On the day before the major league opener, Oakland pitcher Joe Blanton was just trying not to get caught up in the hype surrounding Daisuke Matsuzaka.
On Tuesday he'll be thrust right into the middle of it as "Dice-K" mania promises to be in full effect when Matsuzaka takes the mound as the Opening Day starter when the Boston Red Sox and Oakland A's kickoff the 2008 MLB season on Tuesday at Tokyo Dome.
"I am pitching against him but I'm personally not facing him," Blanton said. "That's the hitters. He is a great pitcher and I'm going to have to bring my best game to be able to compete against him and that's what I'm going to try to do."