Dice-K tomorrow

Florida sunshine was replaced by Philadelphia sunshine today as the Phillies are back in their  Citizens Bank Park home.

The annual Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce opening day reception is taking place this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.  Nearly 1,000 fans are expected to be here for the second annual event.

A game tonight against Boston is followed by an afternoon game tomorrow vs. the same Red Sox.  That will be the end of pre-season baseball as we know it in 2007.

Big news tomorrow is the northern debut of RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, better known as Dice-K.  He’s the phenom pitcher the Red Sox paid big bucks for during the winter.  He pitched in Florida and now he’ll be taking a mound in a big league park for the first time.

Pitching for the Seibu Lions last year, Dice-K was 17-5 with a 2.13 ERA.  In 186.1 innings, he allowed 138 hits and 34 walks while striking out 200.  He’s listed as Boston’s number three starter behind Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett.

A large Japanese media contingent will be here for his start tomorrow.  It includes 17 writers, six still photographers, one Japan Radio reporter and 21 representing six different Japanese TV networks.