Return of Dice-K (and posts about the Boston Red Sox!)

He's baaaack.

After ruining his arm and shoulder for most of the 2009 season, blaming the Boston Red Sox staff for doing it (even though he pitched too much in the World Baseball Classic) and living on the DL, Daisuke Matsuzaka brings his sparkling 8.23 ERA and 1-5 record back to the rotation.

He'll start tonight against the loaded Los Angeles Angels, meaning Dice-K is basically jumping into a frying pan by facing that lineup.

However, if he's finally healthy this season, Dice-K might be exactly what the Boston Red Sox need. That's if he's returned to his six-inning, 130 pitch routine instead of his batting practice form so far this season.

The Sox will take that when you look at their rotation after Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Clay Buckholtz. Wakefield's back is a question mark, they jettisoned Smoltz and Penny, and does anyone trust Paul Byrd. They're 4.5 games ahead in the Wild Card race so they do have some room to experiment here.

So um, welcome back Dice-K, the most expensive fourth of fifth starter in the league.