Matsuzaka is good, but he can be much better

Am I the lone Red Sox enthusiast who has mixed feelings about Daisuke Matsuzaka?

On the positive side, the Japanese import has already won 30 games since making his Major League debut last year. This season, after last night's victory at Baltimore, Dice-K is 15-2 with a 2.77 ERA. He has allowed just 97 hits in 126.2 innings.  Unlike 2007, when he was prone to the long ball (he served up 25 dingers in 200.1 innings), this year he has permitted only eight, and opposing hitters are batting .213 against him.

On the negative side, watching a Matsuzaka start requires preparation for devoted Red Sox fans. If you have high blood pressure, take your medication. If you are concerned about your hair transforming from its natural color into a salt-and-pepper look, stay away from your TV. Dice-K likes to pitch behind in the count, walk batters and escalate his pitch count in the early innings. It is rare when he retires the side in order, and somehow he manages to escape from most jams that he creates.

The Pepto Bismol was flowing again last night at Camden Yards. Matsuzaka allowed base runners in each of his five innings. He walked five, surrendered six hits and threw 105 pitches. Yet the Orioles scored just two runs as the Red Sox earned a 7-2 triumph.

Dice-K's typical adventure started in the first inning, when he served up a base hit to Brian Roberts and a walk to Nick Markakis to open the game before retiring the next three batters.  The Orioles scored both of their runs on RBI singles to Ramon Hernandez and Luke Scott. Baltimore loaded the bases with one out in the fourth via two singles and a walk, but Matsuzaka struck out Melvin Mora and induced an inning-ending pop out from Aubrey Huff.

While the Orioles squandered multiple scoring opportunities, the Red Sox knocked around Daniel Cabrera, who was charged with six runs and nine hits over 4.1 innings.  A two-run home run by Kevin Youkilis, his 24th of the season, and  a solo home run and an RBI double from Jason Varitek, were key blasts.

Fortunately, the Red Sox topsy turvy bullpen was on good behavior, tossing four scoreless innings - one each from Javier Lopez and Manny Delcarmen with two frames by Justin Masterson in between.

Dice-K's start last night left Red Sox fans saying the same ole' thing. If only he would attack hitters like Jon Lester, keep his pitch count down and provide seven quality innings per start. Eventually, the law of averages will track him down, and he will not keep stranding so many base runners.

Don't be mistaken. I think that Matsuzaka is one of the better right-handed starters in the American League. His presence gives the Sox a legitimate chance to win every time he steps on the mound. For Dice-K to emerge as one of the top overall starters in the Major Leagues, he must be more economical with his pitches and make a seven inning appearance commonplace and not a pleasant surprise.