It's just Spring Training. However, as the other members of the Red Sox rotation continue to show that they deserve their spots, Daisuke Matsuzaka continues to disappoint. So far, he's pitched 5 innings and yielded 6 earned runs—and amassed an ERA approaching 11. He's given up 2 HRs and walked more than he's struck out. His WHIP is an atrocious 2.00.
Compare that to Alfredo Aceves. His 5 innings have produced a 0.00 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP. For some reason, the Empire cut loose Aceves, and we can envision a scenario where Dice-K could lose his spot to the Mexican righty (or a healthy Felix Dubront, or as a reader points out, Wake). Today's start against the Rays is more than a meaningless exhibition. It might be the start of a re-evaluation of Dice-K's role on the 2011 Red Sox.