The Hideki Matsui Appreciation Thread
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It’s hard to believe that Hideki Matsui is just about to wrap up his 7th season in pinstripes. The three-time MVP of the Japanese Central League came over to the states as a free agent prior to the 2003 season, signing for just $21M over three years. He introduced himself to New Yorkers by slugging a grand slam in the 2003 home opener, his very first game in front of the Yankee faithful. Although he lost out to Angel Berroa for the 2003 Rookie of the Year Award, the team can’t complain about the return on the investment at all, as Godzilla played in every single game over those three seasons and compiled a .297-.370-.484 batting line in that time.
After proving to be supremely durable and so dependable at the plate, the Yanks couldn’t afford to let Matsui walk as a free agent after the 2005. They brought him back on a four year, $52M deal, but Hideki battled injuries in years one and three of that deal. He broke his wrist on a fluke play in 2006, landing the wrong way as he slid for a ball in the outfield. Matsui’s string of 1,768 consecutive games played came to a sudden halt, as did his Major League record of 518 consecutive games played to start his big league career. All those years of playing every day on the turf in Japan started to take it’s toll on Matsui’s knees, and he missed considerable time in 2008. Despite all that, Matsui still hit .291-.372-.469 in the first three years of that four year deal.
For the first time in his career, Matsui entered the 2009 season as a bit of a question mark. No one was sure how his knees would hold up or if he’d even be able to play the field at all. While he hasn’t been able to roam the outfield, and while his knees have acted up from time to time, Matsui has been nothing short of tremendous as the Yanks’ every day designated hitter. Among DH’s with at least 200 plate appearances, Matsui ranks second in OBP (.365), second in SLG (.521), first in OPS (.886), first in homers (25), first in RBI (82), first in total bases (207), and first in BB/K (0.87). His overall line of .277-.369-.509 gives him his best OPS over a full season since 2004, and of course, there’s the big hits.
If he’s not busy ripping walk-off homers like he did against the Orioles on July 20th, then he’s probably preoccupied with launching two homers and driving in seven runs against the Red Sox like he did on August 21st. Matsui’s a pretty quite and unassuming guy, so maybe he’ll just hit a two-run homer to the tie the game while someone else gets the walk-off glory, like last night. And amazingly enough, Matsui has continued to pound lefthanders again this year (.958 OPS vs LHP, .855 vs RHP), something he’s done consistently throughout his career. The guy is just a hitting mahcine.
We don’t know what the future holds for the marriage between Matsui and the Yankees, as the team wants to get younger and more athletic while Godzilla gets older and couldn’t be any more immobile. Whether or not you want to see him back next year (see the poll below), let’s take this chance to thank Matsui for all he has done for the Yanks. All the big hits, the consistency, the quiet professionalism, the whole nine. Thanks, Hideki.
Photo Credit: Robert Beck, SI
204 Comments»
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The Mason Williams Watch
Among DH’s with at least 200 plate appearances, Matsui ranks second in OPS (.365), second in SLG (.521), first in OPS (.886), first in homers (25), first in RBI (82), first in total bases (207), and first in BB/K (0.87).
Kind of confused there…lol
No you’re not. It’s a typo.
Ahhh. We all make mistakes. Great post either way.
I voted to bring back Matsui on a 1 year deal…providing that he actually takes that option. It may take 2. But I don’t see the problem with doing the same exact thing they did this year. Use Matsui as the DH and if someone needs a half-days rest…then put him there and sit Matsui for the day…and he becomes a ridiculous pinch-hitting option at that time. What do you think Thome is doing with the Dodgers? What about Giambi with the Rockies? And they’re producing for them fine thus far. We have the luxury of the DH spot so we can do one better.
This is not a sentiment I can express very often, but I completely agree with Makavelli.
+1 to all this.
You’re exactly right. The guy is raking the ball and it can’t hurt to bring him back for 1 to 2 more years. I mean if giardi wants the DH as a revolving door then that hurts us in the long run. That means that one “Bench” player would be playing every day with one of the regulars sitting. Which I feel hurts the team more than having an absolute slugger as an every day DH. And like Good ol Mak said if we need to rest Teix, Jeter, etc. and let them DH I’m sure Matsui’s knees could use a day off too. And having him as a pinch hitter is better than the majority of the pinch hitters in the league. The guy’s not 45 he’s in his mid 30′s. Let’s not write him off yet!
and when i mean regulars sitting, i mean when playing defense.
If a “bench” player needs to play to have a rotating dh, then why not sign Chone Figgins to be a super sub? He could be like Tony Philips was to the Tigers in the 90s. 3b one day, rf the next, 2b on Thursday… He’d get 140-150 starts per year and he could be another rabbit at the top of your order, driving opposing pitchers and defenses nuts. Kind of like that idea.
Because somebody is bound to give Figgins one of those 4/35 or 4/40 kind of deal??He’s had a great year, seems poised to get a Juan Pierre kind of deal at least. I don’t want that kind of commitment to a super sub.
Agree completely.
There needs to be an option between “yes, but only for one year” and “yes, whatever the cost”. I think a one year plus a mutual option second year, is the way to go.
I don’t think anyone is going to give Matsui more than one year if they didn’t for Abreu.
But, I also think Abreu overplayed his hand last winter too.
I think Abreu’s contract last year was a one time thing. You can go the opposite way with Pat Burrell’s contract…saying “look at what he got and how he played compared to what I did”. So who knows.
I think Abreu’s contract last year was a one time thing.
See also: Global Financial Meltdown + Bernie Madoff + imminent end of the world as we know it
well, if the world is ending then it doesnt matter, you can give him a 10 or more year contract
Touché.
But there is chance the market may be different this offseason. I would think that Abreu should get a multi year deal this offseason, as well as Damon. Matsui is a bit different because he couldn’t play the outfield at all this year
Ben Bernake just said the recession is over, we’re all good.
YES!
(runs out and leases a Murciélago)
At the beginning of the offseason Abreu was rumored to be looking for 3/$36. In late January he was telling the press that he felt he deserved 3 years. At that point, all the teams that we openly looking for a big hitter had already signed someone.
He priced himself above the market rate and didn’t lower his demands until after all the teams willing to pay market rate had already signed someone. I think he would have gotten much better offers if he started off by pricing himself in the same area as guys like Ibanez, Burrell, Bradley instead of trying to get more.
I demand to know who voted “Yes, whatever the cost”. Really? WHATEVER the cost?
Hideki: Brian, I want your first-born son.
Cashman: Deal.
Hideki (through his interpreter): Brian, I want your first-born son.
Cashman: Deal.
/Fixed
Yeah… you THINK he doesn’t speak English.
Heh, heh…
There needs to be an option between “yes, but only for one year” and “yes, whatever the cost”.
I agree.
while i think itd be nice to have the DH as a revolving door for our veterans, it leaves a hole in our offense on days when all the veterans would start and play in the field. after all, jeter and posada are really the only everday players over 35 on the opening day roster (damon if he comes back, arod will turn 35 eventually) for 2010
matsui still has power, he still has great discipline (look at the k/bb ratio) and he isnt affected at all by lefties, which in my book is a HUGE plus, especially for the late innings
obviously 13M is too much, but id have no problem bringing him back on a 1/8 deal… 886 OPS’s dont grow on trees
Plus I think the thing about using the DH as a way to rest the veterans some days isn’t thrown out the window with Matsui at there. With his knees the way they are he can’t even DH everyday so you’re still going to have 30-35 games a year open to rest the older guys at DH.
exactly, great point
those 30-35 games are more than enough to rest arod/jeter/posada, maybe even too much
this is why i think anyone that voted the 1st 2 options should say in the comments who they think the DH should be… the revolving door? abreu? jason bay? nick johnson?
keep in mind both abreu and bay are gonna be Type A free agents
Rested Matsui = Good Matsui
I voted for option 2 but after considering Jackson’s comments, I’d be down on a 1-yr deal. HazMat can not DH all year so he’ll need off days and between rotating the guys thru the DH spot as well as complete days off possibly. I think it’d work.
i hadn’t even thought of nick johnson, if he was just a DH that got some time off once in a while for the vets, do you think he’d be able to stay healthy?
Hmmm, that is intriguing. I’m more inclined to stick with HazMat because he won’t ask for a 3 or 4 year deal, but it’s hard to frown at Nick’s career .275/.402/.450 (125+).
While his playoffs numbers in 2003 were overall miserable…I seem to recall some/one timely hit(s) from him in the ALCS…no?
http://www.google.com
(Seriously, though… I don’t care. Postseason failure is usually a bad way to rule out a player acquisition, because it’s invariably a small sample size and players tend to move towards their mean with increased postseason chances. I mean, if Nick had a career postseason line of .000/.000/.000 with 25 K in 25 PA, sure. But if he’s just scuffled a bit, who cares? He’ll get better.)
Yeah I know…that was an actual question haha…I know it could have come out sarcastic…but I do recall him hitting a few big hits…no? I’ll have to look it up…
Signing players based on post-season exploits means you end up with players of the same caliber as Jerome James.
That’s a trick answer: There ARE no players of the same caliber as Jerome James.
i’m not so sure he’d want a 4 year deal (or that anyone would give it to him) i checked out his numbers though and he hasnt hit for much power since 06 till getting traded to the marlins this year
I didn’t vote to not have Matsui back, but then again, I didn’t vote. I do have another option at DH that would allow regular rest to the veterans without putting a bench player in the line-up – Chone Figgins.
He would be our DH. However, in reality he would be our 3B, LF, CF, 2B. He is in the line-up everyday, and regularly in the field. Then you bring back Damon or sign a different LF.
I see the obvious problems with this suggestion, such as Figgins is a far superior defensive 3B to A-Rod so why would he go back to “super sub”. Well, money sometimes works.
I was more excited about this idea prior to Jeter/Damon sucess in the 1 and 2 holes but I still think it has merit, especially with damon not gauranteed to come back.
Another option would be Mark DeRosa – remove CF from the postion possibilities and he works as well, and probably fits better in the line-up if we keep Damon. (I can’t see Figgins wantign to bat last with his .400 OBP and I cannot see Damon or Jeter moving down in the order)
There are a few big issues with your idea of bringing in Figgins, the largest being that he doesn’t play the OF anymore. Since 2007, he’s been primarily a 3B with only token appearances elsewhere. He’s 32 years old, offers little power, leads the league in CS, strikes out a lot more than you’d like from someone averaging 40 XBH’s a year.
I like DeRosa, but what can he do that Hairston can’t and for a lot less?
I woldn’t focus so much on the Figgins Ks, its an out (just like the other ways players make outs). I will focus on the fact that he only makes outs 60% of the time. For a line-up with a lot of power OBP guys are a huge plus as they make solo homers crooked numbers. Sure he han’t played OF for a a few years, but he plays on a team with a ton of OF options, and a blackhole at 3b before he filled it. I believe (and it would be up to yankee scouts to decide) that the move to 3B is more need related for the Angels than for Chone. As for the caught stealing, his CS % would surely go down if he didn’t play for a team that had him steal everytime he was on base.
As for DeRosa/Hairston. the simple answer is offensive production. Of his 4 years as an everyday starter DeRosa has an OPS+ of 109. Hairston has never been a full time player and has a career OPS+ of 85.
Well there is certainly no reason to save the DH spot for anyone else, as they can just continue to do what they have done this year. If they resign Damon and Hideki, they can just work them and Jorge at DH and give them rest too.
But more so, its a matter of replacement. If the Yanks don’t resign Matsui, who are they going to replace him with and at what cost/how many years? Holliday? Bay? No one from the minors makes sense, and both those guys should be replacements for Damon if anything.
I just don’t see a better option than Hideki as long as we are talking 1-2 years.
Just for the record. I heterosexually love Hideki Matsui. I feel the role he played this year is perfect for him. It keeps him healthier…and it doesn’t effect his hitting one bit…as it used to do with guys like Giambi…who produced MUCH more when playing in the field as opposed to just DHing. AND he’s also proven that he’s gotten used to PHing after the opportunities in the Interleague games.
I’d love to have him back. He’s so poised at the plate…nothing seems to phase him. Not even two knee operations, a broken wrist, or age.
Matsui for 2010!
The Kevin Long Appreciation Thread, the Hideki Matsui Appreciation Thread, the Mark Teixeira Appreciation Thread, man, I’m pumped.
I can’t wait for the John Henry and Larry Lucchino Appreciation Thread. I appreciate those two so much for letting us do foul, unspeakable things to them during the 2008-2009 offseason and subsequently giftwrapping the AL East title for the next decade. Thanks, guys.
We’ll see you ’round the bend… Number 2…
Heh heh heh (throws up 2 fingers)
theo knows what hes doing
i dont care what the stats say, smoltz penny and baldelli were all shrewd, savvy free agent signings…
I thought so too at the time and still do.
Those were nice low-risk high-reward ANCILLARY moves. When they define your entire off-season, there is absolutely nothing shrewd or savvy about them.
Exactly.
When you use gum and peanutbutter to catch a mouse, you’re a genius. When you use gum and peanutbutter to plug a crack in the Grand Coulee Dam, you’re an idiot.
I love how they make all these terrible moves that backfire and still get to coast into the playoffs though.
The one year we struggle mightily…the Rays start playing through their shoes…
I love how they make all these terrible moves that backfire and still get to coast into the playoffs though.
Do you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm
Just yanking your crank a little.
(TWSS)
Penny, Smotlz, Lugo, the list goes on and on yet the Red Sox continue to get lucky with these bums. Now Paul Byrd is tossing gems and Dice-K is back and rock solid. I’m really worried about a hot streaking Red Sox in the ALCS. Especially with Burnett and Joba both not pitching to their potential.
Confidence Level: 10
I’m glad you feel that way I’m still at a 9 after Baltimore smacked us around. i know it was raining that night but it was raining for them too. My other fear is that where we would match up very well against a Tigers team over a 4 man rotation with Washburn now being shut down. I feel that Detroit might lose it’s grasp on the division when they play 7 games against Minnesota! And I would much rather face a beat up Detroit than have to face Mauer and a streaking Red Hot Twins team!
Hmm… given the information you’ve just provided to me, let me alter my statement.
Confidence Level:
1011The only thing better than facing the Tigers in the playoffs? Facing the Twins
Heh. You think the Angels are the Red Sox’s bitch? That’s nothing compared to how we totally pwn Minnesota.
We’ll go all Wayne Brady on the Twins. Squirrelmaster like a mothaf#$&ka.
Meh. While I’m worried about Burnett and Joba…I’m not worried about a “hot streaking” Red Sox in the ALCS. They’ll be on the road 4 out of 7 games where they currently are 3 games under .500 and where their offensive numbers are DRASTICALLY lower than at home…and even at home their offensive numbers are about the same if not a little lower than our Road numbers are.
Beckett is ailing and we hit him well anyway. Lester may be tough and Buchholz could be trouble but with our offense we can beat any of them.
We already seemingly have the division wrapped up and we’re still cruising through teams with ease.
I’d worry more about the bad calls and screw jobs than I would about legitimately losing to a “hot streaking Red Sox.”
Well yeah when The Yankees play they not only have to beat the other team they have to beat the Umpires as well!
+27
Just one thing that I feel like saying pretty often… It’s totally understandable that people are concerned about AJ and Joba. I don’t think the fear of the Sox is as reasonable, but I, at least, get it… But it’s important to keep in mind that it’s how they perform in the playoffs, not on September 15, that matters. There’s some time before the playoffs start. People seem to be freaking out as if the status of the team today is going to be exactly the same as the status of the team when the season ends, and that’s just not accurate. AJ, for example, should get a few more starts in. Let’s see how they go before we start deciding that he’s definitely entering the playoffs on a bad streak, right? Again, it’s understandable why people are concerned, but we have to keep things, and time-frames, in perspective.
Exactly. With our division lead, September games against the Orioles and Jays should have no bearing on your confidence level, win, lose, or draw. They’re glorified Grapefruit League games. Meaningless.
yeah well tell that to the Yankees who were fighting with a useless team which could have gotten Posada or someone else really hurt and then we would be fucked!
Yeah… no.
He wasn’t going to get hurt, dude. Only Milton Bradley gets hurt in brawls.
I actually think it’s ok if they affect your confidence level, I just think people need to keep in mind that they have to think of things through the prism of the time-frames actually in play here. If the season ended today would I be concerned about AJ? Sure. But there’s time left. Frankly… We know AJ can be streaky, but I have no problem with him going through a bad streak in late August and early September. It’s October that matters at this point.
Exactly.
Big picture. Sure, winning the games makes you feel nice. But losing them shouldn’t make you feel bad, because we all know we don’t really need to win them, so we do things like pull Andy Pettitte from his scheduled start as a precaution or have Joba Chamberlain only throw 3 innings because we’re saving him for October or have Sergio Mitre throw baseballs in the vicinity of opposing batters even though everyone on Earth and Mars knows they’re going to get demolished.
MIbigpictureND
(nods head)
Exactly. Some Sox fan on another board was bringing up how we’re “dwindling” lately while they’re streaking and I just dug up some factual information for him.
On September 17, 2004 the Red Sox were 89-57 and were 7-3 in their last 10 games at that point.
On September 17, 2007 the Red Sox were 90-61 and 5-5 in their last 10 games at that point.
On September 17, 2009 the Yankees are 95-53 and 7-3 in their last 10 games at this point.
As we are all aware, the Sox won the World Series in both of those years above…while playing similar or worse baseball on and/or around this date of the month in that respective year.
It doesn’t exactly mean all that much. The playoffs are an entirely different story.
But yes, AJ and Joba need to get their act together…or we could have a lot of problems on our hands.
You’re angling for the Axl Memorial Poster of the Day award, aren’t you?
Keep it up, hotshot.
I’m trying TSJC! I’m trying!
Pull for me! (No Freudian Slips Allowed On This One lol)
It all comes down to who else we can get and for what. I would rather stick with the exact same outfield we have this season instead of signing Bay or Holliday and losing Matsui and/or Damon.
It seems like it couldn’t hurt to sign Matsui to a one year deal, but will he want more money and/or more playing time then the Yanks can offer?
I can’t think of a concrete reason as to why he should not be back. The main crutch for the argument that he should not return next season is that the Yankees have too many veteran players that need time in the DH slot to rest; however, unless you have failed to pay attention to this entire 2009 campaign, Joe Girardi has frequently rotated players such as Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada in the DH slot, at the expense of Hideki Matsui. I don’t understand why the same can not be done in 2010.
As for the secondary argument that Johnny Damon is a liability in left field: that is just an exaggeration. Amonsgt Major League left fielders with 600-plus defensive innings accumulated in said position, Damon’s UZR/150 of -9.2 runs has him tied with Garrett Anderson for the 11th-worst ranking in a pool of nineteen qualifiers; in other words, he is average. In terms of his range, Damon has cost the Yankees -3.8 runs, or above the Major League average.
Johnny Damon can still play left field at a below-to-league-average level; Hideki Matsui can still be the frequent, primary DH; veteran players can still rotate in and out of the DH spot at the expense of Matsui sitting on the bench. Honestly, what is the issue with bringing both Matsui and Damon back?
In terms of his range, Damon has cost the Yankees -3.8 runs, which ranks 9th of 19, or above the Major League average.
Bah, -3.8 is actually slightly below the league-average mark of those qualifiers for range runs (-3.5); but, you get the drift.
Modern Day Murderers Row.
Break them up only for an obvious, “There’s no f#$%ing way we can pass on this guy, he’s a future HoFer just entering his prime” type of upgrade.
Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are not said upgrades.
Holliday could be. He is a good fielder and a good hitter, but his contract would obviously not be favorable for the team, especially considering that they’re locked in on the corners for a long time already.
Man-ny, clap-clap; Man-ny, clap-clap.
http://alteredobsession.files......sailed.jpg (safe)
Exactly.
Oh, and one last thing about the defense: with a well-above-average center fielder like the Yankees employ in Brett Gardner (in terms of range, his 5 runs saved ranks him 9th of 29 MLB center fielders with 500-plus innings accumulated at said position (Melky is 14th; Ellsbury is 25th)), they can mask a bit of the slightly below-league-average stench that Damon’s range brings in left field.
Joe Girardi has frequently rotated players such as Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada in the DH slot, at the expense of Hideki Matsui. I don’t understand why the same can not be done in 2010.
Yup; the same thing could easily be done next year.
Exactly, basically its this year, but it costs less.
“As for the secondary argument that Johnny Damon is a liability in left field: that is just an exaggeration.”
This is a good point, thanks for digging up the numbers. It occurred to me also recently that the perception of Damon’s defense in 2009 probably doesn’t match up with the reality, just because he made a couple of awful plays early in the season and everyone decided he was terrible (which, to be fair, he was early on). But he’s been perfectly serviceable out there for most of the season. I’d even venture a guess that he took some time to get used to YS3 and then settled in, defensively.
I think the issue is how much longer can you rely on an aging player with creaky knees? I’m sure he’ll hit as long as he remains healthy, but can that be counted on?
This is a guy who has had his knees drained multiple times during the season.
Well, you’re asking them to take diminished roles, but both will command and deserve pay raises and both are just offensive players at this point anyway. In fact, they kinda cancel each other out as they’re both really just DH-type players. Damon cannot play the field more than one day in a row right now, but he’s gonna try. Matsui has been in and out of lineup all season with the recurring knee stuff. Why bother risking serious season ending stuff? Can’t we just thank them for their production, tell them when old timer’s day is, and make a run at some guys who bring more to the table?
Both have produced above expectations and I love ‘em for it, but what are you gonna get out of either of them that you can’t get somewhere else but with better D and more speed?
When it comes to the Yankees it may be time to rethink this love affair with power. Power numbers impress us and seduce us but often abandon us when we need them most. The runs you prevent are always more important than the runs you score.
Your first point about the deserving pay raises is wrong. Matsui is currently (according to Fangraphs) worth $10.3million while getting paid $13million, while Damon has been worth $12.8 million while getting paid $13 million. In the current market, I’d say the Yankees lucked out that both have produced so close to what their paychecks are.
But I would agree that it may be time to let one of them go. I’d go with Matsui, only because the only skill he has left is his hitting. So when that skill goes, and it will at some point, I’d rather the Yankees left holding the bag. Though Damon’s defense has declined, and he’s stolen less bases, he can actually still take the field and not immediately end up on the DL. I don’t like the idea of having these 2 aging players on the same roster, as much as I do love Matsui and the amazing comeback he has had this year.
That’s a fair concern.
Followup question: How do you organize our 2010 roster? If you let HazMat walk, what’s your everyday starting 9 and 4 man bench?
Just a guess:
C-Jorge
1B-Tex
2B-Cano
3B-Nails
SS-Jeets
LF-Damon
CF-Gardner
RF-Swish
DH-External option–Thome? Abreu? Vlad? Nick Johnson? Dunn (once we know the cost)?
BN:
C-Frankie C
IF-Ramiro
OF-Melky
IF/OF-Hairston
Figgins might be an option, but he really doesn’t hit for any sort of power and unless he’s OBPing .400+– which I doubt he could do; he’s only been over .360 twice–his bat can’t justify LF.
Somehow Figgins is leading the league in walks this year. Don’t ask me how he pulled that off. So that is an entirely new dimension to his game, but I’m not really sold on him as DH/swingman.
Yeah, I’d prefer Chone not be on the Yankees. Give me a power hitter in a power position, please.
C-Hip Hip
1b-Teix
2b-Cano
SS-Jetes
3b-Nails
LF-Damon
CF-Grit
RF-Swisher
DH-maybe Hank Blaylock/Nick Johnson/Aubry Huff
Util-Pena
C-Frankie
OF-Melky
Everything-Jerry
Like I said below, I haven’t given this much thought, so if those DH options look like shit (just off the top of my head) or want too much, bring back Matsui.
Fangraphs does a great job, but I think their approach to evaluating whether players are earning their money is shaky. Wins are not all worth the same. A win is worth a lot more to the Yankees than to the Royals, say. So the idea that Matsui is worth $10.3 million to the Yankees is not correct.
It would be, if the market for players were deep and you could just pick up wins at the market dollars/win price, but it isn’t and you can’t. Another factor is that while it’s sensible to evaluate a player in terms of wins, that often will not be relevant to a specific team. Adding a slugger to an offensive powerhouse doesn’t get you as much as adding one to a weak-hitting team with outstanding pitching.
When it comes to the Yankees it may be time to rethink this love affair with power. Power numbers impress us and seduce us but often abandon us when we need them most. The runs you prevent are always more important than the runs you score.
Care to provide some reasons? I don’t see why any of this is right.
Going away from power seems to be a particularly bad idea when you play in a HR-friendly park.
And when our superior power this year has powered us to the best offense in baseball and powered us to the best record in the league.
Funny how things evolve. Early in the year, I’ll bet most Yankee fans would have voted to keep Damon and let Matsui go. Now it seems to be the reverse. Let’s see what it is after postseason is done. If the Yanks win the World Series, I’ll bet the feeling will be don’t break up a good thing, keep them both. I think there’s a good argument for that right now given that the Yanks are having a rather magical season like we have not seen since for years. Bottom line is they’re both great players, having very good seasons, winners, guys you want on your team. IF their health does not seriously decline.
I wish there was a Faceblook “Like” button for this post. He will be missed but I don’t think they should bring him back just due to the logjam he kind of creates. I guess I don’t know who would replace him though. I wish we could get someone like Chone Figgins who could play lots of positions while letting A-Rod, Jeter, Cano, or an OF be DH.
Alex K. likes this.
As does Mathhew R Saia, I’m sure.
That dude likes everything.
Thanks!
Wait, how can he be second in OBP, second in slugging, and first in OPS?
Ok, right after I posted that I answered my own question. Never mind.
/bows head to Hideki
I originally read your comment as “blows head to Hideki” and I thought “Man, Nady Nation must really like Hideki.”
But you didn’t actually type that.
Freudian thought slip?
Not a single mention of porn yet? You’re slipping, guys.
Hideki Matsui has the second largest collection of tire salesman-themed pornography in the Western Hemisphere.
http://www.hiyoooo.com/
I laughed so hard I think I cracked a rib.
JMK: Oh, drat, a flat tire here in the middle of Vermont? These cut-off jean-shorts I’m wearing are much to tight for me to be able to change this flat all by myself. If only there were someone to help me…
IECTVM.
Apparently you have never had a 290 lbs. “woman” land on your chest. I’m no scientist, but even I know Newton’s 2nd law is not good when you’re outweighed by 170 lbs.
We’ve all had our drunken mistakes; I just happen to have the number of Pi for mine. Yes, if you’re scoring at home (figuratively, that is), I’m the Wilt Chamberlain to obese, hippie chicks in the Burlington, VT metropolitan area.
(I just vomited in my mouth a little bit.)
The best part of all this is none of us would know any of it, and therefore wouldn’t be able to make fun of you for it, if you didn’t decide to offer up the information yourself. You’re a masochist.
This information has certainly put a damper on today…
One day I will meet this glorious man.
Carl Hungus
Not to be a dick (even though I know I will be in the following words), but are you telling me that it was really that difficult to realize that the first “OPS” was obviously a typo for “OBP?
ietcvm
If you are very busy smoking e-cigarettes with Danny Partridge and Jose Conseco, one could easily make that mistake.
I’m sorry, Lodge, what were you saying?
I was looking at the Fantasy Sports Daily ad and lost my concentration. Sorry about that.
That’s Okay. That football is really distracting, I know.
Yes, they are.
What were we talking about?
I wouldnt be the least bit suprised if Godzilla just tips his hat and goes back to Japan to play out his career / make stick figure babies
Bring him back on a 1 year deal. 5 or 6 million? That sounds good to me. Matsui-son has honor, and is a better option for this team as it stands than another DH.
I am a fan of Milton Bradley, too much money though.
I am a fan of Milton Bradley, too much money though.
Can we petition the league to have him take all his PAs at The Ballpark in Arlington, regardless of whether we’re playing at home or on the road?
If so, I’m on board. Otherwise, hells to the no.
http://upnextinsports.com/wp-c.....662659.jpg (safe)
As you guys know, I’m a fan of guys who have great talent but underachieve.
My rejoinder: A.J. Burnett never tore his ACL because his manager had to pull him away from attacking an umpire.
Nor did he ever storm up to the press box to fight John Sterling. (Although, that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad idea, Allan James. Don’t rule it out, is all I’m saying).
Did someone else bring this up already – I heard last night on the MLB network that he broke the record for most HR’s by a Yankees DH. Previous mark was held by Don Baylor…
Hideki and Donny B are both at 25 for a single season. So he tied the record. Breaking it happens tomorrow night.
MOO PSI MOO!
MILK IT
MILK IT
MILK IT
MOO PSI MOO!
MILK IT
MILK IT
MILK IT
I thought he tied Baylor at 25? Maybe I was distracted and didn’t hear it right though.
Okay, not crazy, just beaten while reading.
I voted to bring him back for a year. But if the Yankees win the WS, I think he should go back to Japan. I want them to win this year for Matsui, more than any other reason. I’d like to see him go out with a WS win.
That would be beautiful.
So, what you’re saying is, after we win the WS this year, you want to reup HazMat for the next 10 years?
Because we’re winning the next 11 World Series. That’s a fact.
Ah…..didn’t think of that.
I guess overall I’m more on the bandwagon with getting rid of a guy a year early instead of a year late, meaning I’d rather move on and get younger, unless he doesn’t get his WS win this year.
That may be a mistake, though. HazMat is so goooooood this year….but like Damon, Jeter, Jorge, and Mo, one does wonder when the immortality pill is going to wear off.
Tank… I think you should probably re-think that comment. I assume you think the Yankees should bring Matsui back for 2010 because you think it would make the Yankees a better team in 2010, right? So why would winning the World Series in 2009 affect whether you think the Yankees should bring Matsui back in 2010?
Is Matsui going out with a World Series win more important to you than the strength of the team in 2010? I doubt you think it is.
See my comment above, Mondesi. Matsui at his 2009 level? Yeah, there ain’t no way they’re getting that kind of OPS easily, so he would make the team better. But what I mean overall is….read above.
It’s a gamble. Of course it’s always a gamble, with any player, but as the years pile up, the chance of rolling craps keeps getting higher.
It might be taking too much of a chance in signing both Damon and HazMat.
Ok… I was responding, obviously, to your original comment, which stated that your decision on whether or not you want Matsui in a Yankees uniform in 2010 was contingent on whether or not the Yankees win the World Series in 2009, and I commend you for abandoning that specious line of reasoning.
Matsui has been outstanding and it will be sad to see either Matsui or Damon leave, but almost assuredly, one of them will. From just a loyalty standpoint I’d like to see Matsui stay even though he can’t offer any OF play while Damon can. Then again, Matsui has proven he can be just as dangerous at the plate as the DH, something that not every player can adjust to (Giambi for example).
And even though Matsui’s knees are already shot, he is still 6 months younger than Damon. I don’t envy Cashman in this decision.
And even though Matsui’s knees are already shot, he is still 6 months younger than Damon.
Are you factoring in the Asian porn?
Because we all know Hideki Matsui is effectively 57 years old, for all intents and purposes.
ietcvm. BTW, you totally mis-used the term “ad hominem” in the last thread regarding my Point #1 on the popularity of baseball.
And he responded to that claim in the last thread, where that conversation should stay.
I read back through the whole thread in case I overlooked it, but he did NOT respond to that comment. Just for the record. That is why I dropped the comment to him here.
I’ll let it go. Let’s move on.
Bob, you see that blue link in Mondesi’s post above? That’s a link to my response.
Thanks TJSC. I tried the link before my last comment and it just brought me back to the beginning of the post and comments. So I still don’t see your response. But that’s okay. I always enjoy the dialogue with you.
Try this:
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....ent-585116
And wait for the page to load fully. It takes an extra second for the link to pull you down to the anchor point.
(Bob, just for the record, that’s the exact same link that was in my comment.)
Thanks. It took a couple a tries (even with waiting for the time for the link to go to the anchor point – I am fairly computer savvy) but I finally found your response. I think it’s time for me to upgrade my browser. I’m still (gulp – embarrassed to say) on IE 6.0.
I am not going to comment any further here on the last thread as it belongs there.
Thanks for your response and help on the info on how links work.
No problemo.
Get off of IE 6.0, though, immediately. You’re probably personally responsible for the spread of H1N1 with that shit.
Will do.
I know I didn’t come from no ape! Damn you Demoncrats and your so-called science!
So he is 57 years old in porn years ? What is the rough conversion factor there ?
Well, he could very easily bring them both back.
Definitely possible, though the front office has to consider how to get younger. It is probably unlikely that all the guys that are on the old side this season, that will be yet another year older next year, will all stay almost completely healthy all year. Plus there are Gardner, Cabrera, and eventually Ajax angling for playing time in the OF, not to mention Swisher.
I guess it would depend on the move they make. If they feel they can go another year with Damon and Matsui and the options for the OF in the 2010 offseason are better than 2009, then great. But if the options out there in 2010 are worse, you have to consider making the change sooner rather than later.
Meh, bringing them back for one year let’s the team take their time with Jackson. They could bring him up and spell others or replace someone if they get inured, etc. They won’t necessarily block him if we sign them for 1 year. I think they’d have plenty of flexibility with that scenario.
Well, he could very easily bring them both back.
Yup.
13 man position player roster:
C- Mr. “You Don’t Want To Do That…”
1B- All Day I Dream About Tex
2B- The Lazy Dominican
3B- Nails Krzyzewski
SS- The Blazing-Copper Horse
LF-
CF- Gritt Guttner
RF- The Most Interesting Man In The World
DH-
——-
C- Frankie Baggadonuts
UTI- The Mexican Non-Gangster
4th OF- Leche Suckmynuts
Flex- Jerry Hairy (i hope)
Two holes to fill. Find me two better options, all things considered (contract committment, production to salary ratio, team need, etc.) other than Johnny Rightfieldporch in LF and HazMat at DH again.
It makes sense. You know it does.
I’m fine with bringing back Damon. He seems the best option for LF. But I’d like to bring in a younger (younger in porn years, dog years, baseball years, or Tokoyo Dome years) DH/position player. Someone who could play the field when needed, but really was the everyday DH. I know they most likely will not be able to meet Matsui’s production for this year, but I don’t think he will be able to either. And since I don’t have anyone off the top of my head, I’ll have to get back to you with some ideas.
If there is no one else out there, even through trade perhaps, then I guess you go with Matsui and hope his hit tool is still there all year next year.
What about trading for Adam Dunn-if you want to get younger at the position? His contrac is reasonable and he is a very patient hitter with loads of power. I know he strikes out to much but he seems to fit the organization preference on patient at bats and working counts. I also relaize he is lousy defensively, this is just a suggestion as an alternate DH.
Trading prospects for the marginal upgrade of Adam Dunn when HazMat, Jim Thome, Nick Johnson, or a host of other suitable DH’s can be had doesn’t make much sense, IMO.
I think the big donkey would be more than a marginal upgrade over hazmat.
But a Nick Johnson triumphant return to pinstripes sounds cool to me, but only if he brings his mustache with him.
On a multi-year deal though?
I like Matsui more because it’s a 1 year thing, sure NJ sounds cool but does it best serve the team?
I’m always down for the go with the devil you know rather than the devil you don’t know.
Plan A – Bring back Matsui on a 1-year
Plan B – Nick Johnson/Jim Thome
Plan C – Big Donkey
Plan D – Rotating DH
That has to be the other part of the calculus.
HazMat’s more appealing than Nick because he can be dumped next year if, oh, say a certain catcher was ready for the majors and we wanted to move Jorge to DH for 2011.
Just something to think about.
I think the big donkey would be more than a marginal upgrade over hazmat.
Probably. But, you never know when TTO guys will hit the wall.
In any event, while I’ll agree that Dunn makes this lineup better, he’s only appealing as a free agent. Not if he requires trade compensation.
Unfortunately Kenny Williams/Ozzie Guillen do not work for the Nationals.
Would the Organization really pass on Jim Thome on a 1 year deal to re-sign Matsui on a similar basis?
Wouldn’t Thome be a threat to hit 40 homers in the new YS? If we’re going to try to pummell the opposition next season as Joba and Hughes continue to get seasoning (one more than the other), then its all the more important to keep the lineup power intact.
I wouldnt mind Matsui returning to the club on a 1 year deal, but I think somebody like Thome could really have fun in this stadium.
That might work. I do like the fact that Matsui hits lefties so well. In his career, Thome has feasted on righties – but he has been respectable against lhp.
Would the Organization really pass on Jim Thome on a 1 year deal to re-sign Matsui on a similar basis?
Yes. But, he is an intriguing option, I’ll give you that.
While Thome might hit some home runs in YSIII, I’d rather have Matsui. Stats for 2009:
Matsui 25hr, 85rbi, 57bb, .280avg, .370obp, .516slg, .886ops
Thome 23hr, 74rbi, 69bb, .248avg, .369obp, .487slg, .856ops
Plus Thome strikes our almost twice as often – 119 to 64. The only arguments I can see for Thome over Matsui are that 1) he might be healthier and 2) he might hit more home runs.
I’ll still take Matsui. I didn’t look it up but I’ll bet Matsui hits a lot better than Thome with RISP and in key situations.
You know what would make me interested in Thome over Matsui?
If I knew that Thome could still play 1B, thus giving him some ever-so-slight positional advantage over HazMat. But he’s played 28 innings at 1B in the past four years, and none of those 28 came in 2008 and 2009. Not even in LA, where the choices are either “play 1B” or “sit your ass on the bench”.
That would increase his utility but it seems unlikely that he would play much first base for the Yankees when they have Tex and Swish.
Unlikely yes, but, my retort:
Cody Ransom and Jose Molina played 14 innings of 1B for the 2009 Yankees. Ransom got a start.
Thome being able to man 1B on occasion would allow us to give Tex the night off without having to shift Swish to 1B (and thus, play Melky and Gardner together).
Agreed. If he could man 1B, he’d be a better option than Matsui.
Good point. Agreed. But I still like Matsui (probably somehwat for sentimental reasons like past big moment performances and his overall professionalism).
Matsui brings so much attention and revenue from Japan that it would really not make sense to replace him with Thome, not to mention (but I’m going to mention it anyway) that Yankee fans love him. Assuming that both will give you about equal offensive production, Matsui is the man.
That’s probably the twin tiebreakers.
1) He knows NYC and is good with the team, the pressure, the atmosphere, all that jazz
2) He’s still an international revenue boost
Think of all the times Joe G plays the “A” lineup… without Matsui (or another legit full-time DH), next year’s “A” lineup will contain one of Molina/Pena/Hairston/Melky & Gardner.
The “A” lineup has been used 13 times this year – most of any, with the next closest lineups being used 5 times.
That lineup is averaging 8 runs a game, and the team is 11-2 in those games. Also, that lineup was used against the following teams:
Det – 2
TB – 3
Bos – 3
Tex – 1
LAA – 1
(plus the non-contenders)
Oak -1
Tor – 1
Bal – 1
If the A lineup has only been used 13 times so far this season, I would think that means the A lineup isn’t that important.
If the bench increases their roles 10%, it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. Especially not when you realize a lot of that playing time comes from giving good offense, bad defense guys more time at DH.
This will be tough… Because they need flexibility and they need outfielders… Matsui a great power source from the left side of the plate actually creates a log jam. Meanings as long as hes on the 40 man roster… that’s one less spot for a young pitcher… Damon has to play the outfield most every game, Posada has to catch 120 games… and hurts the yanks flexibility. A platoon DH squad of Damon/Posada/Arod is pretty damn nasty… If your afraid of losing production from the DH spot next year… think again
He wants to come back it will need to be him wanting to come back and play for a bobby abreu type contract…
A platoon DH squad of Damon/Posada/Arod is pretty damn nasty… If your afraid of losing production from the DH spot next year… think again
I did and I see something wrong with your statement. If the Yanks rest players every game if they lose a full time DH then that means there has to be a mediocre bench player playing everyday.
You can still rest regulars if Matsui is in the lineup like you knwo what they ahve been doing.
It’s not a rule that if Matsui is a DH then you cannot rest regulars.
Yeah, pretty much all of that is wrongly reasoned.
I know you guys are in love with sui now… and hes swinging a great bat but what were you saying when he could barely run down to first base and hitting .260 with no run production in june????
No guarantee that his knees get better… and no shot he plays like this next season…. NO SHOT!
You can predict the future too?!?
Why the hell can’t I do this?
Better argument (but still way too much punctuation), but it doesn’t correct your earlier mistakes of claiming that:
1.) They need flexibility – (bringing Matsui back doesn’t impinge on any flexibility)
2.) They need outfielders – (if Damon is retained as expected, we don’t need any outfielders)
3.) Matsui creates a log jam on the 40 man roster – (his spot would be filled by a bat of some sort; moot)
4.) That’s one less spot for a young pitcher – (again, Matsui would be replaced by another hitter, he doesn’t affect the pitchers)
5.) Damon has to play the outfield most every game – (this is not necessarily a bad thing)
6.) Posada has to catch 120 games – (also not necessarily a bad thing)
7.) A platoon DH squad of Damon/Posada/Arod is pretty damn nasty – (moot; the point is not that your DH rotation wouldn’t be formidable, it’s that the LF/C/3B who replace Damon/Posada/ARod is likely to be a big downgrade over Matsui)
8.) We’re afraid of losing production from the DH spot next year – (we’re not; we’re afraid of losing production from the LF/C/3B spots with way too much Cervelli and Peña PAs)
So… yeah. That should cover it.
There was no shot he was going to play like this this season. I think this season has shown us that as long as Hideki doesn’t have to run out in the field and gets some rest every so often, he’ll stay healthy and productive. A hitter like Matsui–a patient pull hitter–is perfect for this lineup and this stadium. I’d expect both he and Damon to be back next season.
He has a .8886 OPS for the season, which would be his second highest OPS ever. He has been very hot lately, but he has been good all year.
A platoon DH squad of Damon/Posada/Arod is pretty damn nasty… If your afraid of losing production from the DH spot next year… think again
They’d be keeping production from the DH spot but losing it from all the other positions. A-Rod/Jorge/Johnny @ DH with Pena, Hairston, Mekly, Gardner, or Cervelli in their normal spots makes the lineup weaker.
You guys are in love with him now… you are star gazed i get it… but he ain’t commin back… unless he comes back for 4-6 mill/1 yr.
Other than that… See ya
I wonder if there is any chance that Matsui’s knees improve next year – maybe even to the point of being able to occasionally play left field. I would love to know what the medical experts predict on that issue.
I’d prefer he just didn’t play LF at all, even if he could.
No.
Arigato, Matsui-san.
Hopefully you can take a WS ring or two back home with you. (Which hopefully won’t be for another 2 years.)
Offer deals to both Damon and Matsui. Whoever signs first, stays. Pull the deal for the other player.
Hmmm… no.
I’d take Matsui back but only on an Abreu type deal, so no more than 1 year ~5M. If he wants to come back and will take that I’d be more than happy to bring him back otherwise let’s get rid of the set DH. With Hairston backing up the INF and Melky/Gardner the OF and with guys like Jackson, Russo, Vazquez, Montero, and Miranda all in AAA we have backup options everywhere if someone goes down. Now none of these guys will replicate Matsui’s prodcution, but do we really need 7 20 HR hitters? It sure has been nice this year, but probably not necessary. A 5-7 of Posada, Swisher, and Cano is still better than any other team.
I don’t follow. I would almost read your comment to say the Yankees can’t afford to take Matsui back, which is preposterous. Even IF both Matsui and Damon came back, neither of them would come back on deals near the current $13M they are both making. And it is unlikely – especially if they both stay – that the Yankees would sign anyone else. So keeping both their payroll would go down. And it would not require them to restrict those deals to just $5M.
Montero is the only wildcard there, but realistically he is a full year away. While you slot him into AAA next year, he hasn’t even played a full year in AA, so most likely he starts next season back in Trenton. While he could still move up to AAA quickly, it is not likely he would be a meaningful contributor in NY until late in the year, except in the case of an injury. Besides which, his success next season in NY is a sketchy proposition at best. Meaning I put the chances of Montero impacting the decision to bring back Damon and / or Matsui at 5% at best.
too many comments to read, and someone might have said this. But would Matsui take a 1 or 2 year deal with the Yankees. Wouldn’t another team offer him 2+ years to be a DH
[...] is a tough one. Everyone loves him, but designated hitters aren’t exactly in high demand. The anonymous GM Heyman quotes managed [...]
matsui is the man. give him a year or two! let him get that 1000th hit with the yanks! matsui 2010!!!
well i think the Yankees should give him 2 yrs with the opt he is better then any other DH player even though they r looking for younger players Matsui does the job the yankees should give Damon 1yr with the Opt Pasada I lost some respect for him after this come on thing happen i would have supend him for 5 games to teach him a lesson he supposed to show class for himself and for his team mates Pasada has to prove alot to the Fans well the my comments but Mastui should stay around we will see what 2010 bring let win a champonship first then take it from there