The New York Times reports that Hideki “Godzilla” Matsui has agreed to a one-year deal with the Angels. It was clear that Matsui was not in the plans for the Yankees moving forward and I understand the logic behind their thinking. Still, I will miss him. Which is why I’m pleased that I’m a fan and not an executive. I can appreciate them not re-signing him as a baseball move and still feel sad that “one of ours” has left town. (Matsui joins two other former Yanks, Bobby Abreu and Juan Rivera in the Angels line-up.)
Matsui wasn’t a great Yankee but he was better than good (a new age ‘Ol Reliable) who enjoyed some terrific big-game moments, none bigger than Game 6 of the Serious last month. The Red Sox surely won’t be sorry to see him go. I will miss his calm demeanor (has he ever argued with an umpire since he’s been in States?) and his slashing line-drives. Who’ll soon forget his batting stance? Matsui stood erect and still, his shoulders twitching slightly like a horse swatting away flies with its tail. He was not a physical giant like Alex Rodriguez, but he was a massive guy, the widest player, across the chest, I’ve ever seen.
I’ll even miss his failures, when he rolled over pitches and hit weak dribblers to second, prompting the nickname Groundzilla. I’ll miss his giant head and enormous ears, his sketchy wife and talk of his extensive porn collection. I’ll miss his smile, his joking with teammates, and the feeling that he has a sly sense of humor, not to mention his taste in warm-up songs–from Day Tripper to The Immigrant Song.
Matsui is an icon in Japan (just like Chien-Ming Wang is a national hero in Taiwan) who will be fondly remembered in New York where he became a hero. He’s not as big as Jeter or Rivera or Rodriguez, but a hero all the same–and he’s a far bigger star back home than any baseball player is here. Perhaps he’ll be even more appreciated in New York once he’s gone.
But most of us appreciated him just fine while he was here. In the coming days, I’m sure we’ll read the usual cliches about Matsui being a “classy, professional Yankee.” You know, the kind with “dignity” and “grit.” They might be cliches but if the shoe fits…
Here’s wishing him good luck and success in California.
Sniff.
It's very sad but expected, so not devastating.
I'll miss the way he'd look up at his bat without taking a practice swing, bounce his knees a couple times and ready himself.
I'll also miss his grimace that he made when he was fooled.
So long, Hideki, and thanks for all the fish.
You'll be missed.
I think Matsui's questionable health makes his loss less devastating, but now the Yankees need to replace his significant production. If Cashman’s decision was based on his best assessment of Godzilla’s health, then I really have no problem with it. If, however, the Yankees made this decision based solely on economics (there new found desire to have a budget), then it might be a case of being penny wise and pound foolish.
What confuses me most, however, was Sherman’s post about the Yankees telling Matsui they needed to first clear up their LF situation because I had assumed that signing Matsui would have done just that (by moving Melky to LF, making Granderson the replacement for Damon).
I too will miss him. I just can't believe that he is gone for so little money (relatively speaking). $6.5 million for a one year deal? Surely the Yanks can afford that just to have him DH and come off the bench. It works out to just 32 of those very expensive seats. Yanks paid $1 million to Canseco for two months of service in 2000, surely Matsui is better than Canseco was at the time.
I was reluctantly ready to bid adieu to Matsui, but I must say the terms of his deal with the Angels make it that much more difficult.
After signing Granderson, and faced with the typical demands of Damon's demon agent, I sure wish the Yanks had signed Matsui to the same deal he took from the Halos. I mean, did anyone think Matsui would sign a contract of that length and amount anywhere but in New York? Crikey! I think it sucks, to be honest. It could be a mistake, particularly if they can't get Damon at the terms they want him.
Anyway, goodbye to the most Yankee-esque signing of the decade, a real touchstone of excellence and calm professionalism during a sometimes turbulent and confusing era.
[4]
Well-stated ....
It's hard to judge the decision to let Matsui go without seeing what other shoe drops. If the Yankees start the season with Melky in LF and Miranda as the DH, it becomes an awful choice. If, however, the outfield ends up being Holliday, Granderson and Melky with Swish as the DH, well, then you can understand the desire to save the $7mn.
extensive porn collection? ...
I think I agree with william and Hawk (is that even ALLOWED?).
Sherman's explanation about Cashman needing to sort out LF first stops making sense when you learn Matsui took 1 year and 6.5. If he had insisted on 2 years, I can see going elsewhere. But if he took a cut-rate single year, he ought to have been our entering-the-season DH, I think.
I am not on the Cameron bandwagon at all. I think his D remains solid, but his bat is no better than okay, and will likely continue to slip. The second year could be expensive for Boston.
It begins to look like Damon, then maybe Holliday and a reclamation pitcher. Interesting that Cashman hasn't said boo about Bay.
I think I'll miss his copy of Boner Jams '03 most of all
Oh, yeah, Matsui is an avid collector of pornography. He used to talk to the Japanese media about it regularly, probably still does for all I know.
I know Cliff is bully on the Yanks making a play for Holliday. With Matsui out of the mix, who but Damon, would you look to add? Jermaine Dye? Mark DeRosa? A trade?
It certainly does seem that Ca$h is holding true to the "getting younger and more athletic" mantra. 1 year and $6.5 seems pretty reasonable but as was said at [6] we need to wait to see what the Yankees do before this is analyzed. I sure will miss the classy way Mr Matsui carried himself though: he was a wonderful ambassador for what the Yankees wish to be beheld as. The Angels and their fans are getting someone in whom they can be proud wears their uniform in every important way.
repeated from last thread:
松井さん、お疲れ様です。有り難う御座います！！
Good-bye Matsui-san, well done. Thank you for everything!
:__(
Will somehow have to psych myself up for all the AL West games to be shown live on tv here next year..Angels-A’s, whoop-dee-damn-doo…
Igawa to the rotation ASAP! Need my Yankees on tv!!
Which of these things doesn't belong?
Young
Flexible
Athletic
Hideki Matsui
[8] Not it is NOT allowed!
But you can agree with me.
However, if Holliday is the target, I would expect Cashman to now move fast.
Also... maybe a ray of light:
At RAB, read "Wang’s in no rush to sign"
[13] CMW to San Diego? "Wang could lift up Padres back-end..."
I can't shake the feeling that the Yankees have outsmarted themselves.
And if this move blows up in their faces next year I'm not going to be fun to be around
"...I’m not going to be fun to be around"
as opposed to before?!?!
HA! jus' kiddin', matt! ; )
[16] All I know is the last time I heard the words "younger, more flexible and more athletic" I got to watch Andy Phillips play baseball. I'm sure Wilson Betemit had a similar description (although I dispute any characterization of him as an athlete.)
If getting "younger and more athletic" means 27 year old minor leaguer Juan Miranda or Brett Gardner get more playing time, I'm going ballistic.
[16] He just needs some Macaroni Middler..after all, "it's been a long journey, from Milan to Minsk.."
[17] ah, i hear ya, man - i was just givin' ya a hard time! : )
lackey & cameron are good pickups for the shit sox. i already forgot which reliever they picked up. i'm catching up on soooo many names, i'm losing track. i wonder if they get beltre. lowell might need thumb surgery...
i'm guessing we bring damon back. i wonder how sizemore will look in about 3 years, when i think he's available. hmmm....
[19] Sizemore/Rodriguez mirror-off?
And they had damned well better sign Damon now.
[20] "mirror-off"? not sure i get this..is Sizemore known to be a centaur as well?
http://deadspin.com/5414624/grady-sizemore-does-his-bit-to-increase-our-female-readership/gallery/
Why is everyone getting so bent out of shape by the Red Sox swapping Bay for Cameron? Maybe it's just me, but Youkilis is the only hitter in that lineup who strikes me as particulary dangerous. Much of Cameron's value is tied up in his defense, but the Green Monster mitigates against the need for a great defensive LF'er. Right now, the one thing Boston really needs is a top notch bat, not someone like Cameron.
[23] oh, i know you're right. but i'll hate having to 'root' for cammy to hit the 35 or 37 homers he needs to reach 300. he's got 2 years in beantown, so he should reach it. he's only 5 SB's away from 300. you all know how much i love the 300-300 club! : )
[20] i hope we get johnny soon, too.
[22] ......no f#ckin way....
[23] That rotation can carry a weakend O...
[24] Saw Peter Brotzmann here in town on Sunday night, still buzzing from that gig!
[25] So can CC, AJ and Pettitte...and they are the only ones who don't have to face a lineup like the Yankees.
I though I saw Lackey with some pretty mediocre Fenway numbers too. Small sample and all, but not everyone can pitch there
When is the season going to start?
[28] My sis just hipped me to a great-sounding new tv show on the US called "Jersey Shore"...certainly, that can help you pass the time?
:)
[27] in nine career regular-season starts at Fenway Park, he is 2-5 with a 5.75 ERA.
[29] If you go for that kind of thing, you'll love watching the Knicks on HD! >;)
[31] i saw your post from earlier today and was (of course) too late to catch up w/ you and Shaun P. you'll be glad to know that i had set my alarm for noon:30 and snoozed for another 45 mins. so, i still ended up awake and among the living a good 2.5 hours before you suspected! ; )
[12] True dat. I guess we are SOL on televised Yankee games, Jazz. Except when they are playing the Sawx with Daisuke pitching or the Halos....GAH! Or the Silly Mariners (Zzzzzzz...when anyone but Ichiro is batting). My world is empty because Cash can not spare $7 million for the best DH in the AL. I'm going to have Blue Christmas....
[15] It's a long way to go before opening day. There are still other viable options @ DH that are available.
[19] Hard to forget a name like Boof Bonser :)
[23] Cameron should be fine in Boston. I wouldn't mind playing a RH pull hitter in Fenway. They may have him play CF.
[34] Camerson should be "fine", but I am just glad that the Red Sox have settled on fine. Bay was also a right handed pull hitter, but a better version. Also, winning at Fenway is not a problem for the Sox. The more they tailor their offense to hitting that wall, the harder it will be for them to win on the road.
[22] DON'T DRINK THE SIZEMORE TEA !11!!!1!!/!
Nice tribute, Alex. Matsui was a cool dude, and a great lefty hitter. There was a lot to admire and appreciate about #55.
Thanks for the thrillas, Godzilla.
I was bummed yesterday, but woke up today rip snortin pissed. Just sayin. I hate this.
Yeah yeah I know I know, have to see what else unfolds before we can judge this in the proper context. But I still feckin hate it.
Now supposedly the Cards aggressively in on Holliday. Mets in hot pursuit of Bay. I too fear we've outsmarted ourselves, and will wind up having to way overpay for Holliday, or Bay, or Damon (in both $ and years) when we could've had Godzilla for a year at say $7.5mm before the Halos gave up.
[35] Bay also won't sign a 2 year deal like Cameron did, and will not play defense as well as Cameron. It isn't so much that they're tailoring the offense to aim at that wall, as it's a good fit. Kinda like Granderson and NY.
Cameron can play LF or CF, has decent pop, doesn't cost a lot, and should do well in Fenway. What's there not to like?
I'm gonna miss Matsui a lot, but I've been saying since the end of the season "if I must choose between Matsui and Damon...I'm going with Damon". I'm not gonna stray from that just because it's tough to see Hideki go.
Now if Hideki goes AND Damon bolts....well then I'd suggest you all get under your desks until I blow over.
[39] No, he wont, but I guess I am also glad that the Red Sox seem committed to spending well below their financial ability, a preference that made Cameron over Bay necessary.
There’s nothing “not to like” about Cameron, but also nothing to love. Over the past three years, he has been a just above average hitter in the NL Central, so it wouldn’t be unexpected if he falls below that level playing on the varsity. Also, moving either him to LF mitigates much of his position value. If the plan is to neutralize his defense by having him play 80 games in front of the monster, than a greater emphasis is placed on his offense, in which case, the drop off from Bay is even greater.
This move might make sense (or cents) for Boston, but it doesn’t make them better.
[41] It's not so much them spending well below their financial ability, as it's a better fit. Especially if they've "found religion" WRT defense. Personally, I think he'll be starting in CF, with Ellsbury sliding over to LF.
As for his offense, Cameron hasn't played in a hitter's park since his time in Cinergy back in 99. Fenway may give him something of a boost.
It may not make the Sox better, but it shouldn't make the Sox any worse.
man, i've been high on godzilla (no, that's not a drug reference) for a long time... this latest development sucks big-time, but at least i can enjoy the fact that there are some folks who appreciate the big fella just as much as i do. ok jazz, u listening? hope 'zilla is a 'thrilla in 2010... and that he puts the hurt on the yanks ALMOST enough to keep them from #28!