Dice-K a pre-madonna??

[Junkyard Dawg]

Seemingly un-biased article on Dice-K's shoulder troubles (from WEEI no less!  ):

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/red-sox/alex-speier/2009/07/28/worlds-apart-red-sox-and-matsuzaka-struggle-find-middle

I see everyone is jumping down the guy's throat and calling him a pre-madonna, wow that'd be a first huh???  but maybe he's onto something, look at his inning totals per season when he was in Japan, he's used to throwing like 300 innings a season, maybe the Sox should have more cultural sensitivity?

[CoachBo]

Dice-K's taken up singing?

[kozlodoev]

It's "prima donna", not "pre-madona" 

[CDawg834]

Seemingly un-biased article on Dice-K's shoulder troubles (from WEEI no less!  ):

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/red-sox/alex-speier/2009/07/28/worlds-apart-red-sox-and-matsuzaka-struggle-find-middle

I see everyone is jumping down the guy's throat and calling him a pre-madonna, wow that'd be a first huh???  but maybe he's onto something, look at his inning totals per season when he was in Japan, he's used to throwing like 300 innings a season, maybe the Sox should have more cultural sensitivity?

It could explain the injuries/stamina issues, perhaps, but wouldn't explain his stubborn refusal to throw strikes and challenge hitters.  Nibbling the corners may work in Japan, but it doesn't work in the AL East.  This has been an issue with Dice-K ever since he came here, so I would think this throwing regimen may have a little to do with his issues, but is not the whole problem.

Also, TPs to the above posts, from a fellow member of the spelling/grammar police

[MrTripleDouble10]

It's "prima donna", not "pre-madona" 

Thanks for this reply... TP for you!

[cavman]

Diva-K thinks he has a different (better?) anatomy than U.S born (and Latin born too I guess) players.  Why don't the other guys, on the training regimen have the same weak shoulders that Diva-K does?
His success last year had something to do with lots of run support and a bullpen that was overworked in his starts since he rarely made it out of the 6th inning because he refused to pitch aggressively.  The goal is to get guys out, lots of guys, so your team can have a chance to win.  As a premiere starter, he should be going 6+ (at least) every time out.
Diva-K, not the Red Sox' program, created his shoulder weakness.

[Redz]

It's "prima donna", not "pre-madona" 

Thanks for this reply... TP for you!

Patti Labelle, was pre-Madonna

[Junkyard Dawg]

I dunno what you guys are talking about, i was asking whether or not Madonna is indeed a rip-off of our own Daisuke Matsuzaka... think about it.

[Chris]

While I want to say Dice-K is being an idiot here (OK, he is for talking about this to the press, instead of keeping it in house), but I have a feeling a lot of old-timers (Dick Radatz leading the charge) would side with Dice-K on this. 

[libermaniac]

It's "prima donna", not "pre-madona" 

Thanks for this reply... TP for you!

Patti Labelle, was pre-Madonna

LOL Redz.  TP for you ... like you freaking need another one 

[Greenbean]

I understand both sides here. The Soxs have a TON invested in this guy, and Dice-K wants to return to what made him successful. Unfortunately, the employee usually gets the shaft here. I kind of hope the Sox take a leap of faith here though and let him train his own way. He may be right, and the Sox could have a potentially dominant pitcher. Hey, he can't get any worse.

Just think about this though. If Josh Beckett were asked to completely change his between start regimen, I am not sure he would respond well either. He changed it somewhat coming to the Sox, but we are not doing anything as different as marathon throwing sessions.

[Pucaccia]

I agree with DiceK.  If you look at the history of Japanese pitchers coming to MLB, they tend to not last long.   I don't think one training philosophy works for every pitcher.  Dice K should have a training regimen that suites his purpose.

[jdpapa3]

I don't know about the total phsyiological differences between races, but it's possible that the Japanese pitchers' arms and muscles form differently because of their early years of playing baseball. I don't know if that's an eloquent way to put it, but I do feel that there is a ways to go in terms of optimizing pitching usage.

[Greenbean]

I agree with DiceK.  If you look at the history of Japanese pitchers coming to MLB, they tend to not last long.   I don't think one training philosophy works for every pitcher.  Dice K should have a training regimen that suites his purpose.

Exactly I completely agree. The only thing is that regimen looks rediculous compared to American pitchers and I'm sure it is viewed as detrimental to the health of the arm. Being the Moneyball era I would think someone has done a study on the long term effects of this training technique using Japanese pitchers' statistics.