The Next Big Yakyuu-Senshu made his first major league start yesterday, with the expected media scrutiny. After all, when an organization pays over $50 million just for the right to be first to negotiate, the talent had better be pretty good. Lucky for him, Daisuke Matsuzaka performed admirably, striking out 10 and allowing just one walk and one run (sure, it was a homer, but still) over seven innings.

The best part of the media overkill, though, is listening to the myriad ways sportscasters butcher "Matsuzaka." Not that I'm taking anything for granted just from my own knowledge -- it's a tough name for Western tongues to wrap around, to be sure. But when Buster Olney takes four seconds -- one per syllable, "Matt-Soo-Zah-Kah" -- or when Trey Wingo plows through "Makasaka" in full-stream, I still can't help but laugh.

It does make me a little mad when print publications default to "Dice-K." Yes, it's a cute nickname, but it makes me feel like you're not even trying. In print, you can take the extra minute the on-air guys don't have to double-check your spelling. This is the age of information, you've got all sorts of references available, and you're not using them. Plopping down a nickname on first reference for a dude who hasn't even thrown a second game just makes you look like lazy hypesters.

Plus, it makes me think of stuff like this:

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I struck out your mom
And told her, "Hey! Fuck you!"
Owhhh!