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,” manager Joe Girardi said. “That was the first lead we had in this series in the two games. It allows you to set your bullpen up the way you want to.”
It also allowed the Yankees not to fall into an 0-2 hole heading to Philadelphia.
Now Girardi probably will have to bench Matsui because he will lose his designated hitter in the NL ballpark.
“We have all day to think about that,” Girardi said.
Girardi needs to be bold here. Yes, Matsui’s knees are an issue, but with one swing Matsui can turn into Godzilla again. How many hitters can do that?
As difficult as it is, the Yankees are going to need Godzilla in the outfield. They cannot afford to let that big bat sit on the bench for three games, especially with the way Nick Swisher is struggling. During the workout day Tuesday, Matsui took some fly balls in right field.
For the most part Matsui has packed his glove away, but he still is holding out hope that he can play some outfield in Philadelphia. You can be sure he will get at least one at-bat a game as a pinch-hitter, but the Yankees need him for more than that.
The Yankees need to roll the dice and play Matsui in the outfield. What does he think?
“It’s not really my decision,” Matsui said. “If the manager decides to put me in the outfield then I am going to make sure I am going to be ready for that.”
If he’s ready, he should play. Left-hander Cole Hamels will be on the mound for Game 3 tomorrow night, but that doesn’t matter. The lefty-swinging Matsui tied for the major league lead this season with 46 RBIs off left-handed pitching. He has four home runs in 59 career postseason at-bats against left-handers. Citizens Bank Park is a hitters’ park just like Yankee Stadium.
Considering the offensive struggles of Johnny Damon and Swisher, Girardi cannot afford to keep Matsui’s bat on the bench. And no one is struggling more than Rodriguez right now, other than Ryan Howard.
Matsui might hurt the Yankees on defense but that’s a chance that Girardi has to take. Matsui makes the Yankees a much deeper lineup as proven by last night’s blast. That was Matsui’s second career home run in the World Series, and his eighth career postseason home run.
That blast took the weight off the Yankees’ shoulders, and they have lived on the home run all season, it is their calling card.
Matsui singled his first time up against Martinez, walked his second time and then homered. He’s a money player, it’s that simple, and money players deserve to be in the lineup in the World Series.
Girardi always is talking about being loyal to his guys. Matsui is one of those guys. Taking his bat out of the lineup hurts in a big way.
If the Yankees get a lead in Philadelphia Girardi has all kinds of defensive options. The Yankees are best when Matsui is batting in the middle of their lineup. With the pitcher batting, the Yankee lineup is already weakened.
It’s an easy decision, Joe. Godzilla must stalk Philadelphia.