Japan Is Going To Implode on Wednesday

This Wednesday night is the biggest event is Japanese sports since the 2002 World Cup. In Fenway Park, Daisuke Matsuzaka is starting for Red Sox against the Mariners, where he will pitch against Ichiro. You can bet everyone in Japan is going to be watching, and that I will be liveblogging. Mothra (Boston’s answer to the Yankees’ Godzilla; I refuse to call him Dice-K) vs. Ichiro could be the single most important at-bat in the history of Nihon no Yakyuu. If this video is any indication, Matsuzaka has the advantage over Mr. Suzuki. This video is from when Matsuzaka was 18, and his stuff was still too nasty for Ichiro. Three at-bats, three strikeouts.

I’ll be liveblogging the game…expect weird Japanese stuff throughout.

UPDATE: When I said “Mothra (Boston’s answer to the Yankees’ Godzilla; I refuse to call him Dice-K) vs. Ichiro could be the single most important at-bat in the history of Nihon no Yakyuu“, I meant how the Japanese media was going to treat it. It has no bearing on my opinion of either player. And three at-bats in one game, admittedly, isn’t exactly an accurate analog. But 34 AB, 8H, .234 BA is accurate (which is shown near the end of the video).

Also, Kenji Johjima, the only Japanese catcher in the majors and a rising star, also plays for the Mariners. This should make Wednesday night’s game even bigger in Japan.

UPDATE #2 (4/10/07): Mike Plugh of Matsuzaka Watch has an article that describes really well the importance of this matchup in Japan. Trust him, he’s much more of an expert on the subject of Japanese baseball. These two players are truly icons across the Pacific. As if the current hype isn’t enough, Felix Hernandez will be pitching for Seattle on Wednesday.