"Right now, I'm trying to stick with the American style," he said through his translator after pitching two scoreless innings in a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field yesterday. "I'm trying to forget everything I did in Japan."
Okajima's rookie season with the Sox was a success, but it also involved a steep learning curve. Nobody could prepare Okajima or Daisuke Matsuzaka for the enormous culture shock that awaited them. There were too many variables: the language, the customs, the food, the culture, the traditions, the training methods, even the clubhouse humor.
And we haven't even discussed the hordes of media that recorded each and every pitch the two made. The scrutiny was heavy and unrelenting. And when Okajima faltered in August, at times it also was unforgiving.
"He needed a little bit of a blow in September," said manager Terry Francona. "It was probably my fault. Maybe sometimes we ask guys to give more than they are able to give."
Okajima served up an Opening Day homer to Kansas City's John Buck in his major league debut, then did not allow another run through May 20, making 19 scoreless appearances. While the more celebrated Matsuzaka scuffled a bit in his early outings, Okajima became one of the unexpected feel-good stories of the Red Sox' championship season.
He was so effective, Francona found himself calling his number more than he ever envisioned when Boston signed him as a free agent Nov. 30, 2006 for the bargain price of $2.5 million over two years.
"Sometimes - and I don't want this to come out wrong - it's like the manager has a new toy," Francona said. "Okie can get outs. You want to pitch him every day.
"The night we wore the green uniforms against the Yankees [April 20] John [Farrell] and I were laughing. We were saying, 'Okie's going to get the middle of the order out.' And he did."
