Projo Sox Blog

BOSTON -- If the Red Sox had any concern that Daisuke Matsuzaka was fully committed to keeping his shoulder and his body strong, they certainly don't have to worry any more.

Matsuzaka began the training portion of his disabled list stint Monday morning at the team's spring-training facility in Fort Myers, Fla., and so far it has been like a mini-spring training. He kicked off his efforts with a shuttle-running drill, just like players at the outset of spring training, and then he moved on to short distance runs.

The Red Sox felt these were the types of endurance and strength-building drills Matsuzaka never performed when he spent much of the spring with Team Japan preparing for the World Baseball Classic.

"That was the stuff he missed when he was in the WBC," manager Terry Francona said.

The Red Sox are pleased with what they've seen from Matsuzaka so far, both in the effort and in the results.

"If you think about it -- you go down to Fort Myers, in the middle of July, at 7:30 in the morning, and the first day you run the shuttle, and the second day you run the mile-and-a-half? He did a good job. We're really proud of his effort," Francona said.

Matsuzaka is in the midst of his second disabled list stint of the season, officially to treat shoulder weakness. The pitcher, 28, has been ineffective so far this year, and has been replaced by John Smoltz in the rotation. There is no timetable for his return.

Right now, Matsuzaka is throwing from flat ground at a distance of 60 feet, in an effort to gradually build strength in his shoulder. When they're confident in his strength, the team will allow him to turn up the velocity.

"We're going to get him stronger before we turn him loose. Then, when we turn him loose, we're going to really turn him loose. We'll let him go," Francona said.

-- DANIEL BARBARISI

 Tags  Boston Red Sox Daisuke Matsuzaka Dan Barbarisi John Smoltz Terry Francona

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