Projo Sox Blog

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki at last night's All-Star Game spoke up on behalf of his countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka, predicting that Matsuzaka would get through his latest struggles and dismissing the implication that they are linked to Dice-K's participation in the World Baseball Classic. Matsuzaka was the MVP of the WBC in the winter, but he's been totally ineffective for the Red Sox and is currently serving his second stint on the disabled list (though Matsuzaka has cast doubt on the notion that there is anything physically wrong with him).

"If you think that's the reason he's struggling right now, if people are blaming the WBC, that's not very smart," Suzuki told The Boston Herald's John Tomase. "People who are saying that are using it for a reason just to have a reason. They're not really thinking it through. I believe he thinks it's not due to the WBC, too. People who say that are just grasping for a reason."

Suzuki was also directly critical of Red Sox management, including Terry Francona, for implying that Matsuzaka's WBC play had hurt Boston's pitching staff.

 Tags  Daisuke Matsuzaka Ichiro Suzuki

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