HERE B MONSTERS:

Matsuzaka factor mobilizes Red Sox: Team reinventing itself for pitcher (Gordon Edes, February 11, 2007, Boston Globe)

Team executives carry business cards printed in English on the front, Japanese on the back. "A question of respect," said Chuck Steedman, vice president of Fenway Enterprises and broadcast services.

No obstacle is too big. The Sox have literally knocked down ballpark walls to accommodate the large contingent of Japanese media that will be following him. "We're expecting over 100 Japanese members in spring training, and 50 a game on a regular basis during the season," said media relations director John Blake, who has arranged for two additional trailers to handle the media crush in spring training, which opens Friday at the team's minor league facility in Fort Myers, Fla.

New staff? The Sox have provided Matsuzaka with a Japanese-speaking trainer, a Japanese-speaking media liaison (a longtime friend of his wife, Tomoyo), a personal interpreter, and a personal masseuse. An English instructor has been hired to come to spring training and also will be with him during the season.

"We've talked extensively to executives from other clubs who have had Japanese players on their teams, in order to learn what has and has not worked in transitioning the players," said Brian O'Halloran, assistant to general manager Theo Epstein.

Extra effort? New pitching coach John Farrell has been studying Japanese with a tutor. "A humbling experience," he says. Catcher Jason Varitek has already received DVD copies of Matsuzaka's starts in Japan so he can become acquainted with his new batterymate. Traveling secretary Jack McCormick helped line up housing (apartments for Matsuzaka and his staff in spring training, and a leased house -- in the Brookline/Chestnut Hill area, his agent, Scott Boras, hinted -- during the season). Equipment manager Joe Cochran soon will be contacting Japanese restaurants in the Boston area about catering meals to the clubhouse.

Nothing will be lost in translation.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 11, 2007 12:07 AM