Posts Tagged ‘Hideki Matsui’

There’s no better words to the ears of Met fans than “it’s the offseason” after a horrific 2009 season that ended with a World Series matchup between the two teams they hate the most. The Mets figure to be in the market for a marquee left fielder and the free agent class has some good ones to offer starting at the top. Matt Holliday, who may be the biggest name on the market, leads the left field class along with Jason Bay.

Left fielders the Mets should concern themselves with:
Johnny Damon – Signing Damon would allow Reyes to bat third and gives the Mets a pesky leadoff hitter. It deepens the Mets lineup, allowing Wright to bat fourth and Beltran to bat fifth.
Marcus Thames – Thames has some pop in his bat and could provide power batting sixth in the Mets lineup.
Marlon Byrd – Byrd had his best year in 2009 hitting 20 home runs and driving in 89. He’s on the second tier and would be a cost effective option at left field.

Left fielders the Mets should make a run for:
Matt Holliday - Holliday is the the premiere name in the 2010 free agent class and is expecting Mark Teixeira-like figures. Pairing him with Wright would make a fearsome middle of the order. Holliday may be better suited in the National League but he’ll get offers from teams all around the league.
Jason Bay – Bay had a big year in Boston and would do wonders in the Mets lineup and locker room. He would be a terror in the middle of the Mets lineup. Bay is going to want a big contract after the season he had in 2009. He had 36 home runs and drove in 119. Boston will be players in the chase for Holliday and Bay and will most likely sign one of them.
Carl Crawford - The Rays have an option on Crawford in 2010 but if they don’t pick it up the Mets should make a play for him. He’ll get less attention than Holliday and Bay and would team with Reyes to make the Mets an all out basestealing team. Reyes and Crawford batting would make the Mets’ three, four and five hitters better.

Dark Horse candidates:
Rick Ankiel – Ankiel had a down year in 2009 compared to ’08 but could make a resurgence with a new team. I won’t call him a center fielder by trade because he was once a pitcher. Defensively, the switch from center to left wouldn’t be an issue. 
Hideki Matsui – The World Series MVP may not be headed back to the Bronx although he would like to. The team in Queens will take a look to see if his knees can handle the everyday grind in the outfield.
Xavier Nady – Nady was with the Mets in 2006 but was playing right field. He’s a veteran and a career .280 hitter. He’d be a nice option behind the upper echelon of left fielders.

The Mets left fielder in 2010 will be:
Marlon Byrd – Holliday and Bay will sign for megabucks elsewhere and the Rays will pick up Crawford’s option. Byrd has put together decent numbers the last three seasons and could break out in 2010 with the Mets.

The Yankees are the World Series champions for the 27th time in their storied history and there’s no better time to take a look at the upcoming offseason than the day after the season ended. As the team vies for title number 28, all signs point toward Joe Girardi changing his uniform number from 27 to 28 (Yankees don’t want to stay at #27 for long) for 2010 as that’s the next goal of this franchise.

The last time the Yankees came off a World Series championship they made minor adjustments. The biggest move they made between 2000 and 2001 was the free agent signing of Mike Mussina. The Yankees won’t make a big splash in this year’s free agency because there are no major superstars in this year’s free agent class (led by Matt Holliday) and there’s not many placed the Yankees can upgrade (they are the champs for a reason).

The Yankees will start in-house with three guys that could hit the free agent market. They need to make a decision on what to do with 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, catalyst Johnny Damon, and gritty veteran pitcher Andy Pettitte. It doesn’t seem likely the Yankees will bring back both Damon and Matsui. Damon can still run and play the field but Matsui is a pure hitter and will always hit no matter how bad his knees are. Both players have said they would like to return to the Yankees. If they aren’t retained, retirement is not on the minds of Damon or Matsui. The fact that the Yankees have some aging stars under contract would lead you to believe the Yankees are less inclined to retain Matsui as their DH. As for Pettitte, it would make sense for the Yankees to bring him back in 2010 after the season he had in 2009. The question is whether Pettitte wants to come back. He could ride off into retirement as a winner with five rings if he decides his career is over.

Th next order of business, which we may already know the answer to, is what to do with Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. It is almost certain they will both start the season as starters but if the Yankees land a veteran starting pitcher, one of them, more likely Hughes, could land back in the bullpen. This is an unlikely circumstance and expect to see both players preparing to be starters in 2010.

The Yankees went hard after free agents CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixeira last offseason because they knew this year’s free agent class didn’t have many marquee, superstar names. The Bombers can never be counted out during free agency but they won’t be signing three top tier free agents like last year. A middle ground starting pitcher could be somewhere to look at, as well as a corner outfielder.

The 2010 Yankees team will look similar to the 2009 World Series champion team.

The Yankees 2009 season started with a trip to the pool hall on an afternoon during spring training. It ended with a World Series championship. The new Yankee Stadium’s inaugural season started with a Boston fan named Gino Castignoli burying a Red Sox jersey under the structure. It ended with champagne and the Commissoner’s Trophy. The 2009 season started with an A-Rod press conference and ended with A-Rod coming up clutch in big postseason at-bats. February was a long, long time ago.

The Yankees needed everyone to win the championship. Not everyone had Hideki Matsui numbers in the World Series but it took a complete team effort to get to October and get through the ALDS and ALCS. Phil Hughes had a tough postseason but was a big reason why the Yankees had such a strong regular season. Robinson Cano didn’t have many hits in the postseason but batted .320 in the regular season.Then there’s Damaso Marte who had an injury plagued regular season and became Girardi’s go-to-guy with outstanding pitching in the postseason.

There’s also the guys that are consistent; The “Core Four”. Jeter, Rivera, Posada, Pettitte were good all season and their postseason experience shined in 2009. Rivera was the only closer in the postseason not to blow a save. Pettitte was the starter in each of the Yankees three series clinching games. Posada came back from an injury riddled 2008 season and led the pitching staff and clubhouse. Jeter was Jeter. What else can be said about the Yankees captain.

On to the newcomers. Sabathia, Burnett, Teixeira, Swisher. The Yankees don’t make it to the World Series without acquiring these guys. Sabathia was incredible in the postseason. He went 3-1 in five starts with a 1.98 ERA in the postseason. Teixeira led the AL in home runs during the regular season with 39. He also had two big postseason home runs. Remember back to the first month of the season and Nick Swisher kept the Yankees going when A-Rod was out with injury and the bats were as cold as the April and May weather.

Finally, A-Rod. He was clutch. Nobody can say he chokes in October anymore. He put his critics to rest. He batted over .360 in the postseason with six home runs and 18 RBI. A-Rod was a big reason why the Yankees won number 27.

The Yankees broke in the original Yankee Stadium with a World Series championship in 1923. In 2009, the Yankees broke in the new Yankee Stadium with a World Series championship.

Hideki Matsui’s six RBI night in game six of the World Series earned him MVP honors. Not only is he the first full-time DH to win the award, he is the first Japanese born player to with the award. Here is what Matsui did this series:

He started the three games held at Yankee stadium and came off the bench as a pinch hitter in the three games in Philadelphia.

Game 1: 1-3
Game 2: 2-3, HR, R, RBI, BB
Game 3: 1-1, HR, R, RBI (pinch hit)
Game 4: 0-1 (pinch hit)
Game 5: 1-1 (pinch hit)
Game 6: 3-4, HR, R, 6 RBI (6 RBI Ties WS Single Game Record)

Totals 8-13, .615 BA, 3 HR, 3 R, 8 RBI, BB = MVP

Joe Girardi has been criticized for some of his decisions during the playoffs this year but in game three of the World Series he made all the right moves. It starts with making the decision to go with Sabathia in game four. That put some pressure on the Phillies in game three, knowing it would be Blanton against Sabathia in the next game. Then Girardi went ahead and started Nick Swisher in right field. Girardi benched Swisher in game two. How did Swisher thank Girardi? A 2-4 game with a double, solo home run, and two runs scored. Girardi used his bullpen well too. Joba gave him a solid 7th inning. Damaso Marte shut down the Phillies in the 8th and Girardi chose to take out Phil Hughes after giving up a solo home run in the 9th with one out. Mariano Rivera came in the got the final two outs. Girardi will also get credit for putting Matsui in to pinch hit. It was an obvious move but Matsui made it look great with a tack on solo home run.

Girardi made all the right moves in game three and the Yankees are up 2-1 in the World Series over the Phillies. With Sabathia ready to go in game four, the Yankees have a great shot at going up 3-1.

The momentum has shifted in the Yankees favor during the last two games after Cliff Lee dazzled the Yanks in game one. After the Yankees tied the series with a huge outing by AJ Burnett, the Yankees won game three in Philadelphia by a score of 8-5 behind some big home runs and a gutsy pitching performance by Andy Pettitte.

Yankee bats awoke from their slumps as A-Rod, Damon and Swisher all came up with big hits. Even Andy Pettitte helped his own cause with an RBI single. A-Rod hit a two-run homer to get the Yankees on the board after they were down 0-3. The original call on A-Rod’s home run was a double but replay clearly showed the ball hitting a camera that was over the fence. The umpires reviewed the play and made the right call. Pettitte’s single tied the game and Damon had a two-run double that put the Yankees up 5-3. Swisher, who went 2-4 in the game, hit a solo home run that gave the Yanks a 6-3 lead. Posada had an RBI single in the 7th and Hideki Matsui, coming off the bench as a pinch hitter, hit a solo home run in the 8th in his only at-bat. The Phillies added to their three runs with two solo home runs in the late innings.

The Yankees are feeling good heading into game four. They have their ace on the mound and a 2-1 game advantage in the series. It was only a matter of time before their bats woke up. They still have some guys struggling like Cano and Melky. This series isn’t over by any means but the Yankees have things set up and the advantage going into game four.

The Yankees and Phillies have boarded the Amtrak to Philadelphia both having one won game each in the Bronx. Both managers have some decisions to make for the upcoming games in the NL stadium.

With no DH, Girardi loses Matsui’s bat in the lineup. Matsui hasn’t played the field at all this season and his only appearances during regular season interleague play came as a pinch hitter late in games. Don’t expect to see Matsui in the outfield for any of the games at Citizens Bank Park. He will be a nice bat off the bench for Girardi.

Beyond game three, neither team has confirmed their starting pitchers. CC Sabathia will most likely go for the Yankees in game four and the Phillies have to choose between Joe Blanton and Cliff Lee. If Charlie Manuel goes with Lee, it would be on three days rest, the same amount of rest Sabathia would be pitching on.

Girardi also has a decision to make on who plays right field. Jerry Hairston Jr. went 1-3 in game two as the Yankees right fielder. Girardi can stick with Hairston, go back to Swisher, or go to the bench. Eric Hinske is a possibility. Brett Gardner could play center field and Melky Cabrera could move to right field. Girardi would rather keep Gardner on the bench and use him as a pinch runner late in games. It worked in game two when he went from first to third on a single and scored the Yankees third run on a single.

Girardi and Manuel will have their hands full answered the media based on their managerial decisions the rest of the series. Both managers will hope they make the right decisions. The only way the series doesn’t go back to the Bronx is if one team wins all the games in Philly. These teams are so good that this series may go the full seven games.

AJ Burnett showed up in game two and pitched a masterpiece when everyone said he could be hit or miss in the start. He also did exactly what Girardi and the Yankees wanted; handed the ball straight to Mariano. Mo came in for two innings and held the Phillies down in the Yankees 3-1 win. Pedro Martinez made his return to Yankee stadium and the Yankees made sure he didn’t go home happy.

The turning point in the game was when catcher Jose Molina picked Jason Werth off of first base with a snap throw in the top of the 4th. The Yankees were down a run already and the stadium was quiet. Molina’s pickoff got the crowd going and put some life into the stadium. Mark Teixeira lead off the bottom of the 4th with a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1.

Hideki Matsui gave the Yankees the lead in the 6th with a solo home run that allowed Burnett to have the chance to get the win. Burnett went seven strong, giving up just one run, which came when A-Rod misplayed a ball in the 2nd inning. Burnett also struck out nine batters. The Yankees added some insurance in the 7th when Posada hit a liner up the middle to drive in Brett Gardner.

The World Series is tied at one game a piece as the series heads to Philadelphia for games three, four and five. Lefties Andy Pettitte and Cole Hamels go for their respective teams in game three.

The Yankees and Angels are two teams you can never count out of a game until the final out is recorded. Game five proved it once again. With a couple of questionable, if not just dumb, moves by both managers, the late innings were entertaining to watch and people will be second guessing there calls until the next game.

The Angels scored four runs off AJ Burnett before they made an out. From that point until the 7th inning, the game took it’s course and neither team put up any runs. Lackey was superb through seven innings but it was the 7th inning when the game took a wild turn.

John Lackey was taken out of the game, to his discontent, with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 7th.

You could read Lackey’s lips when Angels coach Mike Scioscia went to the mound to take Lackey out.

“You’re (expletive) me,” Lackey said. “This one is mine!”

Scioscia didn’t think so. Scoiscia called on Darren Oliver to replace Lackey and Oliver’s first pitch was pounded by Mark Teixeira to left center for a bases clearing double. The Angels intentionally walked A-Rod and Hideki Matsui followed with a single that drove in Teixeira to tie the game at 4-4. Oliver’s day was over without being able to get that last out in the 7th. Kevin Jepsen replaced Oliver and gave up a triple to Cano that gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead. Swisher popped out to end the inning.

Mark Teixeira couldn’t have picked a better time to get his first hit with RISP this postseason. The Yankees scored six runs in the 7th inning, all with two outs.

AJ Burnett gave up four runs in the first inning before recording an out. After the Yankees broke out for six runs in the top of the 7th, Girardi left Burnett in to start the bottom half of the 7th. Burnett gave up a single and walk and was taken out. Those two baserunners came around to score, being charged to Burnett. The Angels tacked on a go-ahead run with a Kendry Morales single and the Angels had a 7-6 lead.

Both teams knocked on the door the rest of the game but weren’t able to score anymore runs. The game ended when Swisher, who has been struggling mightily, popped up to shortstop with the bases loaded, a full-count and two outs in the 9th.

The series heads back to the Bronx for games six and seven, if necessary.