Hideki Matsui News: Pro Sports Daily

Even the Reliable Must Face the Inevitable

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December 20

New York Times

columnist George Vecsey

"Life has not been fair ever since the Yankees snookered Babe Ruth away from the Red Sox for the 1920 season. They mostly do what they want. These days, with New York cable television revenue at their disposal, the Yankees can afford to jettison two Old Reliables, Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon, in the same autumn in which the original Old Reliable, Tommy Henrich, died at 96. Bring in some younger Old Reliables. That's the way the Yankees work. But look at it this way: if the Yankees seem cold-blooded about lopping off two professionals who helped win their 27th World Series, Matsui and Damon also contributed to the breakup."

Matsui is here, but fans' thoughts are elsewhere

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December 17

Orange County Register

"If the Angels had been discussing Roy Halladay with Toronto when those talks opened up to a third bidder, why was it Seattle? Why couldn't the Angels have sneaked Cliff Lee and his gnat's-eyebrow fastball and his $8 million salary into Orange County? And if the Angels' refusal to give up Erick Aybar was the reason their Halladay talks went nowhere, how come nine bodies went flying to four cities Wednesday and no shortstops landed in Toronto? We ask ourselves these questions. Might as well. Nobody answered them at Angel Stadium. "This day is about Hideki Matsui," General Manager Tony Reagins said. Yeah, but we were thinking about other days. Like May 7, 8 and 9, and May 29, 30 and 31, and ..."

Angels, Matsui agree to one-year deal

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December 17

Orange County Register

"The Angels don't know if momentum carries through the winter and into the spring, but Hideki Matsui has some. "His last couple of games were pretty good," Manager Mike Scioscia said. Matsui arrived here Wednesday to sign a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Angels. He is the reigning World Series Most Valuable Player, with a .615 average, three home runs and eight RBIs in the Yankees' six-game victory over Philadelphia. "He's a professional hitter," Scioscia said. "That means he's a guy who knows when to pull the ball, when to go the other way, and he can put the bat on the ball. He'll help our young player a lot and he'll add to the middle of our lineup." Matsui, in essence, replaces ..."

Angels sign Hideki Matsui for his bat, not his media throng

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December 17

Los Angeles Times

"The Angels got their first taste Wednesday of the media sensation that is Hideki Matsui, with Japanese reporters cramming a stadium interview room a good half an hour before a news conference to introduce the team's new designated hitter. Two walls were lined with about 20 television cameras, and when the 35-year-old slugger donned an Angels cap and jersey (No. 55) for the first time, a panoply of camera flashes illuminated the room like a planetarium light show. "It's been like this since day one of professional baseball for me, so from that sense, I'm used to it," Matsui said through an interpreter. "I don't know how my teammates will react to it, but I want to make sure I don't ..."

Matsui, Angels agree to $6M deal

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December 17

Los Angeles Times

"The Angels got their first taste Wednesday of the media sensation that is Hideki Matsui, with Japanese reporters cramming a stadium interview room a good half an hour before a news conference to introduce the team's new designated hitter. Two walls were lined with about 20 television cameras, and when the 35-year-old slugger donned an Angels cap and jersey (No. 55) for the first time, a panoply of camera flashes illuminated the room like a planetarium light show. "It's been like this since day one of professional baseball for me, so from that sense, I'm used to it," Matsui said through an interpreter. "I don't know how my teammates will react to it, but I want to make sure I don't ..."

Angels about to lose out on John Lackey and Roy Halladay

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December 15

Los Angeles Times

"Torii Hunter was unaware of the reports that free-agent pitcher John Lackey was on the verge of signing a five-year deal with the Boston Red Sox when a reporter phoned him Monday morning. "Oh man," the Angels center fielder said. "That's not good." But, Hunter pointed out, at least the Angels were still in the hunt for Toronto ace Roy Halladay, "and if we get Halladay, it would be awesome," he said. A few hours later, the Blue Jays reportedly agreed to a blockbuster three-team deal that would send Halladay to Philadelphia. The Phillies, in turn, would send ace left-hander Cliff Lee to Seattle. So, not only were the Angels about to lose their top two winter targets, Lackey and Halladay, but ..."

Left Waiting by Yankees, Matsui Jumps to Angels

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December 15

New York Times

"It is tradition for defending World Series winners to receive their championship rings at the home opener the following spring. For the Yankees, that will be April 13, 2010, against the Los Angeles Angels. It is only fitting. Hideki Matsui, whose seven-year run with the Yankees crested with a World Series Most Valuable Player award last month, agreed to a one-year contract with the Angels on Monday. If he passes his physical to complete the deal, Matsui should be in New York to receive his ring with his former teammates. According to an official involved in the negotiations, Matsui and the Angels agreed to terms on Monday. The official was granted anonymity because the deal had not been ..."

Godzilla's going to Disneyland

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December 15

New York Post

"From Yankees World Series MVP in early November to gone 11 days before Christmas. That's the road Hideki Matsui has traveled. According to several sources, Matsui and the Angels have agreed to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million that will be finalized when the 35-year-old slugger passes a physical. "I can confirm that we are in serious discussions with the Angels," agent Arn Tellem said last night. "I have no further comment." If Matsui passes the physical, not a slam dunk considering he has undergone off-season surgery on each knee in the last two winters, the Yankees will be faced with filling a productive hole in the middle of their order. Through Tellem, Matsui recently informed the ..."

Source: Angels want Matsui to DH

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December 14

ESPN.com

columnist Jayson Stark

"The Los Angeles Angels are in serious discussions with Hideki Matsui about supplanting Vladimir Guerrero as their designated hitter, a source familiar with the team's thinking told ESPN.com. A league source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney that the Angels and Matsui were closing in on a one-year deal for about $6.5 million. The 35-year-old Matsui had hoped to return to the Yankees after a season in which he hit 28 home runs and eventually became the World Series MVP. However, the Yankees appear to be prioritizing left field and starting pitching, leaving Matsui as a Plan C option. So the talks with the Angels indicate he wasn't prepared to wait any longer for the Yankees to determine ..."

Yankees could turn to Hideki Matsui, minors to fill DH slot if Johnny Damon balks

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December 11

New York Daily News

"Brian Cashman left the winter meetings Thursday having filled two big holes on his 2010 roster, yet there is still work left for him to do before the Yankees report to Tampa 10 weeks from now. With Andy Pettitte back for 2010, the pressure to bring in another starter from outside the organization isn't as strong. And the Bombers added an All-Star center fielder in Curtis Granderson . The Yankees do, however, need to address their designated hitter spot. Johnny Damon remains the club's top choice to fill the slot, since he could play in the outfield or be the DH, giving Joe Girardi flexibility - especially if he wants to rest Granderson against tough lefthanders. But Damon ..."

Chicago White Sox GM downplays Hideki Matsui rumors

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December 10

Chicago Tribune

"Ken Williams went from under the radar to the spotlight. After a 15-minute session with reporters Wednesday, more than two dozen Japanese reporters corralled the White Sox general manager to inquire about his alleged interest in free agent Hideki Matsui. "I never said we were pursuing him," Williams said. "I'm not going to say we're not because I don't know how the rest of the offseason is going to develop. But in recent times, I certainly haven't had any discussions in regards to him." Reporters then asked Williams if he planned to watch Matsui's workout next week in Southern California to show that he can play the outfield, a prerequisite for the Sox to fill their need for a left-handed ..."

Hideki Matsui, Coco Crisp on Chicago White Sox radar

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December 9

Chicago Tribune

"The White Sox provided third baseman Mark Teahen a bigger comfort zone Tuesday by giving him a three-year, $14 million contract. Teahen and agent Jeff Berry returned the favor by back-loading the contract, and that may enable the Sox to afford a left-handed hitter of Hideki Matsui's caliber. "(Matsui is) a good player, but I don't know that we are there just yet," general manager Ken Williams said, alluding to manager Ozzie Guillen's desire to have a designated hitter who can play the outfield. Matsui, 35, was relegated to DH duties with the Yankees last season because he was recovering from knee surgery. He played left field from 2004-08, and the Sox tentatively plan to move Carlos ..."

White Sox interested in Matsui

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December 8

New York Daily News

"Could Godzilla be headed to the Windy City? The White Sox have emerged as a serious contender for Hideki Matsui, according to a source, while the Angels have confirmed their interest in the World Series MVP as well. The Yankees haven't ruled out the possibility of bringing Matsui back, Tuesday's trade for Curtis Granderson means that the Bombers can't bring back both Matsui and Johnny Damon. The Yankees are still hoping to re-sign Damon, who would serve as the primary DH while also playing some outfield - something Brian Cashman has said several times he won't consider with Matsui."

Chicago White Sox mum on Roy Halladay, Hideki Matsui scenarios

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December 8

Chicago Tribune

"General manager Ken Williams offered a firm "no comment" Monday when asked if the White Sox were involved in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. Williams also declined to get into particular names when asked about any interest the Sox would have in free agent Hideki Matsui, a left-handed hitter who fits the profile they're seeking. But manager Ozzie Guillen and Williams were more forthcoming in entertaining the probability that Carlos Quentin could move from left field to right field, with Alex Rios staying in center field. That scenario would give the Sox more options as they move closer toward filling their roster at the winter meetings. One case that seems to be narrowing is the return of ..."

Yankees must deal with their own free agents first

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December 8

Bergen Record

"This isn't Las Vegas. When the Yankees gathered for last year's winter meetings, their Sin City itinerary might as well have blinked on The Strip in giant, neon lights: spend, spend, spend. After a side trip to California, general manager Brian Cashman hauled in CC Sabathia, and quickly added A.J. Burnett. The Yanks' third free agent jackpot came later, when Mark Teixeira signed on. That was about a $430 million total investment, but the Yankees had serious needs — starting with two front-line starting pitchers. They also were coming off a third-place finish. Today, the Yankees enter the winter meetings here as the reigning world champions, with a much more subtle agenda (in a much more ..."

Yankees deny they are shopping Swisher

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December 2

SI.com

"The Yankees are still hoping to re-sign Andy Pettitte, Johnny Damon and perhaps Hideki Matsui after declining arbitration. • The Yankees deny they are shopping Nick Swisher. But Yankees people also say only a few remain untouchable -- A-Rod, SI Sportsman of the Year Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Sabathia, Mariano Rivera, etc."

Yankees don't offer arbitration

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December 2

New York Post

"Had the Yankees wanted to pay a lot of money to retain Andy Pettitte, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui they would have offered the trio of free agents arbitration yesterday. Instead, the Yankees didn't offer any of them and won't receive draft picks from a team that signs Pettitte, Damon or Matsui if they leave the World Series champions. "Too risky," a Yankee source said of chancing any of the trio accepting. If accepted, that player would have been considered a signed player with his salary to be determined by the arbitration process. The Yankees also didn't offer arbitration to Jerry Hairston Jr., Eric Hinske, Jose Molina and Xavier Nady. Damon and Matsui each made $13 million last year ..."

Yankees will focus on own free agents before jumping into market

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November 24

Newark Star-Ledger

"Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Monday that the team intends to address their own free agents before wading into the rest of the free agent pool. "I don't want to make the mistake of having a conversation with somebody else's agent and it plays out as if I'm pursuing that guy, and somebody misinterprets it (and) that means I'm not pursuing our guy," Cashman said. "We're not even at that stage yet. So I'm trying to be very careful and respectful to our players first, makes sure they're aware of where they are in the process." The Yankees, as expected, have remained quiet in the early stages of baseball's free agency period. Cashman is still in discussions with the Steinbrenner ..."

Fans will miss out if New York Yankees lose World Series MVP Hideki Matsui to free agency

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November 21

New York Daily News

"When he was managing in Japan, Bobby Valentine frequently rode his bicycle for exercise during road trips, exploring different cities. Often, when he'd look up, he'd see Hideki Matsui's face grinning from a billboard, pitching a car company or a beverage. "He had this auto resaler and renter and I remember there were these flags of him waving on the sidewalk," Valentine recalled. "I had to maneuver around them on my bike. He is a daily presence over there. You'd have to compare him to Tiger Woods, in terms of endorsements, in their country, and I don't think there's a baseball figure here who does what Matsui and Ichiro (Suzuki) do there." Matsui, 35, is enormously popular in Japan, ..."

Yankees haven't ruled out bringing back both Damon and Matsui

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November 19

ESPN.com

columnist Jayson Stark

"Sounds as if the Yankees haven't ruled out bringing back both Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. But indications are that they're also going to take a hard line on both -- a one-year deal for Matsui, period, and no more than a two-year deal for Damon, with a preference for something shorter. At the moment, there are no signs the Yankees are in on either Matt Holliday or Jason Bay."

Matsui, Damon, Pettitte set to hit open market

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November 19

New York Post

"The valued opinions have been voiced from the scouting arm of the world champion Yankees universe. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean at 12:01 tomorrow morning general manager Brian Cashman will be dialing free agents with a fistful of the Steinbrenner family's dollars. "No, I haven't ever done that," said Cashman, who explained he wasn't about to start phoning agents. Two days of meetings with his scouts provided Cashman with an evaluation of every player the Yankees may have an interest in. Considering the Yankees engage a lot more players than they land, the list is long. "We have evaluated, now we will organize," Cashman said. "Then we will meet with ownership." One stroke past midnight ..."

Matsui would like to stay a Yankee

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November 14

New York Daily News

"Hideki Matsui Â says his "feelings are still with the Yankees " but he doesn't know whether the Bombers will re-sign him. And, Matsui acknowledged, it would be disappointing if he did not play an eighth season in pinstripes. "If that happens, yeah, I think it would be," Matsui said Friday night through his interpreter before attending the dinner that benefits Joe Torre 's Safe at Home Foundation. "But on the other hand, it's something to look forward to, a new change, a new challenge for me. So in that sense, I'll definitely take it in a positive way. The Yankees have their own plans, too, and you have to respect that." As far as potential contract talks with the Yankees, Matsui said, ..."

Japan isn't option for World Series MVP Hideki Matsui

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November 12

New York Daily News

"Hideki Matsui may or may not return to the Yankees next season, but according to his agent, the World Series MVP won't be heading back to his native Japan to play in 2010. Arn Tellem said his client will be playing in the majors next season one way or another. "The goal right now is finding the best place for Hideki to continue his career," Tellem said. "When I first met him, he wanted to play 10 years in the major leagues - and I believe he will." A report out of Japan yesterday tabbed the Red Sox as potential suitors for Matsui, saying Boston was preparing a multi-year offer. A Boston source called the story "highly unlikely," noting that unless the Sox were able to unload David Ortiz ..."

GMs think World Series MVP Hideki Matsui's days in outfield are done

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November 11

New York Daily News

"Hideki Matsui may believe that he can still play the outfield, but he seems to be the only one. More than a half-dozen general managers surveyed Tuesday unanimously agreed that Matsui's days as an outfielder were behind him, leaving a very limited market for his services. "I'd be surprised if any general manager in the National League was willing to roll the dice on Matsui," said one NL GM. "What happens if you sign him and his knees blow up? Then you're stuck with a guy that can't play the field and is basically an overpaid pinch-hitter. No one is going to take that gamble for the money he's going to want." If it's up to Matsui, it won't be an issue. Matsui has expressed his desire to ..."

Yanks taking it 'slow' with Matsui

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November 10

Foxsports.com

"The Yankees are "taking it very slow" with free agent Hideki Matsui, one person with knowledge of the talks said this morning. One thing to keep in mind: The Yankees have a number of sponsorships with Japanese companies — not to mention broad media exposure in the baseball-loving culture — tied into Matsui's presence on the team. The person believes Matsui and Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki could coexist on the same team. He downplayed the supposed rift between the two that dated to the start of their respective careers in Japan. The fact that both have achieved so much in the U.S. could make a union in Seattle more tenable, the person believes."

Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon are free agents, but aren't gone just yet

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November 10

New York Daily News

"Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui were among the five Yankees to file for free agency Monday, and while the general consensus is that the Bombers won't bring back both players in 2010, that may not be the case. A baseball source believes the Yankees would be willing to bring back both players on one-year deals - Damon could also receive a vesting option for 2011 - as the free-agent options to replace them are less than desirable once you get past Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, both of whom will command enormous deals this winter. Damon is a Type A free agent, meaning the Yankees can collect a pair of draft picks if they offer him arbitration and he signs with another club. The rankings are ..."

Yankees plotting to keep Damon, Pettitte, Matsui

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November 10

New York Post

"The Yankees are strategizing ways to retain all three of their major free agents -- Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte and Hideki Matsui -- sources told The Post. Damon and Pettitte are the priorities. But when asked if that meant Matsui had played his last game in pinstripes, one team executive said, "No, I hope we can figure out a way to have them all back." Right now, the Yankees are much more focused on their own trio than they are on the three big outside free agents: Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and John Lackey. Yankees GM Brian Cashman has yet to meet with his whole staff to formalize a concrete plan, and that won't come until next week. However, the early internal read is the market would ..."

Matsui stays mum on plans for future

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November 7

New York Post

"Hideki Matsui appears to be in full negotiating mode already. On the same day he received some of the loudest cheers in the Canyon of Heroes for his contributions as the World Series MVP, Matsui wouldn't even say yesterday if he wants to return to the Yankees next season. "I don't have any thoughts right now," Matsui said outside the home clubhouse at Yankee Stadium, referring to his 2010 preference. There has been some thought that Matsui, who can become a free agent, will return to play in his native Japan if the Yankees don't make him a competitive offer. But when asked about playing for another major league team, Matsui said anything is possible. Those possibilities include shedding ..."

DH Matsui perfect part of post-Series daydream

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November 6

Tacoma News Tribune

columnist John McGrath

"The day after the World Series is a day I dread, especially if the Yankees win. Denied the anticipation of a real baseball game until April, fans are left to debate the pros and cons of an open-market system that ensures the Yanks can install a highly paid star at every position. But Thursday was different. Instead of groaning during each replay of Hideki Matsui's bravura performance - he tied a Series single-game record with six RBI on Wednesday - I imagined how the designated hitter might look in a Mariners uniform. It could happen. Matsui's contract with the Yankees has expired, and the team gets two weeks to decide whether to re-sign him, offer him arbitration for a one-year contract, ..."

Vets, Bombers ponder pinstriped future

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November 6

New York Post

"Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Andy Pettitte will be with the Yankees when they bask in the glory of a ticker-tape parade today up the Canyon of Heroes as World Series champions. However, when the three step off the floats, will they be headed to Tampa for spring training? Matsui, Damon and Pettitte are expected to file for free agency before the midnight, Nov. 19 deadline. Because all three played big parts in the Yankees beating the Phillies in six games to cop the organization's record 27th World Series title, there are decisions to be made. If they return, at what price? If they don't, who will replace them? Matsui, who tied a single-game record with six RBIs in the clinching Game 6 ..."

Matsui wrong MVP choice

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November 6

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"It was great news for Major League Baseball growing the sport internationally in a season that began with Version 2 of the World Baseball Classic, but the selection of Japanese DH Hideki Matsui as MVP of the World Series was wrong. The real most valuable player, the biggest influence on the outcome, was closer Mariano Rivera. Matsui is strictly a designated hitter who could not play in the field because of his wonky knees. Therefore, in the three Series games at Philadelphia, at a time when it was turning around and the Yankees grabbed history by the throat, winning the first two games to go up 3-1, Matsui was a pinch-hitter, missing Game 4 entirely. Meanwhile, Rivera appeared in four of ..."

Japan followed Matsui heroics

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November 5

New York Post

"If New York toasted Hideki Matsui all night and morning after the Yankees' 7-3 World Series-clinching victory in Game 6 last night in The Bronx, imagine the reaction in Japan, which has 20 Japanese media affiliates regularly covering the Bombers and which has sent 28 affiliates and more than 100 journalists to cover the World Series. "This is unbelievable," said Sataru Kagenezawa of Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper. "The biggest story in Japan for a Japanese player playing in the major leagues was Ichiro [Suzuki] winning the MVP (in 2001). "But I think this is even bigger. "This is the World Series. Japanese players have played in the World Series since 2005 and won three times (the ..."

Matsui brings Yanks' elusive 27th title

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November 5

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"Think of the procession and the price. Think of all the stars brought in for nearly a decade at a staggering cost to try to recreate the dynasty years. It has been quite a parade, and yet no parade. There were Mike Mussina and Jason Giambi, Randy Johnson and Kevin Brown, Javier Vazquez and Gary Sheffield, Carl Pavano and Jeff Weaver. They were imported for one reason, and one reason only: To bring championship No. 27 to the Bronx. And they all left ring-less. Hideki Matsui, however, persevered through damaged knees and the loss of his regular outfield gig. He came in with a big nickname and was never more Godzilla than on possibly his last day in a Yankee uniform. The one-time Yomiuri ..."

Matsui makes it hard for Yanks to release him

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November 5

New York Post

columnist David Wells

"I'VE maintained for a while that the Yankees should get younger and let Hideki Matsui depart this winter, but how do you do that now? This wasn't Reggie Jackson hitting three home runs in one game, but what we saw last night by Matsui (six RBIs in the Yankees' 7-3 World Series-clinching victory last night in The Bronx) was one of the great performances in World Series history. The Yankees are champions, and Matsui was every bit deserving of the MVP.It just goes to show you what kind of hitter he is. He could hit lefties from the first at-bat I ever saw him. Just his ability to hit all types of pitchers is amazing. He's probably got another three or four years left in him. The Yankees will ..."

Matsui, Pettitte carry Yankees to Series title

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November 5

New York Post

"Baseball's penthouse is again decorated with hand-painted silk Yankees pinstripe wallpaper. Nine years after their last World Series title, the Yankees earned No. 27 last night when they spanked the defending champion Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium before a record crowd of 50,315 that didn't include George Steinbrenner. Tomorrow morning the Yankees will celebrate with a ticker-tape parade up lower Broadway. "Right where we belong," Derek Jeter bellowed from a stage in the middle of the $1.5 billion Stadium. And they looked very comfortable. Alex Rodriguez, who doesn't have to answer any more questions about choking in the postseason, let loose with a river of victory tears and ..."

Matsui wins MVP as New York Yankees beat Philadelphia Phillies, grab 27th World Series title

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November 5

New York Daily News

"The move across 161st Street is now complete. The Yankees finished their debut season at the new Yankee Stadium in style Wednesday night, hammering the Phillies for a 7-3 win in Game 6 to capture the 27th World Series championship in franchise history. Hideki Matsui had the game of his life, homering and driving in six runs - tying the World Series RBI record - on what may have been his final night in pinstripes. The first four came against long-time Yankees nemesis Pedro Martinez, who lasted only four innings for the Phillies. Matsui finished the series 8-for-13 (.615) with three homers and eight RBI and the MVP trophy. Matsui, whose contract is up, said he wants a return engagement. "I ..."

Losing Hideki Matsui after MVP World Series performance may be wrong move for New York Yankees

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November 5

New York Daily News

columnist John Harper

"If this turns out to be goodbye for Hideki Matsui, it goes down as the greatest exit since John Elway won a second straight Super Bowl and rode off into the sunset. It's not exactly the same, of course. Matsui would love to keep his pinstripes and return to defend the championship that he, more than anyone else, delivered for the Yankees Wednesday night with a game that lived up to his nickname of Godzilla. He just may not have a say in the matter. Only how do you cut ties with the MVP of the World Series? Matsui earned that distinction mostly with his eye-popping performance last night, slugging a home run, a double and a single and driving in six runs in the Yankees' 7-3 Game 6 ..."

Matsui Leaves a Lasting World Series Memory

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November 5

New York Times

"Hideki Matsui does not know if he will ever play another game for the Yankees. The Yankees do not know if he will, either. If Matsui has played his final game with the team, he left the biggest stage in baseball in the same way he moved across it for seven seasons: professionally and exceptionally. Matsui, the unflappable hitter, had a homer, a double, a single and also drove in six runs to help the Yankees stop the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-3, and win the World Series in six games Wednesday night. It is the first championship for the Yankees since 2000. After seven seasons, Matsui has his first World Series ring. Even as Matsui tied Bobby Richardson's World Series record with six runs ..."

Godspeed, Godzilla

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November 2

New York Post

columnist Mike Vaccaro

"This may change, because anything around the Yankees is subject to change, subject to the whims and the wonders of the men who own and run the team. But it would seem that Hideki Matsui is in his final days as a member of the team, and given his feel-good, pinch-hit home run late in Game 3 Saturday night, it seems a good time to appreciate all that his time with the Yankees has meant. Understand that there may never have been an athlete who needed to succeed as much as Matsui did -- for himself, to back up a huge reputation gleaned as a Japanese league slugger; for his nation, always eager to prove itself in the international game; and for the Yankees, who made a bold bid to secure his ..."

Matsui says he's ready for OF duty

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October 31

New York Post

"It's been three years since Hideki Matsui has played any right field and a season-and-a-half since he has been in the outfield at all. Thus, painful as it is to lose a designated hitter who had three hits in six at-bats during World Series Game 1 and 2, manager Joe Girardi is not going to risk becoming a designated idiot by starting Matsui in right field in Game 3 tonight. Not after all this time, not with both knees barking in the aftermath of arthroscopic surgeries the last 24 months. And not with another defensive liability, Johnny Damon, in left. Matsui's Halloween costume yesterday was a fielder's glove he picked up after hitting practice. He half-heartedly chased a few ground ..."

Bombers seek spark, but lose Matsui

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October 31

New York Daily News

"While the Yankees are searching for solutions to kick-start Alex Rodriguez and their suddenly lagging lineup, they will have to do so in tonight's Game 3 without one of their most productive hitters. The Yanks hit just .222 in splitting the first two games - including eight hitless trips by A-Rod with six strikeouts. They now will lose No. 5 hitter Hideki Matsui , who belted a go-ahead homer in Game 2, with the designated hitter out of play in the Phillies' home yard, Citizens Bank Park . "You can't help the situation," Matsui said through an interpreter. "Those are the rules of the game, and that is the role that I've accepted. So the best thing is you have to make the most out of ..."

Clutch Matsui must remain in lineup

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October 30

New York Post

columnist Kevin Kernan

"He has the greatest nickname of any Yankee, Godzilla, but he is often the most overlooked Yankee. Hideki Matsui showed just how important he is to the Yankees last night. His sixth inning home run off Pedro Martinez after Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez had struck out proved to be the go-ahead run in the 3-1 victory over the Phillies at Yankees Stadium to tie the World Series at 1-1. That big swing could be the turning point of the Series. Until that shot into the right-field seats, Pedro was Pedro, dominating the Yankees with a mixture of changeups, curve balls and fastballs. "I left the curve ball there and kind of paid for it," Martinez said. "His [Matsui's] home run was huge," ..."

Matsui's gift RBI jump starts Yankees 4-1 win over Angels

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October 17

New York Daily News

"This was the proof of the time-tested baseball axiom that all hits look like line drives in the box scores the next day. Hideki Matsui's two-out pop-up dropped between incommunicado infielders Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar in the first inning for a gift RBI hit as the Yankees got off to a fast start on their way to a 4-1 win over the Angels in Game 1 of the ALCS Friday night at the Stadium. "I was surprised. To me, that was a definite out," Matsui said through an interpreter when asked about the pop-up that fell in to give the Yanks a 2-0 lead in the first. "I wasn't watching it, but I saw it drop. ... I was quite surprised when nobody really got to it. It was just an infield pop-up." ..."

Girardi says starting Hideki Matsui, not Jorge Posada, as DH was a no-brainer

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October 9

Newark Star-Ledger

"As expected, the Yankees will start Hideki Matsui as their designated hitter against the Twins on Friday, meaning Jorge Posada will begin the game on the bench. Manager Joe Girardi said during a pre-game press conference that the Yankees' Game 2 lineup will be as follows: Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Matsui, Nick Swisher, Melky Cabrera and Jose Molina. They'll face Minnesota right-hander Nick Blackburn. "Matsui's been our DH most of the year and is familiar with that role," Girardi said. "That is not a role that Jorge has done a lot in his career. Now, if there's a left-hander on the mound, maybe you think a little bit differently, but Matsui's been great ..."

Matsui HR comes off another lefty

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October 8

New York Post

"Hideki Matsui certainly didn't mind watching the Twins replace one lefty with another in the fifth inning last night. So long, Brian Duensing. Hello, Francisco Liriano -- and goodbye baseball. Matsui's two-run homer on Liriano's fourth pitch gave the Yankees breathing room in their 7-2 victory in Game 1 of the AL Division Series. "He's been huge for us all year," manager Joe Girardi said. "Another home run off a left-hander." Matsui hit 13 homers in the regular season against lefties -- tying him for the major-league lead among left-handed hitters. The fact he compiled that total in only 131 at-bats tells you Liriano probably wasn't the best option to face Matsui. But Twins manager Ron ..."

Resurgent Matsui gets clutch hit

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September 28

New York Post

"Hideki Matsui began his sixth inning at-bat against Takashi Saito with two strikes against him, just like he began the 2009 season with two strikes against him -- his age and his surgically repaired knees. Matsui, as he has all season long, refused to go away quietly. And the Yankees, as they have all season long, needed the 35-year-old designated hitter to deliver against the Red Sox reliever Saito, who had entered the game just before Matsui came to the plate with two outs and two runners on base and the Yankees trailing 2-1. Matsui battled back to even the count at 2-2 and then fouled a pitch off to stay alive. On the next pitch he smacked a line-drive single that landed in the ..."

Yankees' Hideki Matsui having blast against lefthanded pitching this season

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September 17

New York Daily News

"The book says you bring in the lefthander to neutralize the lefthanded bat. Hideki Matsui hopes opposing managers keep reading that book. With the Yankees trailing by two runs in the eighth inning Wednesday night, Toronto skipper Cito Gaston brought in lefty Scott Downs. Downs was the logical choice, having allowed just one run in his last 12 appearances covering 112/3 innings. But logic tends to go out the window when Matsui is involved, and Wednesday night was just the latest example. Matsui smoked a 1-2 curveball from Downs and parked it deep in the stands in right-center field to tie the game in the eighth before Francisco Cervelli's RBI single in the ninth gave the Yankees their ..."

Yankees Rout O's In Eighth

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September 14

Washington Post

"The mismatch that most expected to occur here over the weekend never materialized until the eighth inning Sunday when the New York Yankees turned a close game with the Baltimore Orioles into a humbling 13-3 rout. Baltimore's chances of its first three-game sweep here since 1986 and its first winning road trip all season evaporated in an unsightly eighth when the Yankees sent 14 batters to the plate and scored eight times. "It was two different games," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley lamented. "It was the first six innings, which was a baseball game, and the last couple, I'd just as soon forget." The Yankees broke a sixth-inning deadlock on Hideki Matsui's two-run bases-loaded single off ..."

Godzilla's homer, 5 RBIs Rx for blundering Yanks

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September 14

New York Post

"Hideki Matsui has served in many roles across seven seasons as a Yankee. Yesterday he added a new one: embarrassment eraser. Had Matsui not driven in five runs in the final three innings, Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez and every other Yankee would have been on the hook for inexcusable mistakes. Damon cost the Yankees a run by forgetting how many outs there were in the fourth inning after catching a fly ball in left and allowing Justin Turner to score from second. Rodriguez got ejected in the fifth inning of a tie game for saying something to short-fused umpire Marty Foster a half-inning after Foster called out A-Rod in a key spot. Foster also thumbed an enraged Yankee manager Joe Girardi ..."

Hideki Matsui stays hot, settles into DH role for Yankees

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August 26

New York Daily News

"Hideki Matsui's hot streak continued Tuesday night as the Yankees' resurgent slugger did his best to keep his team on the winning track. Matsui doubled in a pair of runs in the first inning, the Yankees' first two of the game. He later singled in the first run of a furious four-run rally in the ninth that ultimately fell short in a 10-9 loss to the Rangers at the Stadium. Matsui went 2-for-4 with three RBI, giving him 18 RBI in his last eight games. He has 71 RBI for the season. Eight of his last 13 hits have been for extra bases (seven home runs and a double). In his last eight games, which began with the start of the Yankees' 10-game road trip, Matsui is hitting .352 with six home ..."