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Matsuzaka’s Feats of Strength

09.24.09 at 9:55 am ET

Daisuke Matsuzaka just kept backing up and backing up and backing up. He started his long-toss at an ordinary distance but kept adding increments of 30 feet while unleashing throws that streaked across the outfield and into the mitt of bullpen catcher Mani Martinez.

Return throws required a couple of bounces to get to the pitcher. Onlookers were dazzled.

“He was throwing from the Party Deck!” one teammate joked of an area of Kauffman Stadium that resides well beyond the right field bleachers.

Ultimately, Matsuzaka moved to a distance that he estimated at roughly 100 meters, or approximately 330 feet, before winging the ball across the outfield and hitting the mitt of Martinez.

It was a testament to the fact that Matsuzaka’s right shoulder feels extremely strong in the aftermath of his consignment to Fort Myers to strengthen and condition. The notion was further affirmed in a 60-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday.

“I think it’s mostly about just being able to throw and really get after it with confidence,” Matsuzaka said through translator Masa Hoshino. “That feeling of strength that I have in my shoulder is really good, and that’s allowed me to really stretch it out with the distance this year.

“Even at those long distances, I feel really confident with the strength of my shoulder and also about really swinging my arm through really hard.”

The display suggested that, at a time of year when pitchers are often on fumes, Matsuzaka has the sort of power that characterized him at the time when he entered the majors in 2007. His demonstration prior to Wednesday’s game underscored the sense that he is strong and, at least from a physical standpoint, primed to contribute down the stretch.