DENVER -- In February, when teams were preparing in Arizona and Florida for another grueling season, the eyes of the baseball world were firmly fixed on new Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka.

The Japanese phenom. The top candidate for American League Rookie of the Year. The man who cost $51.1 million just to talk to and another $52 million to sign.

World Series Game 3 Red Sox@Rockies, tonight, 8:35, chs. 45, 5 Starters: Daisuke Matsuzaka (15-12) vs. Josh Fogg (10-9)