The same goes for Dr. James Andrews. Japanese coaches and pitchers believe the extreme amount of throwing strengthens arms, but Matsuzaka never lived up to the hype generated when he came to the United States due to arm problems. Japanese superstar pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, 25, joined the New York Yankees this season but has spent the last month on the disabled list due to a partial tear of the ligaments in his right elbow. Those injuries could have been a product of the Japanese style of play.