is just dumb.

Boston	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Pedroia, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	.250
Youkilis, 1B	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	.143
Ortiz, DH	3	0	0	0	1	1	3	.000
Ramirez, LF	4	1	1	1	0	3	2	.333
Lowell, 3B	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	.375
Moss, RF	3	0	0	0	0	3	1	.250
a-Casey, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Varitek, C	4	0	0	0	0	3	1	.000
Crisp, CF	3	0	1	0	0	2	0	.333
Lugo, SS	2	0	1	0	1	0	1	.500
Totals	31	1	5	1	3	13	11
a-Grounded into a double play for Moss in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Crisp (1, Casilla). HR: Ramirez (1, 6th inning off Harden, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Ramirez 4; Lowell 2; Crisp 2; Lugo. RBI: Ramirez (5). 2-out RBI: Ramirez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ortiz; Lugo; Ramirez. GIDP: Pedroia; Casey. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING SB: Lugo (1, 2nd base off Harden/Suzuki).

Oakland	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Buck, RF	5	0	0	0	0	1	5	.000
Ellis, 2B	3	1	0	0	1	1	0	.143
Barton, 1B	3	0	0	0	1	1	1	.000
Sweeney, M, DH	4	1	2	0	0	0	1	.500
Brown, E, LF	4	1	1	3	0	0	1	.250
Crosby, SS	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.333
Hannahan, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	2	1	.375
Suzuki, C	3	1	2	0	1	0	1	.375
Denorfia, CF	2	0	1	1	0	1	0	.500
a-Cust, PH	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.000
1-Fiorentino, PR-CF	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	1.000
Totals	33	5	9	5	4	7	10
a-Walked for Denorfia in the 6th. 1-Ran for Cust in the 6th.
BATTING 2B: Crosby (1, Lester), Suzuki 2 (2, Aardsma, Corey). HR: Brown, E (1, 3rd inning off Lester, 2 on, 1 out). TB: Sweeney, M 2; Brown, E 4; Crosby 2; Hannahan; Suzuki 4; Denorfia; Fiorentino. RBI: Denorfia (1), Brown, E 3 (4), Fiorentino (1). 2-out RBI: Denorfia; Fiorentino. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Buck 2. Team LOB: 8. FIELDING E: Crosby (1, fielding). DP: 2 (Crosby-Ellis-Barton, Ellis-Crosby-Barton).

Boston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Lester (L, 0-1)	4.0	5	4	4	3	4	1	9.00
Aardsma	1.2	1	0	0	0	3	0	0.00
Lopez	0.1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0.00
Delcarmen	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
Corey	1.0	2	1	1	0	0	0	4.50

Oakland	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Harden (W, 1-0)	6.0	3	1	1	3	9	1	1.50
Casilla (H, 1)	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Foulke (H, 2)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Embree	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00

WP: Foulke.
Pitches-strikes: Lester 83-47, Aardsma 20-14, Lopez 10-4,
Delcarmen 18-11, Corey 14-12, Harden 95-60, Casilla 17-12,
Foulke 15-10, Embree 12-10.
Ground outs-fly outs: Lester 3-5, Aardsma 2-0, Lopez 0-1,
Delcarmen 2-1, Corey 1-2, Harden 3-6, Casilla 1-0, Foulke 0-2, Embree 2-0.
Batters faced: Lester 20, Aardsma 6, Lopez 2, Delcarmen 4,
Corey 5, Harden 23, Casilla 4, Foulke 4, Embree 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Lopez 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B: Tim Timmons. 2B: Paul Nauert. 3B: Rick Reed.
Weather: 68 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 2:51.
Att: 44,735.

Theo Takes His Cut

With the Red Sox and Angels scheduled to open the season in Japan, Sox GM Theo Epstein took the opportunity to take a shot at the Yankees yesterday.

"Kevin Brown and Mike Mussina spent the whole time bitching about it ... by the time the Yankees team got back from the trip they were all using it as a crutch."

"The research that we did on the Japan trip from the teams that have gone previously," Epstein said, "is one or two bad apples can spoil the lot. As long as we keep the Brown-and-Mussina approach from infiltrating our clubhouse, I think (we) will get out of it as a team-building experience."

We think we can speak for all Yankees fans when we say, "shut your hole Theo!". We won't even comment on Kevin Brown, who was and is a dirtbag in our book. And we know Moose can be a baby, but he's our baby, and we'll be the ones to rag on him.

Theo, you know damn well you have had steroid users in that clubhouse, you have the Queen Bitch in Schilling, and the laziest player in baseball in Manny. So once again, from all of us...

Theo Takes His Cut

With the Red Sox and Angels scheduled to open the season in Japan, Sox GM Theo Epstein took the opportunity to take a shot at the Yankees yesterday.

"Kevin Brown and Mike Mussina spent the whole time bitching about it ... by the time the Yankees team got back from the trip they were all using it as a crutch."

"The research that we did on the Japan trip from the teams that have gone previously," Epstein said, "is one or two bad apples can spoil the lot. As long as we keep the Brown-and-Mussina approach from infiltrating our clubhouse, I think (we) will get out of it as a team-building experience."

We think we can speak for all Yankees fans when we say, "shut your hole Theo!". We won't even comment on Kevin Brown, who was and is a dirtbag in our book. And we know Moose can be a baby, but he's our baby, and we'll be the ones to rag on him.

Theo, you know damn well you have had steroid users in that clubhouse, you have the Queen Bitch in Schilling, and the laziest player in baseball in Manny. So once again, from all of us...