Goodbye Hideki Matsui – Godzilla Will Be Missed
It’s official- 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui signed a one year $6 million contract (to put that in perspective- the Braves signed Billy Wagner to a $7 million one year deal, plus option). We all know the Yankees could have matched that, but they have another gameplan with the DH slot and with how they invest their millions.
Hideki Matsui’s comments on being with the Anaheim Angels:
“I’m very excited. This is the beginning of a new journey for me. I’d like to do my best in every way I can to bring another world championship to this team since they won in 2002.”
The New York Daily News and YesNetwork didn’t give Hideki Matsui didn’t give Hideki a proper sendoff, in my opinion. They pretty much just said “Sayonara”.
Hideki Matsui played 7 years with the Yankees and finished with .292 batting average and .370 on base percentage, with around 25 HR and over 100RBI on a full season average. His post-season numbers are even better: .312/.391 with 10 homeruns over 235 plate appearances. Godzilla was always a clutch hitter, and it’s a shame the 2006 freak accident that resulted his broken wrist drained seemed to have really hurt Godzilla’s career numbers. It seemed like that broken wrist lead to other injuries because Hideki had to change his swing and stuff.
One thing that the stats don’t show is that Hideki Matsui tried his hardest to perform and win for the team. He battled through knee injuries, took cortisone shots, and put his health on the line to win a World Championship, which he finally did in his last year. The fact that he won the 2009 World Series MVP and had the best single game in his career as he wiped Philadelphia off the face of the map and sent Pedro Martinez into retirement shows how is a great testament to how valuable Godzilla was to the Yankees. When push came to shove, he outclassed the Hall of Famers like A-Rod and Derek Jeter in the game clincher.
When I saw Hideki finally get the proper send-off at Yankee Stadium in Game 6, I was estatic because he had finally been recognized for everything he did in NY. Deep down I knew it was The End, but I enjoyed the moment and basked in the glory he bestowed upon Yankees fans for being part of the 2009 team.
True Yankees fans know how great Godzilla was, and how hard he worked. His baseball work ethic and dedication to win ranks right up there with the aforementioned Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada. Hideki Matsui just seemed like a samurai warrior who wanted to run himself through a sword if he struck out with runners on base.
The Japanese MEDIA covers Hideki much more than the U.S. MEDIA, so we really never knew what Hideki really thought about things. What we do know is that baseball was his life, and the man is an A-List celebrity in Japan, and the ladies love him. He finally settled down with a woman, whom he protects from the MEDIA.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some of Godzilla’s Revenge in 2010 in some key games against the Yankees.
Long live Hideki Matsui, one of my favorite players.
© DailySkew Baseball | Goodbye Hideki Matsui – Godzilla Will Be Missed
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Godzilla takes a wife: Hideki Matsui wedding
- 2009 World Series Game 6 Pictures
- CC Sabathia and Matsui down Mariners
- Hideki Matsui walkoff Homerun
- Hideki Matsui 5 RBI vs Orioles
- CC Sabathia beats Josh Beckett and Red Sox on ESPN
- A Blast from the Past — in honor of "Alexander the Great"
- Godzilla destroys Texas
- Who’s Your Daddy? Yankees beat Pedro Martinez in Word Series Game 2
- Game 40: Rays beat Mariano Rivera
- Game 15: Pettitte, Matsui, Rivera sweep Rays
- Melky Cabrera, Hideki Matsui, and Johnny Damon Reconsidered
- The Return of Hideki Matsui Godzilla
- World Series Game 3 Review: Andy Pettitte defeats Cole Hamels
- CC Sabathia ACE
- Tony Vahl picks Yankees to win World Series- MLB 2009 postseason picks
- YANKEES WIN AL EAST, SWEEP RED SOX
- Best Yankees hitters (April)
- Yankees Win 2009 American League Championship!
- Game 50: Yankees rally to sweep Mariners, 6-5
Thanks Cashman, you threw another pie in the best d.h.you will ever
get for! Even with fluid in his knees, Hideki would get that hit or home room!
This is how you treat a yankee who never cried or hurt a fly or flipped a pie in any one's face. If he did i hope it would be your's.