« Buck Showalter Heading Back To ESPN | Main | Melky Is Money »

April 10, 2008

Go Far East Old Godzilla?

He’s one of my favorite Yankees – ever since he got here in 2003. And, sure, he’s one of the few Yankees swinging a good bat these days. I also know that his knee is not 100% sound at the moment. But, in the four games that I’ve seen Hideki Matsui play the outfield this season, he’s been a liability. In the past, defensively, he’s been inconsistent – sometimes making a muff, sometimes making a great play, and most of the time being just fine. However, this season, it seems like he’s always coming up short or reacting late – or just flat out kicking the ball around out there.

Again, I love the guy. He’s a professional. He wants to play. He wants to win. He doesn’t melt under pressure and he never dogs it or complains. Still, whether it’s due to age, injury, or lack regular time in the field, his defense – at least from what we’ve seen so far this season – is borderline intolerable.

Godzilla is under contract through next season at $13 million a year and he has a no-trade clause. I suppose that he can be the Yankees primary D.H. this season and next. But, after 2009, I think it will be time for (the then 36-year old) Matsui to think about finishing out his career back in Japan.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at April 10, 2008 10:07 AM

Comments

Matsui should be the full-time DH for as long as Giambi's fat, fragile ass can stand playing in the infield. We shouldn't have to see Matsui botching routine plays out there in LF, especially not when the team is already defensively challenged at SS, 1B and potentially 2B (anyone else think Cano misses his Larry Bowa mentorship?).

Posted by: MJ [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 10, 2008 10:41 AM

(anyone else think Cano misses his Larry Bowa mentorship?)
---------------------------------------------

i've seen almost every inning this year. I've seen cano make some outstanding plays. And it seems that when there is an outstanding play to be made, he makes it 95% of the time. His problem, at least the way I see it, is when its a routine play. (example off the top of my head was him dropping a flip to second, messing up an dp and not even getting the force at second) Maybe they practice those plays so often that he feels like he doesn't even have to think about it, and when he does that he loses concentration and mistakes happen.

Is anyone else done with giambi? Sure his D hasn't been all that bad, but he hasn't hit anything. I wonder if he continues to struggle how long his name will be written in that lineup card.

Posted by: Corey [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 10, 2008 11:50 AM