New York Yankees: Is Tanaka the next Matsuzaka?

New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka is struggling as of late. His recent decline looks similar to that of former Red Sox Daisuke Matsuzaka.

New York Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka is becoming duller than the headlights on my 2002 Chevy Malibu.

Tanaka is battling through what some would call a, “rough patch”, but if he doesn’t get back on track, it’s time to worry about the one-time All-Star.

Anyone remember Daisuke Matsuzaka?

Yep, that Daisuke Matsuzaka. The same man who created the fabled “Gyro Ball”, and struck out 10 batters in his Major League debut.

The same man who dominated in Japan, and then fell off the face of the earth the way the Europeans thought Columbus would when he reached the horizon.

Tanaka’s recent struggles are comparable to that of Matsuzaka. He came in and immediately dominated, but one set of struggles is proving to be too much for the Itami, Japan native.

Hopefully Tanaka can find his stride again this season because it’s starting to become worrisome for Yankee fans.

We laughed at the Red Sox after Matsuzaka was a bonafide scrub. Now, it looks like Tanaka could join the ranks of that class.

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It would be giving up on the guy too soon, but come on, this is the biggest market in sports. Tanaka has to produce otherwise fans will start collecting money for a one-way ticket back to Itami.

He has shown in years past that he is capable of dominating big league lineups. He has to get the movement back on his splitter. It will get him back to being the ground  ball pitcher he was when his career first began.

If he can get going this week it would be huge, but if he can’t, get ready for the name Daisuke to be thrown around a lot more.