Daisuke Matsuzaka takes the mound tonight for the Boston Red Sox as the Series moves to Colorado. Bobby Valentine, former Mets manager, who has spent the past several years coaching baseball in Japan spoke to Reuters regarding the young starter.

“It will probably be a lot colder than he’s used to and the altitude will be the highest place he’s probably ever pitched in. But he’s a first. He’s a savant. He wants to be the first, he wants to be the guy to pitch in Game Seven. That’s why he is who he is and does what he does.”

In the article Valentine also discusses how Japanese baseball officials need to step up and market the game the same way Major League Baseball does, to give players a reason to continue their careers in Japan.