Matsuzaka displeased with breaking ball command after rehab start

Even though he last pitched for the Boston Red Sox on June 19, Daisuke Matsuzaka expressed confidence about his ability to return to the major leagues.

"I think I can stand on the mound with 100 percent confidence," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter after allowing two solo home runs in 4 1/3 innings during a rehab start Friday night for the Pawtucket Red Sox against the Syracuse Chiefs. "I approached tonight's start like it was a regular-season game. I felt close to how I pitch in the regular season."

9/4: Two Sox go at it

Paul Byrd goes against Freddy Garcia; two pitchers both returning from the dead. Garcia held the Yankees to three runs in six innings last time out, so he may be rounding into form. The ChiSox certainly aren't; they're collapsing. A sweep would be nice; I still haven't given up hope for the division title.

POLL: Who should be the primary setup man?

Time to give Youkilis credit: Deserves to be in MVP mix

As we get later and later into September, the question inevitably crops up: Who is the Most Valuable Player?

In the American League, Joe Mauer all but has the award sewed up. A .367/.435/.612 line out of the catcher position tends to do that. There's also been the inevitable Yankee calls: Mark Teixeira is unquestionably the MVNP according to a Yankees beat writer. Derek Jeter is in the mix... of course. MLB Network's Victor Rojas yesterday gave props to Miguel Cabrera.

I ask: Where's the Youk love? (I asked this of Rojas, who said that we'll probably start hearing Youkilis' name bandied about. You are. Right here.)