Comments on: On Matsui’s knees and free agency http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/ A New York Yankees Blog Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:36:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Who would you rather: Matsui or Damon | River Avenue Blues http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-690351 Who would you rather: Matsui or Damon | River Avenue Blues Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:02:02 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-690351 [...] Hideki Matsui. Yet, he hasn’t had the same physical problems with his knees as Matsui had and still has. Both players are at the age, though, where they can easily fall off a cliff production-wise. In [...] [...] Hideki Matsui. Yet, he hasn’t had the same physical problems with his knees as Matsui had and still has. Both players are at the age, though, where they can easily fall off a cliff production-wise. In [...]

]]> By: guy http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-688102 guy Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:34:24 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-688102 i had microfracture surgery (plus a few other procedures, not different from what godzilla will need) just after thanksgiving in 2007. granted, at the time i was 50 yr old, still male and, while considered to be athletic (high school & college sports and onceuponatime was a pretty decent raquetball player), definitely not a professional athlete. coming back from mf-surgery is not trivial. after verifying that the surgery was a success (that is, cartilage was healing/repaired in the way expected) i was cleared from rehab and only able to start working out last christmas. i spent a lot of time focusing on flexibility; yoga really helped, but still have a 5 degree reduction in full-bend in the repaired knee. due to the long layoff, i still have a 15% reduction in thigh circumference (read -- loss in muscle mass) after weight training for the last 6 months (i suppose this is where it might help to have roger.clemens for a friend...). things are going well; but, i cannot jog any (appreciable) distance without the knee complaining and swelling. biking is ok, although i live where it is flat and am not sure i would want to push it on hilly terrain. don't know how much outfielders really run; but, i had to give up my >35 softball league in 2006 before the surgery as i couldn't run to the keg on 2nd base. i wish matsoo the best of luck, and would very much like to see him with the yanks ... but, it won't be easy. i had microfracture surgery (plus a few other procedures, not different from what godzilla will need) just after thanksgiving in 2007. granted, at the time i was 50 yr old, still male and, while considered to be athletic (high school & college sports and onceuponatime was a pretty decent raquetball player), definitely not a professional athlete.

coming back from mf-surgery is not trivial. after verifying that the surgery was a success (that is, cartilage was healing/repaired in the way expected) i was cleared from rehab and only able to start working out last christmas.

i spent a lot of time focusing on flexibility; yoga really helped, but still have a 5 degree reduction in full-bend in the repaired knee. due to the long layoff, i still have a 15% reduction in thigh circumference (read — loss in muscle mass) after weight training for the last 6 months (i suppose this is where it might help to have roger.clemens for a friend…).

things are going well; but, i cannot jog any (appreciable) distance without the knee complaining and swelling. biking is ok, although i live where it is flat and am not sure i would want to push it on hilly terrain.

don’t know how much outfielders really run; but, i had to give up my >35 softball league in 2006 before the surgery as i couldn’t run to the keg on 2nd base.

i wish matsoo the best of luck, and would very much like to see him with the yanks … but, it won’t be easy.

]]> By: Brien Jackson http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-687238 Brien Jackson Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:18:53 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-687238 Why? All you really have to assume is that he'll be more productive than Mike Cameron/Ramiro Pena/Garbrera. The doesn't seem unlikely to me. Health is a legitimate concern, but he did play 140 games this year, he'll get regular days off, and you're only committing yourself to one year. I'd much rather go to war with Matsui than without him, given the likely alternatives. Why? All you really have to assume is that he’ll be more productive than Mike Cameron/Ramiro Pena/Garbrera. The doesn’t seem unlikely to me. Health is a legitimate concern, but he did play 140 games this year, he’ll get regular days off, and you’re only committing yourself to one year. I’d much rather go to war with Matsui than without him, given the likely alternatives.

]]> By: Big Rich http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-687220 Big Rich Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:39:02 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-687220 some would say its way too optimistic to think Matsui will match his productivity from last season. Or even stay remotely healthy. some would say its way too optimistic to think Matsui will match his productivity from last season. Or even stay remotely healthy.

]]> By: Brien Jackson http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-687146 Brien Jackson Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:37:16 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-687146 Why would you want to replace Matsui with Mike Cameron, Xavier Nady, or Mark Derosa? First of all, I think you're being way too optimistic about the prospect of Nady even being on the field, let alone being productive, Cameron had a 111 OPS+ last season, and Derosa only put up a 99 OPS+. Matsui ha a 131 OPS+ in 526 PA's. I think people are making way too big of a deal over Matsui's ability to play the field. The bottom line is that he's one of the most productive hitters being discussed as an option, and assuming we're only talking bout a one year deal, it would be crazy not to bring him back. Especially if you're replacing him with Mike Cameron or Cervelli/Pena/Gardner. Why would you want to replace Matsui with Mike Cameron, Xavier Nady, or Mark Derosa? First of all, I think you’re being way too optimistic about the prospect of Nady even being on the field, let alone being productive, Cameron had a 111 OPS+ last season, and Derosa only put up a 99 OPS+. Matsui ha a 131 OPS+ in 526 PA’s.

I think people are making way too big of a deal over Matsui’s ability to play the field. The bottom line is that he’s one of the most productive hitters being discussed as an option, and assuming we’re only talking bout a one year deal, it would be crazy not to bring him back. Especially if you’re replacing him with Mike Cameron or Cervelli/Pena/Gardner.

]]> By: Free Mike Vick http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-687017 Free Mike Vick Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:47:56 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-687017 Where are you getting Gardner from?? i never said anything about gardner. and all i said about pena and hairy were they could play SS or 3B when jeter and arod DH. Which they are going do anyway. and you'll get a FA to basically take Matsui's spot on the roster (Cameron/Nady/DeRosa) so...you have. posada catching...damon DH...FA in OF posada DH...Damon in LF...cervelli catching. posada sitting...Damon DH...FA in OF...cervelli catching. and i don't think you'll have many days when posada is sitting the same days as jeter or arod DHing. Where are you getting Gardner from??

i never said anything about gardner.

and all i said about pena and hairy were they could play SS or 3B when jeter and arod DH. Which they are going do anyway.

and you’ll get a FA to basically take Matsui’s spot on the roster (Cameron/Nady/DeRosa)

so…you have.

posada catching…damon DH…FA in OF

posada DH…Damon in LF…cervelli catching.

posada sitting…Damon DH…FA in OF…cervelli catching.

and i don’t think you’ll have many days when posada is sitting the same days as jeter or arod DHing.

]]> By: The Honorable Congressman Mondesi http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-686961 The Honorable Congressman Mondesi Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:44:05 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-686961 re: your 9:29 comment... Did you read my comments above? I never argued that the guy in Matsui's slot has to be Matsui himself, I argued that it can't be the three-headed Pena/Gardner/Hairston monster. I want Matsui's lineup slot filled by an adequate bat, that's all. I know how patronizing this sounds but I'm not saying it in a snarky way or with the intent to patronize you... Please read my comments, above, again. You're substantially mischaracterizing my arguments. re: your 9:29 comment… Did you read my comments above? I never argued that the guy in Matsui’s slot has to be Matsui himself, I argued that it can’t be the three-headed Pena/Gardner/Hairston monster. I want Matsui’s lineup slot filled by an adequate bat, that’s all.

I know how patronizing this sounds but I’m not saying it in a snarky way or with the intent to patronize you… Please read my comments, above, again. You’re substantially mischaracterizing my arguments.

]]> By: The Honorable Congressman Mondesi http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-686958 The Honorable Congressman Mondesi Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:40:15 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-686958 Totally, but we're talking about a one-year deal, likely for less then $10 million. If he goes down, you're still left with your idea of signing nobody to fill his lineup slot, right? It's not like the contract affects flexibility, either. His production is almost gravy, it's playing with house money. Why do you care if he gets hurt if you're ok with going into the season with Ramiro/Gardner/Hairston picking up his at-bats? That concern doesn't make any sense. Would you rather take the chance on Matsui or go into the season with one of Ramiro/Gardner/Hairston in the lineup every day? What happens when someone inevitably gets hurt, and you have at least 2 of those guys in the lineup every day, along with a healthy dose of Cervelli? All of a sudden your lineup isn't so ferocious, and your depth is <i>greatly</i> compromised. I don't think there's any way that you can argue they should go into the season without either Matsui or someone else acquired to fill his lineup slot. It's <i>clearly</i> a losing argument. Totally, but we’re talking about a one-year deal, likely for less then $10 million. If he goes down, you’re still left with your idea of signing nobody to fill his lineup slot, right? It’s not like the contract affects flexibility, either. His production is almost gravy, it’s playing with house money. Why do you care if he gets hurt if you’re ok with going into the season with Ramiro/Gardner/Hairston picking up his at-bats? That concern doesn’t make any sense.

Would you rather take the chance on Matsui or go into the season with one of Ramiro/Gardner/Hairston in the lineup every day? What happens when someone inevitably gets hurt, and you have at least 2 of those guys in the lineup every day, along with a healthy dose of Cervelli? All of a sudden your lineup isn’t so ferocious, and your depth is greatly compromised.

I don’t think there’s any way that you can argue they should go into the season without either Matsui or someone else acquired to fill his lineup slot. It’s clearly a losing argument.

]]> By: Free Mike Vick http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-686952 Free Mike Vick Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:29:34 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-686952 is Cervelli and Cameron really that inferior? or Cervelli and Xavier Nady? or Cervelli and Mark DeRosa? you can get by with 1 of those guys, could you not? is Cervelli and Cameron really that inferior?

or Cervelli and Xavier Nady?

or Cervelli and Mark DeRosa?

you can get by with 1 of those guys, could you not?

]]> By: Free Mike Vick http://riveraveblues.com/2009/11/on-matsuis-knees-and-free-agency-19957/#comment-686947 Free Mike Vick Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:24:43 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=19957#comment-686947 i guess we'll see what happens. i think its foolish to think matsui can keeping coming back every year on bad knees and maintaining his productivity. like ben said, "Matsui’s knees are ticking time bombs". so....tick..tock...tick...tock. i guess we’ll see what happens.

i think its foolish to think matsui can keeping coming back every year on bad knees and maintaining his productivity.

like ben said, “Matsui’s knees are ticking time bombs”.

so….tick..tock…tick…tock.

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