Before 2001, there were questions whether a Japanese position player could cut it in the major leagues.
Ichiro Suzuki won both the Rookie Of The Year and Most Valuable Player Awards that year, quieting critics with his blazing speed, cannon outfield arm and masterful hitting. The only thing Ichiro lacked was power.
Hideki Matsui proved that Japanese players can come over to the States and slug with the best of them. Perhaps Japan's strongest power hitter since Sadaharu Oh, Matsui won the MVP in 2002, his third time doing so, and just barely missed winning the Triple Crown.
As left fielder for the New York Yankees, Matsui proved to be one of the most reliable, consistent and professional players in the game. Every at bat Godzilla puts in is a tough out, and the man knows how to hit. In 2004, after a year of adjustment, that monsterous power emerged as well.
Hideki Matsui, so popular in Japan that his childhood house is now a museum, never infuriated his home country more than when he didn't...
Publ.Date : Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:10:15 GMTYanks say knee won't let him play in WBC, reducing heat on him Hideki Matsui, so popular in Japan that his childhood house is now a museum, never infuriated his home country more than when he didn't play in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Publ.Date : Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:27:36 GMTHideki Matsui, so popular in Japan that his childhood house is now a museum, never infuriated his home country more than when he didn't play in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
Publ.Date : Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:36:03 GMTRehab will keep Matsui out of Classic
Publ.Date : Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:57:53 GMTNearly 16 months after the Tigers came close to acquiring him at the 2007 trade deadline, the team is interested in obtaining shortstop Jack Wilson from the Pittsburgh Pirates, an industry official confirmed to the Free Press on Friday. Wilson is due $7.25 million in 2009 and $8.4 million (or a $600,000 buyout) in 2010.
Publ.Date : Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:19:43 GMT
Full Hideki Matsui News
Hideki Matsui earned the nickname Godzilla in Japan because of his powerful bat.
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