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11/02/2002 Archived Entry: "Godzilla Goes Bigtime"
Players, Team Officials React to Matsui Defection
The declaration of his intention to seek a job in the big leagues by Yomiuri Giants centerfielder Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui has sent shockwaves throught Japanese baseball. Most seemed supportive of the slugger's move and Matsui himself said earlier Saturday that now that he has revealed what he's going to do, he has been able to sleep comfortably for the first time in a while.
Matsui's Giants teammate, first baseman Kazuhiro Kiyohara, cheered, "because he took the cleanup slot from me, I want him to become the best number four hitter in the world." He also said that he had heard about Matsui's defection by reading one of the sports dailies after getting up in the morning. "I was really astonished. I thought he would stay. Yomiuri owner Tsuneo Watanabe said that if they can't find somebody from the free agent market, that Kiyohara will likely be written into the four hole. The former Lion won't be accompanying his team on their Hawaii victory trip, though, as he and wife Aki have a two month old first born child to take care of.
Yakult manager Tsutomu Wakamatsu, interviewed at Yakult's indoor practice facility at Meiji Jingu Stadium, was optimistic about Matsui's chances: "He made his decision? He had some speed when he first came up and is a three tool (run, hit, throw) player and is mentally strong. He'll do okay."
Swallows catcher Atsuya Furuta, like Wakamatsu, a future Hall of Fame inductee, applauded Matsui: "I can understand how he would want to go to the next level. I think he made a great choice. I believe he'll hit 30 homers. Because he's a player I can respect, I'll be rooting for him."
Chunichi Dragons rightfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who denied Matsui the Triple Crown when he sat out the last three games of the season once he got a lead in the batting race, averred, "it's kind of sad, but as a pro baseball player, I want him to go all out. It was just this season, but the chance to compete with him [for the batting crown] was a great experience for me. But since he is Japan's premier cleanup hitter, I'll be rooting for him." Fukudome's boss, Hisashi Yamada, referred to Matsui's leaving as "a great loss. But as Japan's premier cleanup batter, I'll be rooting for him."
Hiroshima Carp manager Koji Yamamoto evaluated that the ball really flies in the majors and that the teams that Matsui faces will be gunning for him.
Free agent Carp outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto was pleased at Matsui's vacating Tokyo: "now that he's gone, we have a better chance of winning the pennant. Winning at Tokyo Dome is always sweet."
New Yokohama skipper Daisuke Yamashita saw Matsui's departure as a double edged sword. "Speaking for myself, I want him to do well. There are two meanings to this and I'm happy for that. What Yamashita is referring to is that Godzilla wrecked the Bay Stars this season, connecting for 12 homers and batting .375 while driving in 26 runners. One of his biggest victims, reliever Takeshita, who gave up five hits in eight at bats against Matsui, including four homers, said, "I saw the news about it on tv this morning. You can't help but to think about it. But maybe I won't be on tv now [since Matsui can no longer take him deep]."
Daiei Hawks manager Sadaharu Oh sent Matsui off this way: 'he owes a lot to his fans and his ballclub. It was perhaps a difficult decision for him. He wanted to challenge himself, so this was the only thing he could do. In any event, it's going to be hard for him. Ichiro maintains his average by being a spray hitter, but Matsui has to hit home runs."
Lotte helmsman Koji Yamamoto, who, though not as dominant as his Hiroshima namesake as a player, was still a fine hitter, expects Matsui to put up some numbers. "I could hit 30 homers next year. [The major leagues] have a lot of pitchers who can throw hard with good control, but they will have a hard time with him. I look forward to seeing how well he does with his Japanese power." Yamamoto also anticipates that Matsui will help bring the Japanese and major league pro baseball leagues closer.
Lotte ace Tomohiro Kuroki, who handcuffed an MLB all start team in 2000, blurted, "declaring free agency and then immediately going to the majors in itself says something."
Orix shot caller Hiromichi Ishige, at the club's fall camp in Miyakojima, Okinawa, he is the first Japanese power hitter to go to the big leagues, completely different from Ichiro. I'm looking forward to seeing how much damage he can do." However, he also reflected on the downside of Matsui going away: "one more hero going to the states makes it tougher on baseball here in Japan."
Finally, Matsui's father Masao, 60, got word of his son's decision from the press around midnight the day before yesterday. The elder Matsui told his offspring a while ago to make his own decision about whether he will stay or go. Once he got word, "I was thinking of so many things that I couldn't speak." Matsui also disclosed that the thing he is most worried about is his boy's private life and that he hopes he will get married soon.
Report is taken from Hochi Sports, Nikkan Sports and Sports Nippon.
Matsui's Father: Matsui Dreamed of Playing for Yankees
According to Sankei Sports, Hideki Matsui's father, Masao Matsui, 60, "feels a strong attraction to the Yankees." He quotes his son as saying, "if I could play [in New York], that would be the greatest." This is bad news to the other MLB clubs that are considering inducing the Ishikawa Prefecture native to put on their uniform.
What really caught Godzilla's attention was the atmosphere of Yankee Stadium when he attended a playoff game with his father three years ago. While the Japanese slugger says that he is open to all offers, it is evident that any teams not the Yankees would have a steep hill to climb.
In something that should bring a big smile to George Steinbrenner, Sankei said that if Matsui does sign with the Yankees, his first game with them would be in Toronto on March 31st and the first time he would tread the grass at home would be on April 7th against the Twins. They even gave the date as to when tickets for 2003 Yankees home games go on sale. No doubt, this is the first ripple in what will be a tidal wave of Matsui-related promotion once the next campaign gets underway.
To help his son get settled, Masao and his wife, Saeko, are discussing accompanying him to New York to see that he eats right. Saeko has for years been making several trips a month to Tokyo to bring her son his favorite dishes, do his laundry and clean his apartment. Yes, you can call him Godzilla, but he's a mama's boy. You can see a pic of Matsui's dad at: http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/top/bt200211/image/02110303matsuifatherMT075B02.jpg
Takahashi to Move into Yomiuri Centerfield Slot?
Now that Hideki Matsui has left, the Giants have some personnel moves to make. Supervising coach Kazunori Shinozuka posited that "how we strengthen the team will now change. Takahashi will probably be moved into centerfield." Moreover, they don't have enough confidence in the other outfielders on their roster to put one of them in right, even Takayuki Saito, who did quite well off the bench this year. "All we can do then is obtain a foreign player to cover that hole," he asserted. However, Saito has earned a shot and they should give him first dibs if they are unable to lure someone from overseas.
Giants team official Doi backup Shinozuka up. "Of course, we're thinking about what we're going to do about our outfield situation." Furthermore, somebody in the Yimiuri front office has floated the moronic possibility of putting Norihiro Nakamura at short and then sending Tomohiro Nioka into center. Nioka was a disaster when he played left earlier this year. A more likely scenario would be aquiring Roberto Petagine and giving him an outfield slot, though how well Petagine's bad knees will hold up on the artificial turfs of most of the Japanese parks is an open and ominous question, especially in light of what they will have to pay him.
Hanshin to Sign Irabu?!
According to Sankei Sports, Hanshin Tigers manager Senichi Hoshino secretly met with agent Dan Nomura, who represents Texas Rangers pitcher Hideki Irabu, over the possibility of the big righthander coming back to Japan. If they are successful, the former Yankee would be inserted into a set up role for new closer Jeff Williams. Irabu was 59-59 with 11 saves and a 3.41 ERA in nine years with the Chiba Lotte Marines before going to America,. where he has so far posted a 34-35 record with 16 saves and a 5.16 ERA. All of those saves were with Texas this past season. The Rangers are said to still be trying to figure out if "the jellyfish," as he was nicknamed in Japan, will fit into their plans for 2003.
Irabu's season ended when he suffered a blood clot near his lung on July 15th in Kansas City. He is still taking medicine for that.
It will be interesting to see how Hanshin deals with Nomura, whose name is anathema to most Japanese baseball officials after he spirited Hideo Nomo out of the country in the early 90's. He is also the son of Hall of Fame backstop Katsuya Nomura and once played in the minors for Yakult, though most believe that signing only took place as a personal favor to his father.
Seibu Releases McClain, Evans
In a decision of mind boggling stupidity, the Seibu Lions have released infielders Tom Evans and Scott McClain and hope to compensate for that by aquiring a power hitting foreign player. McClain, a product of the Indians organization, slugged 39 homers in 2001, but was hampered by a wrist injury for most of this past season and was only in 19 games, where he batted .238 with two homers and five RBIs.
Evans, who is a better defensive player than McClain, was a godsend for a lineup that had few power sources, as he came over in May from Hanshin and powdered 15 out of the park with 45 RBIs while batting .252 in only 78 games. In addition, he jacked a two run game tying homer in the Japan Series. Seibu's front office said that Evans' low average made him expendable. Hopefully, someone will pick him up for next season, as he would be a good fit for a varety of teams.
With Hanshin making a run at Roberto Petagine, it causes one to wonder if the Lions are hoping that George Arias will fall into their lap. The former Padre would have to be let go if the Tigers are successful in obtaining the former CL MVP.
Whatever the case may be, Seibu plans to have two foreign position players on its roster in 2003, with the other one being an infielder with some pop. Over a full season, Evans would have projected to in excess of 25 homers. Good luck in finding somebody to take up that slack. And the Lions will be in even deeper doodoo if shortstop Kazuo Matsui decides he wants to be posted.
The Tokorozawa contingent will also be active in the trade market, as veteran Ken Suzuki is going to be moved for somebody in the near future, the proposed deal with Hanshin that would sent Tetsuya Kakiuchi to Hanshin for Tomochika Tsuboi is still in the works and reliever Denny Tomori may be airmailed to Yokohama for pitcher Kazuyuki Maeda, who was only in six games with an 11.12 ERA this season and has a total of 28 pro games under his belt. Talk about a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.
Wada Concludes Regular College Career With Two Hit Victory
Waseda University lefthander Tsuyoshi Wada ended his Tokyo Big Six University League career Saturday at Meiji Jingu Stadium, as he limited Kieo University to two runs on two hits for his fifth win of the fall schedule by a 4-2 margin. The victory meant that Waseda took the league title in both the spring and fall segments in the same year for the first time since 1950. It is also just the second time the school has pulled that off in its storied history. It was the 34th season title for Waseda overall.
The score was tied 2-2 going into the eighth, where Waseda freshman first baseman Shinichi Takeuchi belted a two run homer off of Keio starter Osada to decide it. Wada also extended his league lifetime strikeout record to 474 when he fanned eight in this one. He is expected to sign with the Daiei Hawks.
Former Yakult Pitcher Runs for Diet Seat
According to Sports Nippon, for Yakult Swallows hurler Hiroaki Miyagi is running for a seat in a legislative body in the Yokohama area for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The election will he held next spring. He is currently a secretary to a Diet member.
Miyagi, a Tokyo native, helped Yokohama Shogyo High School get to the final four in the Koshien Summer High School Baseball Tournament in 1979 before moving on to the Swallows after being drafted on the third round in 1980. He spent six seasons in the Swallows organization, compiling an 0-3 record with a 7.17 ERA in 25 games covering 42.2 total innings. He then played in Korea, ultimately hanging up his spikes in 1992.
Hot Shots....
The Chunichi Dragons announced the pitcher Mel Bunch, who left the team during the season after suffering cardiac irrhythmia episodes, will not be re-signed. No news on how the ex-Indian is doing these days. He was 31-23 in three seasons in Nagoya with a 3.19 ERA and pitched a no hitter against Yokohama....Speedy outfielder Takenori Daita, who was released by Yakult, and veteran outfielder Jun Inoue, who was similarly sent packing by Yokohama, worked out for Lotte and were both offered contracts....Yokohama is also mulling appointing recently retired Hosei University manager Masatake Yamanaka as its General Manager. The Stars cite Yamanaka's having over 200 games worth of experience as a coach and manager in international competition and his sitting on the Japanese Olympic Committee as reasons for taking a strong look at him. While Yamanaka said he hasn't heard anything about all this, he doesn't have any pro experience, and that makes his hiring a dumb move....Daiei released 31 year old 13th year veteran infielder Takeshi Nonogaki, who was on his third team....Hawks righty Hayato Terahara is adding a two seam fastball to his arsenal....Tomoaki Kanemoto said that he isn't interested in hearing offers from Yomiuri and intends to finish his career with Hanshin....Hanshin also brought in 77 year old Chunichi Dragons Hall of Fame pitcher Shigeru Sugishita, who is credited with bringing the forkball to Japan. He is spending time instructing Taiyo Fujita and other Tigers hurlers on the ins and outs of that pitch....The Dragons are also contemplating adding Marc Valdes (not "Mark Valdez," as I had written all season---thanks Wayne!), though with Eddie Gaillard well established in the closer's role, would most likely be assigned a middle relief role....Sadaharu Oh will throw out the ceremonial first pitch when a squad of MLB all stars knocks heads with the Yomiuri Giants November 9th (Japan Time) at Tokyo Dome. Shigeo Nagashima will then perform the same duty at the dome when the NPB all stars try their luck on the 10th....Others who will do a similar job during the series will be, in game order, Kazuhisa Inao, Yoshio Yoshida, Sapporo Mayor Nobuo Katsura, Wally Yonamine, Masaichi Kaneda, and U.S. Amabassador to Japan Howard Baker....According to Sankei Sports, Hideki Matsui doesn't want to start negotations with MLB teams until after that NPB-MLB series since he wants to be able to concentrate on those games.... Daiei is looking into promoting its games with Nippon Ham in 2004 as "North vs. South," since Sapporo, to where Nippon Ham will move that season, is in the northernmost island of Hokkaido while the Hawks are based in Fukuoka, which is in the southernmost island of Kyushu. The team's front office is also thinking about asking the Fighters to play with them in Taiwan in May after Seibu pulled out....New Yokohama manager Daisuke Yamashita intends to have 2000 batting champ Tatsuhiko Kinjo move from centerfield to second base. Kinjo impressed MLB scouts his rookie season with his infield play in that year's MLB-NPB series....Chunichi Sports is saying that Yomiuri is considering adding Bobby Rose. That makes no sense from a variety of angles except one, where they would say goodbye to Akira Etoh....Yokohama free agent closer Takashi Saito will indeed take bids now from MLB. The Red Sox, Rangers, and Padres are said to be most interested, though Saito is friends with the Dodgers Kazuhisa Ishii....A SF Giants official, referring to outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo's popularity with the Japanese community and making no allusions to his play on the field, are probably going to keep him for next year. What a joke.
Matsui Inspires Talk in Anonymous Tones
See NY Times article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/02/sports/baseball/02BASE.html?ex=1036904400&en=425a22cff31f684c&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
Look Out America, Here Comes Godzilla
See Asahi Shimbun article at: http://www.asahi.com/english/sports/K2002110200200.html
Yankees Expected to Move Quickly on Matsui
See North Jersey.com article at: http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?level_3_id=106&page=5515035
Media in New York Play Matsui Up
See Japan Times story at: http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=6&id=237016
Five Honored in Japanese American Sports Hall
See Mercury News article at: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/4425002.htm
Kanemoto Says Not So Fast to Hanshin
See Yomiuri Shimbun story at: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20021103wo51.htm
Japanese College Pitcher in Gay Porno Scandal
You will have to scroll down to get to this story, but it is at: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fd20021103tc.htm
Taiwanese Team Prepares for Baseball Tournament in Cuba
See Taipei Times article at: http://www.taipeitimes.com/news/2002/11/02/story/0000178115
