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Daisuke Matsuzaka in Jeopardy of Losing Spot in Red Sox’ Rotation to Alfredo Aceves

BOSTON – Daisuke Matsuzaka may have started his last
game in a Red Sox uniform.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine hinted Sunday that Matsuzaka may be done
in the rotation after the 31-year-old regressed in his last two starts,
including a 1 1/3-inning appearance Saturday in which he yielded five
runs.

"I'm not sure," Valentine said when asked if
Matsuzaka would receive another start. "I'm going to see and have some
meetings with him real soon. He was very disappointed yesterday, and so was
I."

Valentine wouldn't use Matsuzaka's recovery from Tommy
John surgery as a crutch, either. When asked if Matsuzaka's recent troubles were a byproduct
of the procedure, Valentine said the results were purely
performance-related. Now Valentine is looking elsewhere to fill the rotation spot.

"Daisuke we could replace with Alfredo
[Aceves]," Valentine said, noting that Aceves should be able to pick up the load since his pitch count has been building, although he hasn't thrown many consecutive innings yet.

With his starting spot hanging in the balance, Matsuzaka
admitted he's searching for answers. And he isn't finding any.

"My main focus out there is on the batters and do
what I need to do," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "But
there's something I just can't figure out and just can't get right, which has
been the hardest part. It's just been a struggle trying to put my finger on
it."

Unfortunately for the pitcher, it could cost him his spot
in the starting rotation.

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