The Braves' new Japanese press corps -- 13 strong for the final exhibition game -- asked about mechanics and conditioning. The Braves' beat veterans -- three reporters and a columnist -- asked about pressure.
The subject was the ungodly number of walks given up by right-hander Kenshin Kawakami in his last tune-up before the season. That would be seven walks, one intentional, in 2 2/3 innings, over which he threw 74 pitches: 41 balls, 33 strikes. It was not a good day.
"He'll be fine," manager Bobby Cox said soothingly. "It's the only bad game he's had. We all have bad days; he had his today."
"Today was a hard day," Cox continued. "It was a getaway day; we should have had an off day today. Really, our focus is (opening day)." Then Cox mused quietly, "I probably shouldn't say that."
Kawakami was having none of that. Through his team translator, Daichi Takasue, he said he really wasn't able to pitch the way he wanted to, and it kind of shocked him.
"I don't think I've ever walked as many in nine innings," Kawakami said, "let alone three innings. I think that must be a first in my baseball life.
"It wasn't the strike zone; my balls were just going everywhere today. Even if I wanted to pitch to the strike zone, it just didn't go there today."
"I've never seen him not locate since he's been at camp," Cox added. "So it was a shocker that he walked some guys."
Kawakami is feeling more pressure than most new Braves, trying to learn an entirely new league while facing scrutiny from fans back home. He was not having fun, but that's not what he's here for.
"I'm not trying to enjoy baseball," Kawakami said. "I'm trying to pitch well."
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