Yardbarker: Hideki Matsui

PODCAST: Possible Collusion in MLB, South Florida as a Viable Market, Hideki Matsui

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:06:38 -0500

Wednesday evening, I had the chance to talk to Mike Silva of NY Baseball Digest at length about a number of topics, including my article on possible collusion in MLB (see MLB Can't Have Their Cake and Eat it Too (Revenue-Sharing)), which touched on the last released revenue-sharing figures for all 30 clubs in 2002-'03, and 2005; whether the South Florida market is a sustainable, viable market for MLB, what is happening at the Baseball Winter Meetings, and; Hideki Matsui's value as a Japanese star player could impact how the Yankees approach him in free agency. Listen to the segment below. OTHER NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK (THE BIZ OF FOOTBALL) Titans-Texans MNF Game Has Strong Ratings Tony Dungy Leads New NFL Player Advisory Forum Jon Gruden Signs Mult-Year Extension with ESPN (THE BIZ OF HOCKEY) Relocating NHL Franchises to Canada Inside the Numbers: The 2009 Forbes NHL Valuations NHLPA Votes to Create Two Committees, Approves Donald Fehr to Assist in Exec. Dir. Search The NHL Works to Address Head Hits (THE BIZ OF BASKETBALL) TV Troubles for Bad NBA Teams Despite Economy Early NBA Attendance Only Down 2% Daktronics to Provide Massive Video Display for Amway Center (SPORTS BASH) Busy, Busy, Busy: The Baseball Winter Meetings Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network. Don't forget to register and log in on The Biz of Baseball site to get updates via your in-box, and see information only logged in members can see. Follow Maury Brown on Twitter Follow The Biz of Baseball on Twitter Follow the Business of Sports Network on Facebook

Law on Matsui

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:00:40 -0500

From Keith Law’s (ESPN) top 50 FA list, we have the following profile on Hideki Matsui: Matsui stayed healthy for a full season by avoiding the field, so while I’d expect his agents to market him as a corner outfielder, he should be valued as a DH. His bat has slowed noticeably — to hit a [...]

Yanks, Pettitte, Not Close To Deal

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:25:00 -0500

Since the World Series ended almost 3 weeks ago, there has been very little news regarding talks with free-agents Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, or Andy Pettitte on potential new deals. And today, GM Brian Cashman said that he does not expect to hear from Pettitte regarding his future anytime soon. Andy had a great season this year, going 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 32 starts with the Bombers in his 14th MLB season. But the way the process of negotiations have gone so far, it may...

Matsui and Pacquiao: Victories for Asian Athleticism

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:41:09 -0500

By Ann Binlot Growing up as a child of Asian immigrants in California, I wasn’t exactly encouraged to be an athlete. When I was young, my father enrolled me in piano lessons instead of having me join a t-ball or soccer team. Most of the Asians that did play sports during my high school years stuck with activities like tennis or badminton instead of football, wrestling or basketball. I didn’t play anything—mostly because my parents didn’t encourage it. As a tomboy who co...

Closing Bits: Damon, Pettitte, Matsui, Halladay

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:36:48 -0500

Here are some quick items to close out the day: According to Ken Davidoff (Newsday), the Yankees’ “biggest focus so far is finding common ground with [Johnny] Damon.” He goes on to say that Andy Pettitte’s return “should work out,” and that Hideki Matsui is “less of a priority.” Jesse Sanchez (MLB) says that the Yankees (and the Dodgers) [...]

Matsui's future

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:00:13 -0500

by Koji Sasahara - AP View full size photo » Hideki Matsui must have wondered what he did to deserve such a cruel fate. He left the Japanese major leagues seven years ago to prove himself against the best in the world. In Japan, he had won three MVP awards and three championships. In 2003, he crossed the Pacific and joined the best team in MLB, coming off a stretch in which they'd won four titles and five pennants in seven yea...

Perry: Yanks should worry about Damon, not Matsui

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:15:00 -0500

Dayn Perry of FOX Sports put out his list of ten offseason moves that need to be made. Number five covers the Yankees, specifically their outfield.5. The Yankees should worry about Johnny Damon and not Hideki Matsui.The reigning champs have some decisions to make. They need to coax Andy Pettitte into pitching one more year, and they need to re-sign Johnny Damon. Damon — when not throwing the ball — gives the Yanks plus defense in left, and he has maintained his offensive skills quite nicely. ...

Quick Bits: Boxing, Cashman, Matsui, UZR

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:00:47 -0500

Here are 4 interesting bits to close out the day: Could we see Pacquiao-Mayweather at Yankee Stadium? According to the NY Times, It could happen. Brian Cashman says that the Yankees will be aggressive with FAs, but they won’t be too aggressive (like in ‘09). After being named the World Series MVP on Nov. 4th, Hideki Matsui is [...]

Hideki Will Be Disappointed If Not Brought Back

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:30:00 -0500

From Anthony McCarron:Hideki Matsui says his "feelings are still with the Yankees" but he doesn't know whether the Bombers will re-sign him.And, Matsui acknowledged, it would be disappointing if he did not play an eighth season in pinstripes. "If that happens, yeah, I think it would be," Matsui said Friday night through his interpreter before attending the dinner that benefits Joe Torre's Safe at Home Foundation. "But on the other hand, it's something to l...

Matsui: I'd Be Disappointed If I didn't Come Back

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:50:00 -0500

Peace and Matsui Sell... But Who's Buying?

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0500

My favorite Hideki Matsui story is from the 2004 ALCS. The guy had been killing us games one through four, going 11-for-20 and knocking in 11 runs. Godzilla was stomping all over my dreams, making 2003 look like a good time at Make-Out Lodge by comparison. Then, in game five, Pedro said, "F#$k this noise" and came in high and tight, practically dropping the Deki on his arse. From that point on, in games five through seven, Matsui went 2-for-14. Mission accomplished.My second favorit...

There Will Be No Thrill-as….. Without Godzilla

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:16:25 -0500

The 2009 Worlds Series had a few firsts’ happen. A full-time designated hitter won the MVP award for the first time. A 1960 record for most RBI’s r, with the nickname Godzilla, won his first World Series ring. Hideki Matsui, also known as Godzilla won the MVP of the this years World Series. Matsui, who [...]

Matsui's monster Series wins him MVP award

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:17:17 -0500

Hideki Matsui has the most curious habit at the plate. He never takes a practice swing once he steps into the batter's box. He saves all those meaty cuts for when he needs them. Matsui did all sorts of damage Wednesday night, setting a record with six RBIs in a World Series clincher and leading the New York Yankees over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 Wednesday night. His performance won Game 6 - and clinched the MVP trophy.

Kernan: Matsui Must Remain In Lineup

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:15:00 -0500

From Kevin Kernan: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....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...