Hideki Matsui was a very, very good Yankee who had a spectacular finish. Pictured (left) you can see him with his Rock Star hair holding up his 2009 World Series MVP award.
Matsui was at the subway world series in 2000. He decided he wanted to be a Yankee. He came here to be a Yankee and to win the World Series. He did it, and he played the the game the right way. He understood how to win, and had a profound ability for slowing the game down when other players allow it to rush by them.
Matsui was extremely well liked by the core Yankees, Jeter, Posada, Rivera. They recognized that he "got it" when it came to winning. This is a guy who was in tears apologizing to his teammates for breaking his wrist diving for a ball in the outfield. He apologized for not being able to contribute.
The Yankees chose not to pursue Matsui, and the Angels swooped in and grabbed him for one year at $6.5 million. A tremendous bargain. I understand the Yankees are considering Damon, if they can get him for just 2 years he'll cost around $20 million and 2 years. Had they signed Matsui that gives them an additional $14 million to play with. Just as a side note, John Lackey was signed for slightly over $16 million per, and Matt Holliday has received an offer in the same neighborhood.
Heres hoping the Yankees have a plan - and no, its not a fait accompli that Brian Cashman has an intelligent one. Especially considering that Posada will get more rest and DH more this year, Matsui could've been kept exceptionally fresh and maintained productivity.
This past season he batted .304 with runners in scoring position, almost 30% points above his regular batting average. He also knocked 28 home runs and drove in 90 runs. Girardi allowed Matsui to flourish in 2009 by resting him and keeping him out of the outfield, and on strict DH and pinch hitting duty. Maybe if Joe Torre had given Matsui a blow here and there instead of overpaying respect to his consecutive games streak he may have stayed fresher, longer.
Did Matsui have a little more left in the tank late in the year because his achy knees didn't bear the burden of playing the outfield for 50 plus innings per week?
For his career with the Yankees he batted .292 and had a penchant for big hits and big RBI's in big spots.
Aptly, everyone will remember him for his .615 batting average, on 8 for 13 with 3 homers and 8 RBI's in the Yanks 27th world series championship over the Phillies. In the clinching game Hideki tied a single game world series mark with 6 RBI, and again showed Pedro Martinez who his Daddy is(see photo left).
Don't be surprised if he gets a big knock against the Yankees this year at the Stadium. I will stand and cheer for him when he comes to the plate, he deserves a standing o as a returning player.
Thanks Hideki, it was a pleasure.
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