Daisuke Matsuzaka News

Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues as only he could. Wearing sunglasses and with his famous dreadlocks in a ponytail, the Los Angeles Dodgers' slugger apologized to fans and teammates during a news conference Friday afternoon.

The Dodgers have struggled to score runs over the last month but kept winning. That's a sign that their real strength is pitching, not Manny Ramirez and the lineup around him.

A Cuban pitcher considered by many baseball scouts to be the No. 1 left-handed prospect in the world left his hotel and vanished before the first ball was thrown at a tournament in the Netherlands, leaving his whereabouts a mystery, a spokesman for the Dutch team said Friday.

Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will be going to Florida on Monday to begin a strengthening program that the Red Sox hope will get him back to the big leagues later this season.

So what do you think Daisuke Matsuzaka would rather have right now -- his World Baseball Classic title and corresponding MVP award or his regular spot in the Red Sox rotation? It's not really a fair question.

Suddenly, Brad Penny looks like a heck of a lot more than just bait. In fact, he looks more like a very big fish.

May we agree on one thing? Daisuke Matsuzaka was not worth $102 million. There's a lot of financial craziness out there in modern professional sport, but we have not yet reached the point where a third or fourth starter is worth a total investment of $102 million for six years.

When they have needed him - the day after Daisuke Matsuzaka's disastrous start in Oakland, in a duel against Cliff Lee in Cleveland - Tim Wakefield has been there for the Red Sox .

Mike Lowell often talked his way into the lineup during his first three seasons with the Red Sox.

Every team spends most of its offseason trying to build pitching depth. Then, from spring training on, they usually watch it disappear.

CC Sabathia left the New York Yankees' game yesterday against Florida in the second inning with tightness in his left biceps.

May we agree on one thing? Daisuke Matsuzaka was not worth $103 million. There's a lot of financial craziness out there in modern professional sport, but we have not yet reached the point where a third or fourth starter is worth a total investment of $103 million for six years.

Not long ago, Daisuke Matsuzaka was a darling of Red Sox Nation, an international idol who won 18 games last year.

A suddenly-thin rotation might mean Boston Red Sox hurler Brad Penny isn't going anywhere.

Matsuzaka's early troubles might seem inconsistent with the pitcher who last year went 18-3, but his win-loss record can be a bit misleading.

Struggling Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka went on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a shoulder strain and could be sidelined much longer.

On Thursday, the Red Sox [ team stats ] closer went on a national radio show and said, if things did not work out down the road with the Red Sox, he would be open to playing anywhere, including the Yankees .

Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will skip his next turn in the rotation with weakness in his right shoulder, and the Japanese phenom could be headed to the disabled list.

When Justin Masterson began to warm up during the first inning Friday night, a game started by the struggling Daisuke Matsuzaka, Terry Francona developed a pit in his stomach.

Nate McLouth homered on the game's first pitch and Kenshin Kawakami beat more-heralded countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka as the Atlanta Braves topped the Boston Red Sox 8-2 Friday night.