Stephen A. Smith | It isn't the Phillies they're coming to see

The calming, therapeutic scent of spring arrived just in time to welcome America's national pastime, still known as major-league baseball. Even in this town. It arrived with expectations for the 2007 Phillies, with anticipation that a city starving for meaningful baseball in the fall would be appeased. Finally. And all it took was the final weekend of spring training - and the presence of Daisuke Matsuzaka - to remove the pedestal of euphoria so we can all return to the land of the living.

You didn't have to see Boston's new Asian sensation pitch against the Phillies yesterday to know exactly what Beantown is lavishing in and what Philadelphia is sorely lacking. All anyone had to do was take a peek into the stands and the press box inside Citizens Bank Park yesterday to know exactly why the Red Sox doled out about $103 million to get the latest Godzilla import.

"He's the real deal. Trust me," Boston's Big Papi, David Ortiz, said after the game yesterday. "Whatever it is, he's got it."

We can only pray the Phillies will have someone like this someday because they certainly don't have him now.

The World Series has ignored Philadelphia since 1993, which would explain the media's occasional jealousy, because of their inability to do the same. But everyone was paying attention on this Saturday afternoon. Matsuzaka was in the house, along with a plethora of Asian journalists recording his every move. And if there was an empty seat in the ballpark, blame it on the folks who preferred watching the action from the concession area - with no need for an interpreter.

The ballpark wasn't packed to watch Ryan Howard or Chase Utley any more than the fans were in attendance to see who would be singing the national anthem. They came to see Matsuzaka pitch in a major-league ballpark for the first time and watch the tentacles of a nation following in line.

Matsuzaki threw 82 pitches in four complete innings, surrendering two hits and three earned runs while striking out seven, leaving with a lead and his reputation intact. His fastball, breaking ball and something called the gyro are "legit," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. "He's going to be good. How good? We'll see."