HIDEKI Matsui playing against Kaz Matsui makes the Subway Series big news in Japan. But it offers local followers another reminder about the free-agent fortunes of the Yankees and the Mets. It is a microcosm of how the two teams do business all wrapped up in the same last name.
Hideki Matsui, a star in the Japanese Leagues, signs a three-year contract for $21 million with the Yankees in January 2003, makes the American League All-Star team, should have been the league’s Rookie of Year and was probably the Yankees’ most consistent player.
Kaz Matsui, a star in the Japanese Leagues, signs a three-year contract for $20.1 million with the Mets last December and currently leads the National League with 15 errors, is in the midst of 2-for-22 hitting slump and is being booed by the home fans at Shea Stadium. He started last night’s game after getting the “day off” during Thursday’s series finale against the Reds, ending his streak of 1,213 games played dating back to 1996 when he was with the Seibu Lions.
It says something about Kaz Matsui’s mindset that he didn’t put up a fuss about sitting, and suggested the rest might serve to rejuvenate him. “I think the day off helped me,” he said through an interpreter.
The tale of the two Matsuis played out at the Stadium yesterday before Game 1 of the interleague series between the Yankees and Mets, serving to remind us of two things: 1) Mets signings never seem to work out as well as expected (see Mo Vaughn, Roberto Alomar, and Tom Glavine’s 2003 season); and 2) making the adjustment from Japan to the major leagues isn’t always as easy as Ichiro or Hideki Matsui made it seem.
Despite Kaz Matsui’s troubles at the plate, the Mets are staying positive. They’ve been down this road before, spending big money only to see one of their prized acquisitions not perform well under expectations.
“He’s helped us win a ton of games already,” Howe said of Kaz Matsui. “He’s still a work in progress. A lot of things have been put on his plate and he’s handled it well. This kid’s a tough kid. He comes to work every day prepared to play and he gives his best. It’s a 162-game schedule and you’re going to hit streaks in your game where you struggle. But overall, I’m pleased with what I’ve seen.”
Tell that to the fans in Flushing who spent the first part of this week booing the Japanese import for errors, base- running gaffes and a soft bat.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Kaz Matsui Hideki Matsui
30 Age 30
Osaka Hometown Kanazawa
Seibu Lions Japanese Team Yomiuri Giants
1 Years in MLB 2
3-yr, $20.1 million Salary 3-yr, $21 million
2004 Stats
.253 Avg. .282
5 HR 13
22 RBI 42