Based on the boos at Fenway last night and this poll showing almost 70% of Red Sox fans want Matsuzaka traded or released, it seems Dice-K has worn out his welcome in Boston. The media is calling for his head on a platter today, take a look at some of the stories:
The time has come to trade Dice-K (Extra Bases)
Last night’s debacle was hardly a surprise and there’s not a shred of evidence to suggest Matsuzaka will be a reliable pitcher in the AL East any time soon.
Have the Red Sox gotten their money’s worth from Dice-K? (ProJo)
As I’ve written before, the huge advantage that Red Sox GM Theo Epstein has in Boston is that he can afford, literally, to make mistakes.
Situation quite Dice-y (Boston Herald)
When Matsuzaka walked the Green Mile to the dugout, he was literally booed off the field. It was worse than the booing rained upon visiting villain Johnny Damon, who in the first inning hit the first pitch he saw from Matsuzaka for a home run. In fact, it’s quite possible that no Red Sox player in recent memory was booed as badly as Matsuzaka was last night.
Dice-K’s numbers last season and this season are very close to that of John Lackey. These two pitchers are going to be the scapegoats for the Red Sox early season struggles because of the hefty price the Sox paid for their services. When Red Sox Nation turns on a player they rarely let them back in good graces. Like it or not, Daisuke Matsuzaka is the new Julio Lugo in Boston and it may be impossible for him to shed the label.
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