"Concern over Daisuke Matsuzaka's horrific performance against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night isn't limited to fans, beat writers and talk-show hosts.

The Red Sox front office is just as concerned as you are. And more so, considering they're signing the paychecks for a pitcher with a no-trade contract who will earn $10 million in each of the next two seasons.

A club official confirmed yesterday that the Red Sox have had "internal discussions" in the wake of Matsuzaka's Monday night outing, during which the right-hander allowed seven runs in two-plus innings. He was thunderously booed as he walked off the mound, a startling occurrence when one takes into account that Fenway has become a much tamer place in the years following the Sox' 2004 World Series championship run.

In the short term, one plan being discussed is skipping over Matsuzaka in his next scheduled outing, which is Sunday at Fenway Park against Toronto. The Jays' manager, John Farrell, was the Dice Man's pitching coach during his first four seasons in the big leagues. If tonight's series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays is rained out, look for the Red Sox to reconfigure the starting rotation and have Matsuzaka miss a turn.

But what about the long term? In his two starts this season, Matsuzaka is 0-2 with a 12.86 ERA. In the fateful second inning Monday night, when the Rays scored six runs, "everything went to the middle of the plate," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "There was one walk, but there were seven balls hit right on the barrel. We love when guys throw strikes, but there were balls that were middle-middle to the first seven hitters."

There was a lot of speculation making the rounds yesterday that Matsuzaka was deliberately throwing balls down the middle of the plate, as if to tell management, "You want me to stop nibbling and throw strikes? Well, here you go." But one club official completely dismissed that theory, saying it simply wouldn't be in Matsuzaka's makeup.

But if that were the case, at least the Red Sox would have a jumping-off point as they try to figure out what's wrong with Matsuzaka. And in case you're wondering, no, health is not an issue here. Speaking with reporters after Monday's game, Francona said Matsuzaka is fine. Matsuzaka, through a translator, said he is not hurt."