Kitty

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

BigRed3876

i've never really liked matsui from the get-go. i also think that with the exception of ichiro and kaz sasaki, there really hasn't been any japenese "great" to transition to the MLB well. this is why i'm torn with matsui. he was supposed to be an enormous superstar and while he's been consistent with 20 HR and 100 RBI almost every season (barring injury) he's never really done it for me. he also has a knack for ending games on a ground out to first ::cough- anytime we play the angels- cough::.
my only concern would be hurting the yankees image with japan. matsui is like jesus over there so who know how that would impact the market.

stejay

I dont think the Yanks will miss him to be honest with you. i actually think that they may be better off without him.

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Truknicksfan

I honestly wouldnt miss him a whole lot.

SLagonia

A few of you seem to be a little short-sighted... He rakes in about $60 million a year in advertising and media contracts. Do you honestly think the Yanks will let him go?

BigRed3876

You raise a good point. The sign in the outfield for the Japanese paper would probably disappear. That also ties into the Japenese relations thing that I still don't think the Yanks would get rid of him. As for my opinion, I still believe that if there's anyone NY should have booed the last couple years for not meeting expectations it should be Matsui. I respect the guy and he seems like he really pushes to be good, but his defense is questionable, his arm is terrible, and his bat has become streaky at best. He'll put up fantasy numbers, but no one ever seems to mention guys him or Abreu when they talk about the Yanks underperforming. It's always A-Rod, Jeter, Giambi, and Rivera that are questioned. And three out of those four should never be questioned for hard work OR talent. Giambi and his roids haven't been worth it since we signed him. Notice the drop in every category with the exception of walks? I'm not calling Matsui a Pavano-esque bust, but the hype around him when he signed was that he was going to have the impact that Ichiro has had on the large. Instead he's been more of a Varitek- solid but never quite feared.

Outlaw43

If the Yankees move Matsui, who is going to fill in those 20-30 homers and 80-100+ RBIs? I certainly hope that everybody on this board knows better than to trust in Giambi as an everyday DH at this point.

The Giants aren't giving Lincecum or Cain for an aging, increasingly injury prone DH no matter how much money he brings in (or how much he produces at the plate over the next 2 or 3 years.) Since neither Lowry nor Sanchez has ever shown that they can handle a big time role in the NL (let alone the AL East) I really see no reason to make a move here.

BigRed3876

We've seen since 2002 what is Giambi is capable of NOT doing. The grand slam in the rain where he "became a Yankee" is just about the only good thing I can remember him adding to the team. He's still a threat and has one of the best eyes in baseball but without his 'roids, he's just about as useless as his idol Mark McGuire....

But as for Matsui, the Yanks were apparently never really thinking about letting him go and it is true that it would be hard to match his production. He's been very consistent, but never when it mattered. Every knock on A-Rod that he never had clutch hits is a joke compared to Matsui. I don't know about you guys but I just don't have the feeling when he's up that he's gonna drive someone in when we need him to.