Report: Daisuke Matsuzaka Wants to Play for Padres, Likes Petco Park
http://t.co/1sRJTC0R
Daisuke Matsuzaka wants to pitch in San Diego, and why wouldn’t he?
The free agent and former Red Sox said that he likes the city of San Diego and
Petco Park specifically, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-
Tribune. Not only is San Diego one of the most beautiful cities in the United
States, it’s also home to one of the most pitcher-friendly ball parks in Major
League Baseball.
The Padres’ park was the fifth most pitcher-friendly in baseball in 2012,
and the third most in 2011, according to ESPN’s MLB park factors. Matsuzaka
has struggled in his six-year MLB career. Last season he had a 1-7 record with
an 8.28 ERA and 1.708 WHIP in 11 starts after returning from Tommy John
surgery.
Matzuzaka’s best season came in 2008 — his second in the league — when he
went 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA and 154 strike outs. Even that season came with its
fair share of warnings though. Matsuzaka had to pitch himself out of trouble
often — leading the league with 94 walks.