Daisuke Matsuzaka: Making Early Impressions

Daisuke Matsuzaka faced live batters for the first time this spring, throwing his fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. The 44-pitch session was by most accounts very impressive, and Matsuzaka seemed pleased with his performance. "Generally, it is easier for me to pitch against a batter," he said, "compared to when I pitch in the bullpen." That's good news for owners planning to role the dice on the 26-year-old right-hander, whose side-session work has drawn rave reviews in camp.
Source: MLB.com