Hey fans, Mike here.
I know it's only August, and the Yankees still have September, and the playoffs and hopefully the World Series to get through before they have to start thinking about the 2010 team, but I can't help but already begin to miss Hideki Matsui.
Matsui, known in Japan (and America, yet not quite deserved) as Godzilla, came to the Yankees in 2003 on a three year deal worth $21 million. He was a great success in his first season in pinstripes, even while lacking the enormous power he had in Japan, and managed to hit .287 w/16 homers and 106 RBI.
Matsui came within points of winning the Rookie of the Year award but lost out to Angel Berroa (remember him?). Berroa had the same exact batting average, one more homer and 29 less RBI. Matsui, in my eyes, was the true winner that year. He clearly had better stats and did it in a much more pressure packed atmosphere than Kansas City. He would have won if a number of writers didn't decide to take the rules upon themselves to change. Many people openly said they did not vote for Matsui because he was not a true "rookie" considering his years of service in Japan.
Listen, I agree with these guys. I don't think 30 year old's coming over from Japan are "rookies" in the truest sense of the word, but according to the rules, whether we like it or not, they are eligible, so Matsui should have been the winner.
Moving over the two remaining years of his contract, Matsui hit .298 with 31 homers and 108 RBI in 2004 and .305 with 23 homers and 116 RBI in 2005. In this time span, Matsui played in literally every single game.
Due to his very solid three years, as well as the enormous amount of money he brought in from the Japanese market, Matsui was rewarded with a four year $52 million contract.
Matsui started off the 2006 season just as he had finished off the previous one, hitting .302 with 8 homers 51 games into the season. Unfortunately, in a bizarre fielding incident, Matsui broke his wrist and was out for the remainder of the year. Matsui bounced back in 2007, hitting .285 with 25 homers and 103 RBI. After the season though, Matsui needed to have his left knee surgically repaired.
Matsui battled through numerous injuries in 2008, playing in only 93 games, but he did hit a respectable .294. He was unable to play much in the field, a sign of things to come. After this season, yet again he would have knee surgery, this time on the right.
Entering the final year of his contract in 2009, Matsui has unfortunately become a man with two surgically repaired knees, and is unable to play the field at all. This is very tough for the Yankees to clog up their DH spot when aging players such as Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada could all use time off in the DH spot. Unfortunately, Matsui fills that spot everyday.
After going 4/5 last night, Matsui has given the team very good production from the DH spot this year hitting .269/.365/.516, including 19 homers. Matsui is a consummate professional and the Yankees organization, as well as myself, love the way he plays the game and handles himself in the clubhouse.
Unfortunately, with Jeter, A-Rod, Tex and Posada getting a year older (as well as a possible return of Johnny Damon), the Yankees simply cannot give a 36 year old full time DH a contract after the season. It simply cannot be done. They need to give some other players a rest every now and then.
During his time with the Yankees, Matsui has a career batting average of .292 and his 131 homers are the most for any Japanese born player and will only continue to increase as the year continues on.
My question is, what will Matsui do after the year is over? The Yankees are the only team he has ever known outside of the Yomiuri Giants. Would it be worth it for him to sign a 1 year deal with some random team to be their DH for a couple million dollars? He says he wants to stay in the MLB, and specifically with the Yankees, but I honestly would not be surprised if he went back to Japan.
What do you guys think? Am i completely wrong, will Matsui be a Yankee next year? Do you see him staying in America or do you think a return to Japan is possible?
All I know is for the past 7 years, I have watched a man come to an entirely new country and play the way the game is supposed to be played; and act the way a man is supposed to act. It is unfortunate he will not be back next year and he will surely be missed by me and many other Yankee fans as well. Lets just sit back and appreciate his play for the remainder of the year while we still can and for the time being, "Thank You, and Enjoy the Game".
I know it's only August, and the Yankees still have September, and the playoffs and hopefully the World Series to get through before they have to start thinking about the 2010 team, but I can't help but already begin to miss Hideki Matsui.
Matsui, known in Japan (and America, yet not quite deserved) as Godzilla, came to the Yankees in 2003 on a three year deal worth $21 million. He was a great success in his first season in pinstripes, even while lacking the enormous power he had in Japan, and managed to hit .287 w/16 homers and 106 RBI.
Matsui came within points of winning the Rookie of the Year award but lost out to Angel Berroa (remember him?). Berroa had the same exact batting average, one more homer and 29 less RBI. Matsui, in my eyes, was the true winner that year. He clearly had better stats and did it in a much more pressure packed atmosphere than Kansas City. He would have won if a number of writers didn't decide to take the rules upon themselves to change. Many people openly said they did not vote for Matsui because he was not a true "rookie" considering his years of service in Japan.
Listen, I agree with these guys. I don't think 30 year old's coming over from Japan are "rookies" in the truest sense of the word, but according to the rules, whether we like it or not, they are eligible, so Matsui should have been the winner.
Moving over the two remaining years of his contract, Matsui hit .298 with 31 homers and 108 RBI in 2004 and .305 with 23 homers and 116 RBI in 2005. In this time span, Matsui played in literally every single game.
Due to his very solid three years, as well as the enormous amount of money he brought in from the Japanese market, Matsui was rewarded with a four year $52 million contract.
Matsui started off the 2006 season just as he had finished off the previous one, hitting .302 with 8 homers 51 games into the season. Unfortunately, in a bizarre fielding incident, Matsui broke his wrist and was out for the remainder of the year. Matsui bounced back in 2007, hitting .285 with 25 homers and 103 RBI. After the season though, Matsui needed to have his left knee surgically repaired.
Matsui battled through numerous injuries in 2008, playing in only 93 games, but he did hit a respectable .294. He was unable to play much in the field, a sign of things to come. After this season, yet again he would have knee surgery, this time on the right.
Entering the final year of his contract in 2009, Matsui has unfortunately become a man with two surgically repaired knees, and is unable to play the field at all. This is very tough for the Yankees to clog up their DH spot when aging players such as Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada could all use time off in the DH spot. Unfortunately, Matsui fills that spot everyday.
After going 4/5 last night, Matsui has given the team very good production from the DH spot this year hitting .269/.365/.516, including 19 homers. Matsui is a consummate professional and the Yankees organization, as well as myself, love the way he plays the game and handles himself in the clubhouse.
Unfortunately, with Jeter, A-Rod, Tex and Posada getting a year older (as well as a possible return of Johnny Damon), the Yankees simply cannot give a 36 year old full time DH a contract after the season. It simply cannot be done. They need to give some other players a rest every now and then.
During his time with the Yankees, Matsui has a career batting average of .292 and his 131 homers are the most for any Japanese born player and will only continue to increase as the year continues on.
My question is, what will Matsui do after the year is over? The Yankees are the only team he has ever known outside of the Yomiuri Giants. Would it be worth it for him to sign a 1 year deal with some random team to be their DH for a couple million dollars? He says he wants to stay in the MLB, and specifically with the Yankees, but I honestly would not be surprised if he went back to Japan.
What do you guys think? Am i completely wrong, will Matsui be a Yankee next year? Do you see him staying in America or do you think a return to Japan is possible?
All I know is for the past 7 years, I have watched a man come to an entirely new country and play the way the game is supposed to be played; and act the way a man is supposed to act. It is unfortunate he will not be back next year and he will surely be missed by me and many other Yankee fans as well. Lets just sit back and appreciate his play for the remainder of the year while we still can and for the time being, "Thank You, and Enjoy the Game".
Very nice work. Shows respect and appreciation for someone who has done more than we could have expected and conducts himself like a true gentleman at all times. His Opening Day Grand Slam in his first Yankee game will always be a fond memory. If we lose Damon do you see any room for him? Maybe depending on make up of team.
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As the days go by, I think more and more everyday that Johnny Damon will be a Yankee next year, but even if he isn't, I don't see Matsui coming back, just because he limits us soo much.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird, Damon being older, will allow him to rest more and give Austin Jackson more playing time, but Matsui doesn't do that for the club. Just being strictly a DH limits the team so much. I think they would love to have him back, they just can't.
Wow Mike, didn't think you were such a Matsui fan, but what do I know about you after all. Not much. Sorry man if I was a fan of the Yankees I would be happy that he were gone next year. I would rather have Damon cause at least he has some speed as indicated by his 9 SB this year compared to the 9 Matsui has.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong Corey, I would much rather have Damon. Much much much rather have Damon. But in a game that is filled with adulterers, steroid users and just complete jerks, its gonna be tough to see a good guy like Matsui walk away.
ReplyDeletehaha ok Mike now I see what you mean and understand.
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