Jim Salisbury | Matsumania arrives

Baseball returns to Philadelphia tonight, and if the prospect of getting an early glimpse of a Phillies team that could contend in the National League East isn't enough to get you out to the yard then this may be:

J.D. Drew is here!

Hold your boos. Yes, Drew will be in town with the Boston Red Sox for a two-game Grapefruit League North series against the Phillies, but the days when he enjoyed top ranking on the city's persona-non-grata list are long gone.

The big attraction this weekend - after Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and fresh rolls at the Schmitter stand - will be the guy that the Red Sox send to the mound tomorrow afternoon.

Japanese phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his final exhibition tune-up. He is scheduled to throw 40 to 60 pitches, and we're guessing that at least a couple of them will be that ridiculous combination change-up/screwball - don't dare call it a gyroball - that dropped jaws all over Florida this month.

"I'd pay to watch this guy pitch," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "He's legit."

The Phillies are paying. Sources say they're paying the Red Sox a $500,000 appearance fee for their two-game visit.

John Weber, the Phils' vice president in charge of tickets, is expecting a crowd in the mid-20,000s tonight. Tomorrow's gate should be about 40,000, but Weber said sales were strong for that game even before it became clear that Matsuzaka would pitch.

Like Elvis, Magic, Tiger and Cher, the 26-year-old Matsuzaka already enjoys the kind of fame that answers to one name. He's Dice-K. That's how you pronounce his first name. His Philly cameo is a nice bonus for those wanting to take a peek at baseball's newest and biggest curiosity.

"I want to see him," said Phils manager Charlie Manuel, known as the Aka Oni (Red Devil) during his playing days in Japan. "We'll throw our A lineup on him. I watched five of his [Japanese] games on DVD. He's got good stuff. I'm glad he doesn't pitch for the Mets or Braves."

Matsuzaka comes Stateside after eight stellar seasons with Japan's Seibu Lions. His star went global last March when he was the MVP of the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

In November, the Red Sox paid Seibu $51.1 million for the rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka, beating out the Mets ($39 million) and Yankees ($30 million). The Sox then signed the pitcher to a six-year, $52 million contract, raising their total financial commitment to $103.1 million, or just over $17 million per year.

The Sox believe Dice-K will pay for himself as they promote their brand in Japan and play before nightly sellouts at Fenway Park.

"This is the guy we wanted," Francona said. "This is not a short-term thing. He's just 26 years old and he knows how to pitch."

Dice-K is not big like rotation mates Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett. He stands about 6 feet tall. His specialty is getting the baseball to move in wondrous ways.

"He has an unbelievable feel for the ball," Francona said. "He can make it do a lot of different things without losing his ability to hit spots."

He hits spots with about eight different pitches and can throw off a hitter's timing by varying the pace of his delivery. He has a mid-90s fastball, several variations of curveballs and sliders, a straight change-up, and, of course, the much-talked-about pitch that twists and turns like Linda Blair's head. It starts in on a lefthanded hitter then dives hard and away.

Is that the gyroball?

"I'm not answering that," catcher Jason Varitek said after Matsuzaka's start Monday in Sarasota, Fla. "We want some element of surprise when we face the Yankees."

"It's a change-up with screwball action," Francona said. "It's an unbelievable equalizer.

"Every pitch he throws is quality. It's not like he's a master of none."

Dice-K doesn't like to talk about the gyroball, probably because there's nothing to talk about. The pitch is a myth. But it's a myth he's in no hurry to debunk because it can play on an uncertain hitter's mind.

Francona thinks Matsuzaka will be very good this season, but he will face challenges, especially against rugged American League lineups.

"When he makes a mistake here, the ball will go a lot farther than he's used to," Francona said. "He'll be going through a lot of things for the first time here. But I think when the time comes to make adjustments, he will. He's got a lot of ways to attack a good hitter."

Francona once managed Michael Jordan in the minors. He likens the Dice-K phenomenon to that. Matsuzaka has his own translator, trainer/massage therapist, and media relations rep. He also has a huge throng of media chronicling his every move. His first spring start against Boston College was televised live at 8 a.m. Tokyo time and drew 14 million viewers. More than 50 Japanese media members are expected at Citizens Bank Park tomorrow, and 150 will be in Kansas City for his first regular-season start Thursday.

One of Francona's strengths is communicating with players, but right now, anything beyond "Good morning," is difficult with Matsuzaka, who is doing his best to learn English.

"In the meantime," Francona said, "it's amazing how far a smile goes - and he's got a great one.

"This guy brings an aura. When he pitches, everyone wants to watch. It's new and exciting, and we hope it translates to winning."

Japanese sports fans have an insatiable thirst for information about their country's great pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Between 50 and 60 Japanese media members, from reporters to photographers to technicians, are expected to cover his start against the Phillies tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park, and 150 have been credentialed for his regular-season debut Thursday in Kansas City.

According to Red Sox media relations director John Blake, Matsuzaka is covered daily by the following:

7 all-sports daily newspapers

3 to 5 other daily newspapers

2 wire services

1 major Internet site

1 radio station

6 television networks

- Jim Salisbury
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