Here are some brief words from Daisuke Matsuzaka on Saturday afternoon speaking about his impending Tuesday night start at Fenway Park against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It'll be Matsuzaka's first start for the Red Sox since landing on the 15-day disabled list back on June 19 with a slightly strained right shoulder.

The start gives Matsuzaka a fresh beginning after a series of false starts this season, and could allow the Japanese righty to issue a huge statement about his worthiness for a starting rotation spot on a potential Boston playoff roster. All questions and answers were translated through Masa Hoshino.
 
How excited are you to make this start coming up? DM: Of course, I’m excited.

How excited are you pitch with the Red Sox after working on so many things over the last few months? DM: I know that it took me some time to get here, but I also feel that I was able to use that time to get prepared really well. I just hope that I can apply all those things that I was preparing for in the start.

Can you feel a big difference stuff-wise with what you’re taking to the mound stuff-wise now as opposed to when you were going to the mound in May or June? DM: I wouldn’t say that it’s THAT big of a difference, but I would say that the stuff I have now is a little bit better.

Is it one of your goals to be pitching for the Red Sox in the playoff if they do make the postseason? DM: I don’t think it’s really necessary to think that far ahead. Right now I’d like to focus everything I have on my upcoming start.

Was it important to get back before the end of this season? DM: That had been my intent all along through the entire process.

Do you think you have anything to prove that you can pitch effectively at this level? DM: I think it’s less having something to prove than it is we’re at a point in the season where every win is so important and as long as I can contribute to the team in a way that helps us win – that’s the most important thing right now.

How difficult has this year been while going through DL, minor league stints, everything that’s been involved? DM: I think it was a difficult season, but I also firmly believe that the experiences I had this year are going to help me going forward.