Yankees....
They just never give up.
That's why, with all the ups and downs this year, I have enjoyed this season even if they miss the playoffs. After the spring they had, they could have tanked but did not. They keep coming back instead.
And Matsuzaka...
I still have not seen his best in the Red Sox jersey.
His best may be yet to come. Don't forget, he is technically a rookie here and while not dominating, is having a decent season.
I watched a TV documentary about him the other day, and his personal trainer (conditioning person) said that Matsuzaka is still struggling with the pitchers mound in the MLB parks.
He said that the mound in the States are harder comparing to the Japanese mounds, and with the way Matsuzaka pitches (He used to slide his left foot towards the home plate after he release the ball, to keep his release point low and controled. But with the harder mound, his left foot would be just stuck at where it landed, and it has been the reason his command is not what it used to be back in Japan.)
With all the other reasons including the difference of the balls and everything, this, according to the trainer, is the biggest difference Matsuzaka has been trying to adjust to all these days.
He may honestly believe that, but just reading it here and perhaps quoted out of context, it sounds like a weak excuse. Better to say "Gee, this is rougher than I thought over here, but I'm working on things and I'm going to get even better, just watch."
I think it makes sense, watching some of the other Japanse pitchers making smoother adjustment to the American baseball (Like Okajima has been, or Saito for LAD, Ohtsuka for Texas did not have as much trouble, except for THE "ball".) and Matsuzaka struggling more because of the way he delivers the ball.
It is interesting that some pitchers from Japan look more relaxed, comfortable, confident in MLB, Okajima being an extreme example.
Good case in point.
In an interview, he said
"On my very first outing in MLB, the very first pitch was hit out of the park pretty easily. It was a four seamer I used to pitch all the time in Japan, and at the very moment, I thought I could not use the pitch anymore in MLB. I tried out 2 seamer that I really did not throw back in Japan, and it worked. Also, because of the difference of the ball, my curve ball, which has been my out pitch in Japan, has not been working over here. I just can not locate the pitch as much as I want. I think the ball is more slippy over here. So, I tried the change up, that I had never used in Japan. With the help from our pitching coach, it worked out just fine, so I started using it instead of the curve ball. I guess I am really lucky as I look back, because the very first pitch I threw in MLB was hit out of the park, and it was like #8 hitter in the lineup, I thought I had to change the way I pitch completely, otherwise my career here would be over in a week. As it turned out, that home run helped me change, not just the way I pitch, but it made me become humble. Now I am facing every hitter as he was a #3 hitter."
He said all that in one breath? 
On the other hand, Matsuzaka has been, at least to my eyes, little bit stubborn, still trying too much to dominate the hitters.
How often do you see him go 0-2, and then go full count, trying to strike him out, and then walk him, specially early in the ball game.
I think it has at least a little to do with him not getting as many run support as his fellow starters.
When Matsuzaka is on the hill, no groove. He throws way more pitches than he needs, and that takes out something out of the hitters.
Now you're talking perhaps about what he has to do to adjust over here, plus the sporadic run support that you mentioned has not helped.
Well, I think I should have posted this in a Red Sox thread!
Well, feel free to copy your post over there, but you are welcome here, myasu.
Sorry, I am just disappointed about Matsuzaka.
He should do better than this.
I know he is a better pitcher than this, and I just want him to know that he has to pitch better than this in the post season games.
I trust that I will not be insulting you if I point out that IMO, IMHO, the Japanese baseball leagues are not on the same level of overall quality as Major League Baseball. Not every great player of yours is going to come over here and "do an Ichiro" (.350, ROY, MVP in his first year). Matsuzaka may come into his own next year.
If he could not, I would be the first Japanese to spank him in the ass at Narita Airport when he comes back to Tokyo in November (hopefully).
myasu, I hope our American culture is not rubbing off on you. I would expect you to bow before spanking him at least. LOL. 
I admit.
I wanted the Sox sweep now.
Bacause if we did not finish them right now, even kick them out of the wildcard race, I was scared that the Yankees would somehow come back in the playoff, and, and...... Oh, no.
Our rallying cry: "2004! 2004! 2004!"
I gotta throw up now.
Ah, get over yourself. Best record in baseball, .600 winning percentage, 7-game division lead with one month to go. What's to be sick about? Save it for the playoffs, when all is wiped clean and eight teams start from scratch again.