Not bad for a bargain pitcher

Hideki Okajima didn't get the money Daisuke Matsuzaka did to sign, but he's paying off for Boston.

By Patrick Reusse, Star Tribune

Last update: October 26, 2007 - 12:37 AM

BOSTON - Hideki Okajima was born on Dec. 25, 1975 in Kyoto, Japan. This might be rushing the season, but he definitely qualified as a Christmas present to the followers of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.

The Red Sox spent the kingly sum of $103 million to purchase the rights to and sign starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka away from the Seibu Lions. He was 26, and the only way to get him out of Japan was to pay his team ($52 of the $103 million).

There was no such ransom involved with Okajima. He was old enough to be a Japanese free agent, and the Red Sox took a flier on the lefthander.

He had been a solid pitcher but not a star for the Yomiuri Giants. That's why he had to take the modest sum of $2.5 million for two seasons, with a club option for $1.75 million in 2009.

Even at that bargain rate, the immediate results were not promising. The first big-league pitch thrown by Okajima on April 2 was hit for a home run by Kansas City's John Buck.

Things got much better after that. Okajima did not allow a run over his next 20 appearances. The Red Sox started the year figuring J.C. Romero would be the prominent lefthander in the bullpen, but they wound up turning to Okajima so often that Romero was released.

Okajima was among the five players placed on the Internet ballot for the American League All-Star team. The advantage of having an entire country to vote for him put Okajima in the game (and earned him a $50,000 bonus).

Okajima cruised into August, and then he hit a flat period. Starting Aug. 10, he compiled a 7.24 ERA in his final 15 appearances of the season. The Red Sox were concerned enough that they shut him down from Sept. 15 through Sept. 26 because of a fatigued arm.

That was what he needed. He threw the ball better in his last two regular-season appearances, then had five scoreless outings this postseason.

On Thursday, Okajima was brought in to replace Curt Schilling with one out and two runners on in the sixth. He was able to go 2 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and no baserunners. He took the Red Sox all the way from a stiffened-up Schilling to closer Jonathan Papelbon for the last four outs.

"This was the Pap-a-jima show tonight," Schilling said. "Okajima was perfect ... every single pitch."

One of Okajima's best assets with Boston has been a changeup. He didn't have that pitch in Japan, but Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell saw him this spring and thought it could be important for him.

Colorado manager Clint Hurdle seemed to agree. "This was our first viewing of him," he said of Okajima, the first Japanese-born pitcher to appear in a World Series game. "He can speed you up, slow you down, and he has deception with his delivery."

Boston manager Terry Francona said: "It was a phenomenal effort on the part of both relievers. If Okie doesn't throw as many strikes, he wouldn't have been able to stay out so long. But he was so good. He was spectacular."

Patrick Reusse • preusse@startribune.com

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