It may have been a foregone conclusion, but Kaz Matsui, a switch hitting Japanese middle infielder and former Japan league MVP, has announced his will become a major league free agent today officially.
This probably as yet does not belong in this forum, so let me see if I can solve that problem.
Is this guy a fit in any way for the Yankees?
Would you guys look to deal Sori for Vazquez and bring this guy in at 2B???
1) he's not going to play 2nd, when about 20 other teams will let him play SS.Originally posted by aeromac76
Is this guy a fit in any way for the Yankees?
Would you guys look to deal Sori for Vazquez and bring this guy in at 2B???
2) There is no way in hell Minaya is giving up Vasquez for Soriano.
I don't want Kaz Matsui playing here. Soriano deserves at LEAST one more year to work on defense; he's earned it. Let Kaz go to another team.
Global Warming and climate change hysteria could well represent the historical pinnacle of collective insanity.
ok, the biggest thing to keep in mind about Soriano is not that he's a subpar second baseman, with more work he can be a pretty good defensive second baseman, with great range and a great arm. However, the key for the Yankees is that they think that he's best suited to be in the outfield, to take advantage of that speed and his arm. I think that with the Yankees pursuit of Sheffield, that tells us that at the very least, Soriano will be back at second for the Yankees, if not traded (hopefully they won't trade him) for the next couple of years. So, if Sheffield comes to NY, and Soriano stays at second base....and the Yankees are politically forced to keep Boone since they gave up their #1 prospect for him...that leaves, nowhere for Kaz Matsui to play. I think that he ends up in Seattle.
The only thing Soriano has earned is not to be traded because of his offense.Originally posted by nyyfanatic85
I don't want Kaz Matsui playing here. Soriano deserves at LEAST one more year to work on defense; he's earned it. Let Kaz go to another team.
It just does not seem that Soriano is working out at 2nd. Last year was his third year and he is not getting any better. He just does not have the footwork and his head is not always in the game (See Bernie Williams)
Soriano has a very strong arm and I think the Yankees should really consider moving him to RF.
Me too; let him and Ichiro be good friends over there. I don't want him here.[i]that leaves, nowhere for Kaz Matsui to play. I think that he ends up in Seattle. [/B]
Global Warming and climate change hysteria could well represent the historical pinnacle of collective insanity.
Who knows how long Ichiro is going to be in Seattle. Ichiro said that he was very unhappy that he has not gotten a contract extention. He feels that going to arbitration is an insult.Originally posted by nyyfanatic85
Me too; let him and Ichiro be good friends over there. I don't want him here.
:rolleyes: You mean Ichiro-I-was-Rookie-of-the-Year-and-I-still-Don't-Get-Any-Respect? Give me a break. Matsui's the one who got insulted.Originally posted by Yanknut023
Who knows how long Ichiro is going to be in Seattle. Ichiro said that he was very unhappy that he has not gotten a contract extention. He feels that going to arbitration is an insult.
That nothing to do with the topic.Originally posted by derekjeter916
:rolleyes: You mean Ichiro-I-was-Rookie-of-the-Year-and-I-still-Don't-Get-Any-Respect? Give me a break. Matsui's the one who got insulted.
For the Yanks to even speak with Alomar, Matsui and Castillo tells you Soriano's days at 2B are done- and good ridance. Anyone with 2 eyes who watched the Yanks this year can tell you that despite the fact that Soriano is easily the most athletically gifted of the Yanks, he has failed miserably in his attempt to be a 2B. He is still the same haphazard and error-prone 2B he was 3 years ago, with ZERO improvement.
Maybe he can play CF, but I would not give him the chance- he is first and foremost a rotisserie league player, and a baseball player second. Yes, he represents fantastic statisical potential- yet one could probably count on one hand the number of clutch hits of any type he has made since 2001. His maximum value to the Yanks consists of what viable starting pitcher he can bring to NY.
Matsui is a fantasic defensive SS. He would have to convert to 2B with the Yanks, which many here have attempted to paint as making him the same as Soriano. But let's clear up one major difference before we go further. Soriano has ALWAYS been a miserable fielder- at 2B, 3B, SS - wherever the Yanks have put him in the majors and minors. Matsui is gold glove level and is a top notch athlete. The transition is SO much easier if you are a good defensive player to begin with.
Offensively, Soriano and Matsui are very different. Soriano has tremendous bat speed, but swings at any pitch from his eyes to ankles, trying to hit HR's, ergo the heavy bat. Matsui is very strong, but just isn't big enough to hit more than 20 HR's a year here. Matsui has also proven to be a top notch on-base guy, who is a much more natural leadoff hitter. Before Matsui starting hitting HR's 3 years ago, he has as many as 60 SB's in a season, while hitting well in excess of .300, with some moderate power. Matsui's game is his legs, even more than Soriano- any ground ball by Matsui is a probable hit, unless it is very sharply hit. Further, Matsui is a legitimate switch hitter.
For those that say out of hand that he will reject a move to 2B when SS positions are available- think again. In Japan, it is more important to watch the non-verbal signals sent by a person. It spoke a ton about what Kaz is thinking when he spent the ALCS in NY- not only watching the games in NY, but then skipping the trip to Boston to sightsee in NY, and check out the "surrounding area"- especially when accompanied by one's family.
Kaz wants to win- given that the teams pursuing him strongest appear to be the Angels, the Dodgers, the Yanks and the M's- which of those four presents the most opportunity to win?
They're gonna bring in Sheff for right, leave Sori, sign Andy and either hire another pitcher (Colon, Escobar, Rodriguez) or trade for a salary dump. Sori won't be part of that, and hopefully Nick won't either. Never trade All-star talent for salary dumps.
Ditto!Originally posted by nyyfanatic85
I don't want Kaz Matsui playing here. Soriano deserves at LEAST one more year to work on defense; he's earned it. Let Kaz go to another team.
I can see most of you are not in favor of Kaz coming and would like to give Soriano another year for improvement. Is is possible for Kaz to play 3rd? If so, does that change your minds about him becoming a yankee if it doesn't mean chasing Sori from 2nd?
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you stole my idea. but i really like it so i'm going to repeat it anyway. It would give us a good defensive 3rd baseman, and a true leadoff/#2 type hitter, who has the ability to move to shortstop in a year or two when Jeter's deteriorating range make it impossible for him to continue to play there effectively and force him to either move to third or the outfield.Originally posted by yanksrule69
Is is possible for Kaz to play 3rd?
this also allows soriano to be moved down to 6th or so, where his horrid OBP will hurt us less, and he can hopefully learn to take more pitches.
Sori won't be part of a salary dumo because his arbitration reward will largely negate the dump.
Leave Soriano at 2nd base
Sign Kaz Matsui for 2B,Sheff for RF and put Soriano in CF.
I think it would be great if the Yanks signed K. Matsui for 2nd and move Soriano to CF.
Originally posted by TinoBambino
2) There is no way in hell Minaya is giving up Vasquez for Soriano.
Minaya would JUMP at Soriano for Vazquez. Trading Soriano who might be the next Sosa for Vazquez who is in his walk year is too much to give up on the Yankees' end.
According to Japanese newspapers, K. Matsui's first choice is the Dodgers. Ishii has been heavily recruiting him via media.
...K Matsui does'nt want to be on a team with another Japanese position player. Hence, Yankees/Seattle are not destinations.
Contrary to what many here seem to think, Kazuo Matsui would be a horrible on base guy, he is not a very good player period, except maybe defensively.
I think he'll go to O's or Angels.
Good Bye.
Keep our prospecs near than us
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http://www.baseballguru.com/archives...s/00000641.htmOriginally posted by Shadowboxer
According to Japanese newspapers, K. Matsui's first choice is the Dodgers. Ishii has been heavily recruiting him via media.
Matsui All But Decides for Dodgers
Amid L.A. GM Dan Evans effusively praising Seibu Lions shortstop Kazuo Matsui Thursday, comes news that Matsui now wishes to go to a team that doesn't already have a Japanese position player. That would mean he would be pushing the Yankees and Mariners aside and would almost certainly end up in Dodger Stadium.
Boston and the Mets are interested, too, but Matsui's druthers are pointed toward short, which makes him unlikely to go to Fenway while the Mets aren't a strong enough team in his view to contend.
well i guess that's one less player we know that wont be becoming a Yankee
why is it important to be the only japanese position player on a team? that's so incredibly weird. and if he's so selfish that a foolish thing like that would be important to him, there is absolutely no way he'd be open to switching positions anyway. forget him.
Good. Keep him out of our leagueOriginally posted by Shadowboxer
According to Japanese newspapers, K. Matsui's first choice is the Dodgers. Ishii has been heavily recruiting him via media.
Isn't Ishi on the Dodgers a Japanese player????
Originally posted by matt27
why is it important to be the only japanese position player on a team? that's so incredibly weird. and if he's so selfish that a foolish thing like that would be important to him, there is absolutely no way he'd be open to switching positions anyway. forget him.
It definitely says something about his personality...
He's not a "position" player..that is, one that plays in the field every day.Originally posted by sugmasterflex
Isn't Ishi on the Dodgers a Japanese player????
If they ask who was our star, give them 25 names, and if you forget our names, just tell them we were Yankees.
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