Kaz Matsui: Friend or Foe?

by thecoolest on Nov 14, 2007 4:28 PM CST

Hopefully by now all of you have heard about the Cub's signing Kaz Matsui. I'd be okay with maybe a 1 year or 2 year deal. But Jim Hendry inexplicably is thinking about signing the below average hitter to a three year deal, whose stats have obviously been helped greatly by being in Denver. I know many people think that they are signing him to comfort Kosuke Fukudome, a free agent outfielder from Japan. But in that case, why not just sign another, better Japanese free agent, like Hiroki Kuroda or Masahide Kobayashi? You can never have enough pitchers and Kuroda is one the best son far in this weak market. Kobayashi is a former number 1 pick and has been a pretty good reliever in Japan. Better off getting good talent than washed up talent, right?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Matsui would be an awful signing. He's a so-so defensive player (not gold glove caliber, that's for sure), and he's a fairly pedestrian hitter. Without looking, see if you can match these stats (BA/OPB/SLG/OPS+) to the year ('04, '05, '06 and '07):

.267/.310/.379/74
.288/.342/.405/87
.255/.300/.352/72
.272/.331/.396/88

Do any of these years stand out as a vast improvement? The one big change in his output this year was stolen bases - he had a 32:4 SB/CS ratio, which is excellent. Unfortunately, he only hit 4 home runs in Colorado (along with 1 big one in Philly), so we shouldn't expect any power out of him at Wrigley. He plays hard, he has good baserunning skills and he is an experienced veteran, but I just don't see how this would be a big improvement over DeRosa or our other options at the position. I hope the Infante trade cured Hendry of any fascination with this guy.

Since I left, I've always missed Chicago but never as much as I do right now!

by TMOX on Nov 14, 2007 4:53 PM CST reply actions

KOW??

Made another name change? Or do we have somebody else who posts diaries that ramble to no end on this site now?

Anyway--
No, I have not heard about the Cubs signing Kaz Matsui. Have you?

And it will probably be a lot harder to sign Kuroda than Matsui, and more expensive. But all things being equal, the idea of signing a Japanese player to make Fukudome or Kuruda comfortable is just stupid. Money talks in every language, and if a player doesn't want to come here, forget it. I don't think anybody is fooled to think that Fukudome is good enough that he warrants the signing of another player just to make him feel better about himself.

by princefieldersdiet on Nov 14, 2007 4:58 PM CST reply actions

what?

where did you hear this? I have looked around online for an article or anything else and got a goose egg for my effort.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Nov 14, 2007 5:02 PM CST reply actions

No signing as far as I know...

There's a big difference than a beat writer suggesting that they think Hendry is expected to make a 3-year offer and Hendry actually making a 3-year offer (or even actually considering making a 3-year offer).

by SouthernCub on Nov 14, 2007 5:13 PM CST reply actions

Foe...

...definitely foe. He brings nothing that Theriot doesn't already bring at a much lower price-tag than what we'd pay Matsui.

If we need Japanese players to make the Domer (Fukudome) feel at home, sign a pitcher from Japan and bury him in the bullpen. Hell, Hideo Nomo might be available...

Fukudome will be a Cubbie. At that point, the offseason is already a success....anything else could be icing on the cake.

by Chadnudj on Nov 14, 2007 5:29 PM CST reply actions

It's a mute point unless Infante gets traded

I think Matsui would be friend if the price was right because he brings speed and a backup 2B/SS in one player (make Cedeno and Fontenot unnecesarry) and if he provides the tiebreaker between us and some other team for Fukudome, awesome.

However, now that the Cubs have Infante, they won't be going after Matsui. There's no reason to carry Theriot, DeRosa, Infante, Cedeno, Fontenot, and Matsui all in the same organization. Even if Cedeno gets moved, Infante is the backup 2B/SS with Fontenot getting rare starts.

Finally, I'm not sure how serious the whole Matsui thing was to begin with. It came from a Denver newspaper and it almost seemed like the writer was saying "Let's say the Cubs were to offer Matsui this" with no backup sources. I think it was a hypothetical situtation that then got posted in Yahoo MLB Rumors and MLBTraderumors.com so it became news that Hendry was after Matsui.... Ah the Internet! Some of the stuff on MLBTraderumors.com is great, but usually it comes from Rosenthal, Gammons, or a local newspaper's top team reporter.

by IllinoisCubs on Nov 14, 2007 5:42 PM CST reply actions

Kobay

Is that the same Kobayashi who throws down hotdogs at an unbelievable rate.....

by Comfortably Numb on Nov 14, 2007 5:54 PM CST reply actions

Nope

It's the one that works for Kaiser Soze.

by HectorVillanueva on Nov 14, 2007 9:10 PM CST up reply actions

Kaiser Soze is just a myth...

MMMMM...Stuffed sausage from The Art of Pizza

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 15, 2007 8:01 AM CST up reply actions

Matsui

If Hendry does sign Matsui....I hate to break the hearts of all you with man-crushes, but I think THE-RIOT could be gone via trade. Possibly packages to Tampa Bay. I know all you Theriot lovers are going to bash me. I like the way he plays too, but his value will probably never be higher and TB will love that salary.

by Comfortably Numb on Nov 14, 2007 5:59 PM CST reply actions

If its Comfort

that hendry is worried about, why simply sign matsui for that purpose? Soriano speaks fluent Japanese and I think D.Lee speaks a little as well.

If dogs took over the world and chose a king, I hope they don't just go by size, because there are some Chihuahuas with some good ideas.

by deepthoughtsbyjackhandey on Nov 14, 2007 6:23 PM CST reply actions

NO NO NO!

WTF,do we really need another average infielder?hendry obviously has something up his sleeve!

by cubz409 on Nov 14, 2007 6:45 PM CST reply actions

Better yet...

WTF do we need ANOTHER Kaz Matsui diary?

Seriously guys. This is old news and a dead discussion. It is so frustrating to sign in hoping there is some breaking news on real signings or trades only to find this crap...AGAIN.

MMMMM...Stuffed sausage from The Art of Pizza

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 15, 2007 8:02 AM CST reply actions

Ha

Then dont read it. These types of post are hilarious, getting angry because people rehash discussions.

SERIOUSLY,ha

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Nov 15, 2007 9:02 AM CST reply actions

Sigh.

You're right, there's no need to get angry. I have, however, asked people to read the recent diary list to see if their topic has been covered before they post again on the same topic. This is a good time to remind everyone of this.

Also, please give your diary a title that tells what is inside!!! A good diary title will help your diary get read.

Thanks.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 15, 2007 9:22 AM CST up reply actions

Ha back at ya big man.

It is annoying because I read thinking maybe something new has arisen. GBuess what, nothing new...same old crap.

So Ha! Seriously.

MMMMM...Stuffed sausage from The Art of Pizza

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 15, 2007 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

Accident

Sorry, at the beginning of the post I wrote something that made it seem like the Cub's had already signed Matsui. I meant that the Cub's were pursuing Matsui. Sorry for the inconvenience.

by thecoolest on Nov 16, 2007 8:13 PM CST reply actions