Might Matsui miss more?

July 10, 2008 by Benjamin Kabak 64 Comments

Ed Price checked in with Hideki Matsui yesterday, and it’s tough to get a good read on the situation. Matsui, inactive for a few weeks due to inflammation in his knee, swung off a tee earlier this week and said he felt good. But the Yanks are guarded about Matsui’s condition. Team officials believe he will not be able to do anything other than DH this year, and if he doesn’t respond well to rehab, season-ending surgery will be a reality. I wonder if there are any other OF/DH types out there who could fill in for him…

Count Zero

I haven’t been expecting anything out of Matsui for the rest of ’08 since he went on the DL. Off-season surgery on the right knee followed by left knee problems that may require surgery…frankly I would be surprised if Matsui ever returns as an everyday starter at anything but DH.

I promise I won’t mention the dreaded name this time… ;-)
- tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  That is not good.
  
  I think we should sign Jon Dowd. Or possibly Reggie Stocker.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    LoL, nice.
  - Count Zero
    
    Nice! :-)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

This why those consecutive games played streaks are so dangerous, that takes a very heavy toll on these players. I just don’t think this “Iron Man” stuff is worth it in the entirety of a player’s career.
- Tripp
  
  Doesn’t help he played 10 years on Astroturf in Japan either.
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    Great point.
steve (different one)

Matsui should only DH anyway.

he is a terrible OFer.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  He has always been a below average LF when dealing with range but to call him “terrible” is a bit harsh.
  - steve (different one)
    
    if the ball is hit anywhere over his head, he simply won’t catch it. he runs back and gets turned around 2-3 times before reaching and missing the ball.
    
    now, a lot of this can be attributed to his knee since last season. but just like Jeter looked like dogcrap last year with a bum knee, Matsui has been equally poor of late.
    
    Jeter bounced back, but Jeter is also a lot more athletic than Matsui.
    
    i think Matsui is a DH from now on.
dan

Looks like his trade value is getting dangerously close to zero. If the injury is as serious as it seems, it will have a big effect on what the team can do this off-season.
Lonn Trost

Catalanotto might be in our plans.
Mark B

Xavier Nady or a guy named Bonds would fit in well.

Nady could help out next year after Abreu is gone (I can’t imagine why they would re-sign him, unless his demands are way low) and if its Bonds, Posada would then become the back-up to Giambi.
- Joey H
  
  i said that they should have been training posada to be a firstbaseman since he went down with the injury, i think we all knew that we werent getting the posada that throws out 45% back again. so if he moved to first and be a DH then they could just get a REAL catcher or see if molina wants to be a starter
Mark B

Another name to consider would be former Yankee Tony Clark who is now apparently available in San Diego….
- Joey H
  
  absolutely not. too old.WAY too old for WAY too little production
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Ben K.
  
  Isn’t the idea of a trade to get better not worse?
  - Joey H
    
    My point exactly, and it doesnt hurt to get YOUNGER!
  - Mark B
    
    All depends on how much you want to give up. I can’t imagine the Yanks picking up anyone of significance unless they give up a prized prospect like Melancon, Hughes, IPK, etc. That’s why a pick-up of a guy like Tony Clark could be done easily.
    
    I would prefer Nady, though I already know your thoughts on him!
    - Joey H
      
      yeah but all that stuff you siad means dick. the point is he doesnt produce to our standards so that means there is NO REASON TO GET HIM!
Joey H

i agree, john dowd for sure, we have enough lefties but o well not one like this
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.

This is way off-topic but I’m just trying to wrap my head around something here. From 2002-2004 Jason Varitek has ranked dead last in Caught Stealing percentage amongst qualified A.L. Catchers. In 2005 Varitek was ranked fifth worst in this stat but was ahead of Catchers such as A.J. Pierzynski, Victor Martinez, Gregg Zaun and Jason Kendall, not exactly something to keep your head up about. Jason Varitek had three well above-average offensive seasons for a Catcher from 2003-2005 but I can’t understand why this guy was ever perceived as something other than average at best. You can’t say he’s a defensive whiz because obviously he does not have an arm, he isn’t superb at blocking passed balls because he is not allowed to catch Knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield.

Honestly, if he did not look like some coach potato, shoved a glove in A-Rod’s face and play for the immortal 2004 Boston Red Sox, would anybody really know who the fuck this guy is?
- Dylan
  
  I hate Varitek so much.
- Joey H
  
  its just like that cocksucker francona being a bias prick and taking fuckin navarro over mussina who probably has more wins than any over his over paid pitchers. not for nothing navarro is no good and its obvious you are no good when you cant even pay for mro ethan two Tickets to the ASG for family.
  - steve (different one)
    
    how is Navarro “no good”? i have no idea what the rest of your rant means.
    - Joey H
      
      hes only hitting for a decent average. he is clearly there out of representation for the rays. and if you watch yankee games you would know.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
        
        Scott Kazmir is on the A.L. team so Dioner Navarro was not chosen as the lone representative for the Tampa Bay Rays. Dealing with those who have 200-ABs or more, Navarro ranks second (.792) in the A.L. in OPS amongst Catchers, third in SLG% (.427) and third in HRs (4). On the defensive side he has the third highest Caught Stealing percentage in the Major Leagues (36%), in what world should he not be on the American League All-Star squad? I give Terry Francona credit for picking Navarro.
        
        tommiesmithjohncarlos
        
        Agreed. Navarro is deserving of his spot. My favorite line from this: “hes only hitting for a decent average”… Apparently, being one of the only two catchers in the AL hitting above .300 (.312, to be precise) is only “decent”.
        
        Joey H
        
        but, mussina is better at his job than navarro is at his. thats the point. he didnt get snubbed he got scumbagged. thats the point.especially infront of the home crowd.
        
        http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/CRsmithT1.jpg tommiesmithjohncarlos
        
        I disagree. Mussina and Navarro have both been good, yes, but Mussina has benefited from some good luck and his numbers indicate a level of dominance that just isn’t there. Mussina has been one of the top 15 pitchers in the AL, but Navarro is clearly the second best catcher in the AL.
        
        Now, if you want to argue that it’s disrespectful that Mussina got snubbed over Jason Varitek, I’m with you. But if you put a gun to my head and asked me who had the better first half between Moose and Navarro, I’d pick Navarro.
- Will
  
  I’m not sure “immortal” is strong enough to be accurate here. Could we maybe go with “universe-creating”?
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    No no no, the New York Yankees’ championship dynasty from 1996-2000 created a fucking universe, all 2004 created was “THE NATION!!!11!1numerical value that equals one!!!1”.
    - Will
      
      Erroneous on all counts! The Sawx have always been and always will be America’s Team! And Mars’s! And Orion-257’s! And wherever-Jon-Lester-and-Clay-Buchholz’s-superrace-ancestors-are-from’s! God didn’t create the universe, He created the Sawx, who in turn were gracious enough to create the human race to be subservient to the demands of Curt Schilling, WWE Heavyweight Champion Pedro Martinez, and Manny’s do-rag.
      
      (With apologies to tommiesmithjohncarlos–I feel really guilty doing this,)
      
      For Diamond Cutters, I’m Peter Gammons.
      - tommiesmithjohncarlos
        
        Don’t feel guilty, it’s all good. But you left out the ending.
        
        ————————-
        
        And in case you were curious, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz were both in fact born on earth, but not from “natural” childbirth. They were both immaculately conceived by Kevin Youkillis, who was then known as Kronos. Kronos happened to be walking through the Back Bay and saw two very beautiful women; he looked at them and they instantly became pregnant with his children. He then showed the pregnant women to his good friend Dustin Pedroia, who was then known as David Faustino, and Faustino was so taken by their beauty that he ate them both whole. Nine months later, Lester and Buchholz broke open Faustino’s skull and climbed out, fully grown and armed with unprecedented baseball-throwing and laptop-stealing skills. As a token of gratitude for their prowess, they bestowed upon Kronos and Faustino lovely flowing beards of spun silk and flaxen gold. Every year, the event is celebrated in Boston as “Patriot’s Day” and the four of them share a refreshing round of Schmitt’s Gay.
        
        For Diamond Cutters, I’m Peter Gammons, ESPN.
        
        Will
        
        See, I should have known not to mess with the master. As always, great, great stuff.
- tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  “Honestly, if he did not look like some coach potato, shoved a glove in A-Rod’s face and play for the immortal 2004 Boston Red Sox, would anybody really know who the fuck this guy is?”
  
  Absolutely correct. If his name was Jason Gonzalez and he played for the Rangers, nobody would know who the fuck he was.
  
  Varitek = Gregg Zaun.
Dylan

Does anyone else not want to sign Bonds out of principal? I wouldn’t feel right about it, I can’t stand the guy. I know the numbers make sense and all, but come on.. this is Barry Bonds. He’s on par with Darth Vader and the like. I sincerely think we have a good shot at making the playoffs without such a move, and then all that lies is to get hot at the right time.
- Joey H
  
  Yea not for nothing we allready havea huge scumbag in arod or so the tabliods see. tell the guy to keep his fucking mouth shut and put him infront of arod cause i absolutely hate abreu there this year. and we’ll have a hell of alot of more two run homeruns!
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
  
  Darth Vader killed people and Barry Bonds injected chemicals into his body to give his team a better chance to win. Where did that come from?
  
  I feel we have a good shot at playing in October as well, but that shot would improve if we would employ one Barry Lamar Bonds. And come on, you “wouldn’t feel right about it”? Derek Jeter gave poor, young Jessica Alba herpes. Alex Rodriguez cheated on his wife, Jorge Posada urinates on his hands (I consider that the worst offense of all, seriously, how many married couples have you known or heard about that never cheated on each other?) and Andy Pettitte used HGH. As long as their off-field actions have zero negative impact on the field, who cares what these players do?
  - Joey H
    
    i agree. i guess we have more scumbags then i thought! lol
  - tommiesmithjohncarlos
    
    Didn’t Darth Vader turn on the emperor and become a hero in the end?
    
    Hmmm…
  - Dylan
    
    Yeah, alright Jamal. Take it easy. Darth Vader was fictional.
    
    Barry Bonds:
    
    1) Lies and continues to lie about it
    2) Blames the hounding of him about the issue on his being black
    3) has an ego the size of his steroid-infused giagantic melon head
    4) Outfield??? No way.
    4) might also be headed to jail soon..
    - tommiesmithjohncarlos
      
      1) Lots of people lie and continue to lie, and yet they are allowed to play major league baseball and the world keeps spinning on its axis.
      2) He may have a point there. The levels of hatred directed towards Bonds vs. Clemens, McGwire, Sosa, Palmiero and the other central faces of the steroids hunt aren’t exactly equal, and he is one big “thing” that the rest of them aren’t. Sure, he’s got a bigger record and sure, he’s a jerk, and those are huge parts of it…but can you say that his being a black man has absolutely nothing at all to do with his public perception? Or the aggressiveness with which he’s being investigated? Nothing at all?
      3) Most of our alternatives at DH are egoless, kind human beings who can’t hit a baseball very hard. I could give a shit if Melky thinks he’s the King of Siam… if he could hit the baseball hard, we’d be fine.
      4) Doesn’t matter if he can’t play the field. Milton Bradley doesn’t play in the field and Texas is doing just fine.
      5) Bonds pleaded not guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice in December 2007. Perjury and obstruction cases are among the most difficult to prosecute, and take lots of time to investigate, which is why his trial date was set for March, 2009, which would be well after he has come and gone from pinstripes. There’s a 99.9999999% certainty that he will be legally free to pursue baseball-related activities for all of 2008.
      - Joey H
        
        okay ladies and gents or probably mostly gents. i think we have to stop the bullshit speculation and come to terms with reality and know that bonds will not be in pinstripes but it would be interesting
        
        Dylan
        
        Word.
- Mark B
  
  If we can deal with Ponson, A Rod & Giambi, we can sure as hell deal with Bonds – especially if it’s just for this season only
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=594331910 Jamal G.
    
    What has A-Rod done that is so bad? If you are really going to bury a guy for cheating on his wife you must stand on some mountain-esque moral grounds. Adultery happens, it is very common.
    - Dylan
      
      That doesn’t make it right.
      - Joey H
        
        but when ur on the road 100+ days a year and cant fuck your wife, and ur A-Rod not for nothing who makes 27 mill a year and is probably the biggest athletes in the genre of sports, believe me i would get hittin some extra side model pootang.(in toronto)
- tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  If anything, I DO want to sign Reggie Stocker out of “principle”. People act like he was the only fucking person doing steroids sometimes. The whole era was tainted; everybody is innocent and everybody is guilty. Minor league junkball pitchers were juicing, slap hitting leadoff men were juicing, and that one player that you really love, whose poster was on your wall and who everybody and their mother swears was clean as Elliott Ness? He was juicing too.
  
  Every single game had juicers in it on both sides, and therefore it’s impossible to tell what plays, games, outcomes or records are clean and which aren’t. So, make a policy that works, enforce it, and move the fuck on with your indignation already. Stop singling Bonds out.
  
  And fuck the “he’s a circus and a distraction and people will hate us” angle. We’re the Yankees; we’re a circus regardless and they’ll hate us no matter what.
  
  SIGN REGGIE STOCKER!
  - Dylan
    
    If I’m so wrong, then why the fuck has Bonds gone so long not being signed by ANYONE at the league minimum?
    - tommiesmithjohncarlos
      
      well, firstly, he’s not an option for anyone. None of the teams out of contention would consider him, because what’s the point of signing him for 10 weeks when you’re not going anywhere anyway? And none of the NL teams are an option, because he’s only a DH.
      
      Realistically, there’s only about 4-6 teams that would have a potential need for him (including us), and many of them haven’t had room for him thus far (or he wouldn’t deign to play there) or have been exploring internal options to see if they’d even be improved by his addition at all.
      
      4-6 teams not signing him is not damning proof of anything. It’s just circumstance. Nobody’s signed Freddy Garcia thus far, but that doesn’t mean nobody was curious and monitoring his progress and interest.
    - Joey H
      
      and he would donate his salary to charity for kids. so why not, thats not following his rep as a scumbag
- Count Zero
  
  I have no principles — I’m a baseball fan. Walt Whitman was an asshole who wrote poetic stuff about the game because he couldn’t figure out the math. ;-)
E-ROC

Barry Bonds would help.
Willy Beamin

I think this can be somewhat of a blessing as much as love Matsui’s production. We did have a logjam at the DH spot. This opens up pt for gardner, who, not only gives the lineup speed, gives the opportunity to rest the slumping Melk without losing much in CF.

Jorge can DH more to rest his shoulder and perhaps get some more 1B under his belt. Molina is much better defense against running and hasn’t hurt us too badly with the bat.

All this, and Matsui can heal his knee for next year, when the Yanks probably won’t have Abreu and may not have the Big G. He can full-time DH, play a little RF…etc.
TomG

I don’t think the Yankees sign Bonds, there is too much money to be made in A-Rod breaking the home run record in a few years. Why would they jepordize that cash cow by giving Bonds an opportunity to build on his record?
- tommiesmithjohncarlos
  
  We’re talking about what, 10 weeks of baseball here? Maybe 15 homers, if we’re incredibly lucky, from Bonds? I don’t think PlayRod is going to mind breaking the record in July 2013 as opposed to May 2013.
  - TomG
    
    There’s some pretty rare air up there around 762 home runs, in fact, only one person’s managed to get up there. Alex is on pace to push for it and everyone stands to make a lot of money if he does. To assume an additional 10 home runs doesn’t affect his chances is naïve. Bonds isn’t the one factor that’s going to put this team over the edge and make them the favorites to win a world series or anything, he’s a rental for a few months that comes with a ton of baggage.
    - tommiesmithjohncarlos
      
      Bonds comes with a “ton of baggage”? The Yankees have played 91 games this year, and EVERY ONE OF THEM came with a ton of baggage, win, lose or rainout. If there’s any town where the Bonds story will become a relative non-story in a month as it gets swallowed up in the rush of the other 5 dozen stories that happen every day, it’s NYC. So that’s not a good reason to not sign Bonds.
      
      And 10 more home runs that may or may not have an effect on an individual record that a Yankee player may or may not reach FIVE YEARS FROM NOW is not a good reason to not sign Bonds either, if signing Bonds increases our ability to field a competitive lineup (and it does). What, if Ken Griffey Jr. was available for free, would you advocate not signing him because he could potentially hit more homers for us and possibly pass Bonds’ 756 before PlayRod gets a chance to? Nobody is going to win or lose a 2008 game based on what happens in 2013.
      - TomG
        
        If you don’t think the financial windfall from the home run record is on anyone’s radar, take a look at some of the articles regarding Rodriguez’s contract negotiations this past winter. And Bonds does have tons of baggage; the guy is a clubhouse cancer, who is facing indictment, not to mention all of the steroid stuff, his creative accounting, etc. But the point is, the team doesn’t need another left-handed DH, they have plenty on those. The team needs to be improved at the margins; it’s not going to be a big name player that puts them over the edge.
        And PlayRod? Really?
scott

Would everyone stop acting as if the yankees are too noble to sign Bonds. If Matsui is out for the year signing Bonds makes complete sense. Why do we rally around Giambi (an admitted cheat) and his mustache but are so against Bonds? Yankee fans were thrilled last year when Roider Clemens was signed…sign Bonds to the same type of pro-rated deal. All Bonds would cost is money and he would get A-Rod off the front page of the newspapers. I am all for team chemistry but the chemistry right now has this team struggling every other day to score runs. Just imagine Bonds batting behind A-rod with the short porch….he could hit 35 the rest of the way.
John

If this team where still being run by George, after his team scored 20 runs in 7 games and with money being the only requirement, Bonds would be in pinstripes already. And is even more needed if Matsui doesnt come back. But even if everyone gets healthy imagine moving Damon to center and Matsui Bonds DH/LF with Melky on the bench to play D late in games. That would make Cano the 9 hitter.
Moses

In other news, Richie Sexson just got cut…and check out these splits http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=3770

Notice something the Yankees could use?