Retiring Matsui made a big impact in New York

Hideki Matsui will always be remembered in America as a great player for the New York Yankees.

Matsui was already a three-time champion and hero in his native Japan when he came to play under the Bronx spotlight. He quickly proved worthy of the Bronx Bomber nickname given to our Yankees, with a Grand Slam in the 2003 Yankee Stadium home opener. He also quickly became a favorite of both the fans and his teammates, including Derek Jeter, who issued a genuinely complimentary statement about Matsui’s retirement.

I think Jeter had a lot of affection for Matsui because he felt the outfielder was the embodiment of a true Yankee, with an unrivaled work ethic and complete devotion to the team concept that drove the Yankees late 1990s dynasty. Matsui would have fit in very well with those championship teams. Unfortunately, he got to New York a few years too late to participate in the dynasty. But in his last year with the Yankees, the team won a World Series championship, with a big assist from Matsui in a dominant performance that earned him the series’ Most Valuable Player award.

Although Matsui spent the last three years of his US career in lesser roles with other baseball teams, he will always be remembered fondly for his time in New York.

Godspeed, Godzilla.

 

Thanks to Keith Allison via Wikipedia for the Matsui photo.  

Yankees set up for a happy reunion

The New York Yankees apparently are on the hunt for a part-time designated hitter after trading Jesus Montero. So expect to hear the announcement that Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui will return to pinstripes any day now.

 

The Montero trade clears the path for one of the World Series heroes to come back to the Bronx and try to recapture the magic of 2009. The Yankees won’t overpay for either of them and won’t promise them much in the way of playing time. But if Damon or Matsui are realistic about their options, they might consider a return to the Yankees to be their best chance for another championship.

However, Damon already has a pair of World Series rings and is 277 hits shy of the magic 3,000-hit mark to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame so he might opt for a team that will guarantee him more playing time. Matsui is still immensely popular in New York, as shown by the loud cheers and long standing ovations that he received every time he stepped up to the plate as a member of the Angels and the A’s, even with former teammates such as Derek Jeter. If he is willing to settle for less money, the Yankees would likely welcome him back.

The Yankees do not really need to hire a designated hitter. They could go with a rotation that has position players such as Jeter and Alex Rodriguez fill the slot once or twice a week to rest their aging bones. Truthfully, I would much rather have a younger back-up who could help Eduardo Nunez spell the regulars. At this point of their careers, neither Damon nor Matsui can be counted on for regular work in the field.

But I may have the minority opinion on this one, as we Yankee fans are suckers for nostalgia and the great tradition of the Bronx Bombers. As long as either Damon or Matsui could be had for the right price, I don’t think the Yankees have any problem bringing one of them back into the fold. They’ve done it before with Tino Martinez, a move that thrilled me beyond belief despite Tino’s rough years away from the Yankees because he is a personal favorite of mine (like I said, we are suckers for nostalgia). So a Damon or Matsui reunion could be imminent, a prospect that will make a lot of Yankee fans very happy. 

Thanks to Keith Allison for the Damon photo and edogisgod for the Matsui photo via Wikipedia. 

Jeter deal won't be major dilemma for Yanks

I can't help but laugh at these stories about the supposed hand wringing the New York Yankees will do this offseason over Derek Jeter's next contract. The Yankees and their captain will reach a deal within a month of the last game of the World Series. Why? Because they can't live without each other.

Sure, the Yankees may be contemplating how much to offer Jeter after his subpar season, but there's no way they are going to make him a low-ball offer. Not after all he has meant to this franchise and with him less than 100 hits away from the magic 3,000 hit mark. Ultimately, Jeter is going to get what he asks for, as long as want he asks for is within reason. No one doubts that Jeter deserves at least $20 million annually for three or four years. And knowing Jeter, he will be so motivated to prove that he is worthy of such a contract that the Yankees should expect a major bounce-back season from him in 2011.

This isn't a Hideki Matsui/Johnny Damon situation. As much as Yankee fans loved those guys, they were ultimately replaceable. But we are extremely protective of Jeter because we've seen him grow up right before our eyes, because he has come up in the big spot more often than not, because he has never embarrassed us or left us subject to ridicule the way other baseball players have.

Not only can the Yankees not afford to insult Jeter with a low-ball offer, they really can't even replace him. Tell me who steps into his iconic shoes if Jeter isn't the Yankee shortstop next year. I wouldn’t want to be that guy, whoever he is. Even an aging Jeter who is a fraction of his All-Star/MVP candidate self is better than any of the shortstops in the Yankees system and the vast majority of guys on the 29 other baseball teams.

Reaching a new deal with their iconic shortstop won't be the major dilemma that everyone is portraying it to be. The Yankees and Jeter need each other and they both know it. Yankee fans should expect an early Christmas present announcing the deal that ensures the Yankee Captain ends his career in pinstripes.

Johnny Damon thriving with Detroit Tigers

After a contentious divorce from the New York Yankees, Johnny Damon has found a home with the Detroit Tigers. He loves Motown and Motown loves him back.

Although his home run numbers are down after last season's power surge in the new Yankee Stadium, Damon is as usual scoring a lot of runs (24 already) and hitting .294 with 14 ribbies. More importantly, he has become a leader on that ballclub, as he was a leader with both the Boston Red Sox and the Bronx Bombers, the kind of leader the Tigers desperately needed. Think Detroit couldn't have used a guy like Damon in that one-game playoff against the Minnesota Twins last year?

As much as he is thriving in Motown, Damon still has a lot of affection for his former New York teammates and is looking forward to hosting them this week in his new home city. The feeling is mutual, with Yankees like Nick Swisher looking forward to seeing their ex-teammate, exchanging pleasantries and memories, and then beating him and his new team on the baseball field.

It is amazing to think about how Damon is thriving in his new environment, Hideki Matsui is as beloved in Los Angeles as he was in New York for his ability to come through in the clutch, but both Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson, the young guns hired to replace them, are on the disabled list with their returns uncertain. So much for the youth movement.

Thanks to OneTwo1 via en.Wikipedia for the photo.

Captain Derek Jeter loosens up

Maybe he was just giddy with the excitement of getting his first World Series ring in nine years, but Derek Jeter was in a wickedly funny mood yesterday and it was great to see.

The Captain usually acts so serious, but yesterday we got a glimpse of the funny and fun-loving side all his teammates talk about. He personally delivered the championship ring to George Steinbrenner, along with a joke about Ohio State (Jeter is a Michigan fan and couldn't resist bringing up one of the fiercest rivalries in college football). Later, he told Kim Jones that he was happy to see the Boss so happy.

"No question because I've been in his office when I've been in trouble too," Jeter said with a laugh.

Hideki Matsui is one of Jeter's favorite former teammates and friends, but that didn't spare him from Jeter's practical joking as the New York Yankees Captain replaced his real World Series ring with a bootleg ring from a spring training promotion. As Jones later told Jeter, "you're a funny guy, Derek."

He really is. But it's a sight we don't normally get to see. It was nice to see the captain loosen up a bit and let down his guard for at least one afternoon. We probably won't see it again, but one can hope.

Core Four carries team on Opening Day

Andy Pettitte was the first player to receive his ring during today's pre-game ceremony. He quickly shook hands and thanked his manager Joe Girardi and honorary co-presenters Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford and returned to the dugout to continue prepping for the happy duty of starting the baseball game. And he pitched a helluva game, giving up no runs in six innings for a well-earned victory.

It wasn't the sharpest he's ever been, but in typical Pettitte fashion, he got out of trouble a few times with a perfectly-placed pitch for a ground ball. If there's one thing that Pettitte knows how to do, it's pitch when he's in trouble or doesn't have his best stuff, something I hope he teaches Phil Hughes as he embarks on his quest to be a good fifth starter for the New York Yankees. Of course, Pettitte had a lot of help from his catcher today, with Jorge Posada guiding the lefty through some dicey spots and backing him up with three solid hits to help the Yankees score runs late.

After happily fulfilling his captain duties by gently ribbing his Boss George Steinbrenner while delivering his ring and playing a wicked prank on his ex-teammate Hideki Matsui by switching his real ring with a fake one, Derek Jeter belted a monster home run into the bullpen and followed it up with a shot off the body of Angels starter Ervin Santana.

Going into the 9th inning with a six-run lead, I thought the only thing that sucked about the day was not getting to see Mariano Rivera run to the mound with the thundering sound of Enter Sandman playing in the background. Be careful what you wish for. Sure enough, Mo was needed, even on a day like today. Dave Robertson gave up a grand slam to former Yank Bobby Abreu after only getting one out, forcing Girardi to call in his closer to get the final two outs. And Mo quickly quashed the rally, striking out Torii Hunter and getting Matsui to pop up to end the game.

So there was the Core Four, carrying their team as usual. Things never really change that much for the Yankees.

Yankee ring ceremony inspires awe, tears

Hours after leaving Yankee Stadium following a soul-stirring Opening Day ceremony, I'm still on a high that will last for the rest of the night. There were several thrilling moments during the pre-game festivities -- here are my highlights:

Most emotional moment: No question it was Gene Monahan's introduction. I had to fight back tears as I watched Monahan get choked up by all the love he received from his players and the crowd. It was wonderful just to see him healthy enough to be at the stadium. I will be praying for a continued recovery and a quick return to the team that misses him.

Loudest ovation: New York Yankees fans know how to say good-bye and thank you for all the memories and we did that for Hideki Matsui. I think Matsui knows what he means to us, receiving thunderous ovations both when he accepted his well-deserved ring and during his first at-bat. He also knows how much his ex-teammates love him and miss him as they all went over to give him a group hug. I've never seen anything like it and don't think I will again. It was a special moment for a special man.

Most disappointing moment: Bernie Williams muffing the first pitch. Come on Bernie! You played in the World Baseball Classic last year. You can't be that rusty! But we still love you Bern.
Most powerful moment: Kristin Chenoweth belting out the national anthem in that awe-inspiring voice she possesses (I've been a die-hard fan ever since seeing Wicked), punctuated by the flyover of the jets that got our hearts pounding (my brother's favorite moment).

Best moment of redemption: You couldn't wipe the smile off of Alex Rodriguez's face. For ARod, his monster run in the playoffs helped him earn the World Series ring that validates his career and completes his redemption.

Magical opening day for triumphant Yankees

I've been bursting with excitement for weeks now in anticipation of a day that is finally here. Opening Day for the New York Yankees, the first time the new stadium will host an event that happened frequently across the street at the now in ruins old Yankee Stadium: the ring ceremony and the hoisting of the championship banner.

The Yankees return to the Bronx for one final celebration of last year's triumph and it’s guaranteed to be a fantastic party. It's always wonderful to see all the old Yankee champions come back home for one more day of festivities. Watching Bernie Williams throw out the first pitch is going to be amazing.

I'm thrilled beyond belief for the Core Four Yankees: Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte, who fought to prove that being young at heart is all that matters on their way to capturing their fifth World Series rings together.

But I'm even happier for guys like Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia, who have been waiting a long time for a moment like this. And for the young guys like Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes, who have their whole careers ahead of them, but were key contributors to the Yankees 27th World Series title. We should also be grateful to the baseball scheduling gods for one last opportunity to thank Godzilla, Hideki Matsui, for all his fantastic years in the Bronx.

It promises to be a magical day of celebration and fun. I can't wait!

Yankee fans Hideki loss is Angels gain

Hideki Matsui is quickly showing Los Angeles Angels fans that he is every bit the clutch player that we knew him to be in New York. Our loss is their gain.

The Halos have won two games this season courtesy of Matsui's ability to come through in big spots, including a ribbie single for a walk-off win in Saturday's game. Even better, he did it a few days after playing his first baseball game in the outfield in years, proving he isn't quite as brittle as the New York Yankees made him out to be.

The Yankees are off to a great start as well. Nick Johnson, Matsui's replacement, hasn’t hit at all, but has gotten on base a lot, much to the thrill of his manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman. But we haven't seen if he can duplicate Matsui's success in tight situations. I'm sure he'll be tested very soon.

I'm happy to see Matsui doing so well on the West Coast. He is still a favorite player of mine and I wish him all the best. I'm beyond thrilled that he will be at Yankee Stadium to personally receive his well-deserved World Series ring on Tuesday. I'll be there too and will be part of the standing ovation Matsui will receive from Yankee fans who miss seeing him in pinstripes.

Thanks to edogisgod via Wikipedia for the photo.

Random baseball thoughts

Joe Nathan underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season and placing his availability for the 2011 campaign in doubt. No question this is a major blow for the Minnesota Twins. But one thing we know about them is that they are a resilient bunch. Who would have predicted their stunning comeback to tie and beat the Detroit Tigers in that epic one-game playoff last year? As much as the loss of Nathan will hurt, they will find someone to take his place and still be contenders for the top of the weak American League Central. But if they were in the AL East, they would be in serious trouble.

* Hideki Matsui took a turn in left field for the Los Angeles Angels. He played four innings without a chance so it's impossible to say whether he can play in the outfield during a regular game. But I'm rooting for Matsui big time. He was one of my favorite players on the New York Yankees and I was sad to see him go, especially the way he was dismissed by Brian Cashman & Co. Hopefully, he can prove to everyone in baseball, including the Yanks, that's he's not done as a position player. There's no question about his bat since he smacked a home run right after a foul ball that smashed his new boss Arte Moreno's windshield. Matsui jokingly said he was OK with a demotion to Triple-A, as long as he didn't get fired. Angels fans and his new teammates are going to love him in LA.

* The Roger Clemens drama just doesn't go away. Jose Canseco sent out a Twitter notice that he received a subpoena to testify about steroids use in baseball by Clemens, Andy Pettitte and others. Canseco, who I think has unfairly been demonized around baseball, is the most critical figure in the sport on this issue since he brought the enormity of illegal drug use to light when too many others were willing to look the other way.

* Mike Scioscia got his way, one postseason too late. Major League Baseball revised its playoff schedule to eliminate an extra off day between Game 4 and 5 of the League Championship Series. I consider this a direct response to the New York Yankees winning the World Series with only 3 starters, enabled by the numerous off days. No matter, they have plenty of time to see if they can get Javier Vazquez or Phil Hughes to the point where they can be handed the ball in a big spot in the playoffs. But the way the schedule is set up, the World Series will still drag on into November, which was supposed to be an anomaly last year because of the World Baseball Classic.

I must admit I was expecting more radical changes from the committee given baseball's numerous issues, but maybe change has to happen in incremental steps. Plus, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has to deal with the players union so navigating that chasm does take time.

Thanks to Keith Allison via Wikipedia for the photo.

Can Derek Jeter really be a good Boss?

Derek Jeter's ultimate ambition once he decides to hang up his pinstripes: be a sports team owner. It's a challenging goal he has set for himself, one that I have no doubt he will achieve. After all, this is the guy who as an 8-year-old kid walked into his parents' bedroom and told them he was going play for the New York Yankees.

But can Jeter be a good owner? He has a lot going for him, including the money and smarts to acquire and run a team. But he also has the advantage of having played for and been captain of one of the world's biggest sports franchises. There's not a lot in the sports world that Jeter hasn't seen or been a part of, either directly or indirectly. Plus, that determination that has made Jeter so successful in his baseball career should serve him well as an owner. If Jeter's going to be an owner, he's going to do everything he can to be a winning owner, much like he does on the baseball field.

I don't think he will let sentimentality get in the way of his decision making after he retires and has to be the owner taking into account factors like revenues, attendance and performance projections. But some decisions will be harder for him than others. Jeter, for example, has clearly been affected by the loss of Hideki Matsui and has spoken of him several times, including as recently as a few weeks ago. If Jeter had been owner of the Yankees at the time, would he have allowed Brian Cashman to so easily discard such a clutch player and a good friend? Doesn't seem likely.

Now, Jeter will never be quite like the Big Boss George Steinbrenner. He spent more time with Steinbrenner than most players so I'm sure he picked up a few things. But he will never be as controversial or outspoken as the Boss, even when it suits his interest. It's just not in Jeter's nature. Unlike Alex Rodriguez, Jeter has managed to avoid becoming involved in any major scandal despite his high profile. How he has done it in the biggest media market in the world remains a mystery to me, but it's one of the key reasons for his tremendous success.

Interestingly, Jeter didn't specify that he wants to be a baseball owner. You can assume that's the case, but you never know. Let's hope it’s the Yankees or at least one of their minor-league teams. Wouldn't that be something!

Thanks to Googie man via en.Wikipedia for the photo.

Jorge not going down without a fight

Even with Joe Mauer out of the picture for now, Jorge Posada still has to look over his shoulder. Super prospect Jesus Montero will start the season in the minor leagues, but it's clear that he is the catching future of the New York Yankees. So where does that leave Jorge?

Posada is right to watch his back. Brian Cashman is taking every possible opportunity to lower the average age of his team. He is not bound by sentimentality and will not hesitate to replace an older, clutch player such as Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui with a younger Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson. You have to imagine that he will do the same with Posada when his contract expires after next season, if not sooner.

But Posada is a feisty guy so he's not going down without a fight. I see him rising to the challenge to prove to everyone that he is nowhere near done. I expect him to put up his usual strong power numbers for the Yankees.

Thanks to Googie man via en.Wikipedia for the photo.

Pressure on Cano to be the 5th man

Robinson Cano's struggles driving in runners from scoring position will no longer be as easy to overlook as they used to be. If he can't protect Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, the baseball world will know about it very quickly.

Cano is now set the take over the fifth spot in the lineup, replacing the super-clutch Hideki Matsui. Manager Joe Girardi and hitting coach Kevin Long have both expressed confidence that the New York Yankees second baseman is ready to assume such a critical spot in the lineup. Cano seems grateful for that confidence, but he needs to reward it. And that means showing patience at the plate, not swinging at bad pitches and not getting himself out.

Can he do it? He certainly is talented enough and has improved several aspects of his game in recent years, most notably his defense. But Cano has also show signs of immaturity, slacking off on his workload. Girardi and Long think those days are behind him and that he's ready for the challenge. For the Yankees sake, I certainly hope so.

The pressure is on. It's time for Robby to step up and be the fifth man.

Thanks to kidsire via Wikipedia for the photo.

Johnson injury makes me miss Matsui

Big surprise: New York Yankees designated hitter Nick Johnson sat out the second game of spring training for, wait for it, a back injury. The only thing shocking was that it didn't happen in the first game.

I'm going to try not to overreact because it is only the second baseball game and Johnson said he would have played if it was the regular season. But this news makes me long for the days of Hideki Matsui. Brian Cashman & Co. can say whatever they want about Matsui's knees, but he was not nearly as brittle as Johnson.

Let me just say for the record that I don't dislike Nick Johnson. Quite the contrary. I always thought he was a good, young player during his first tour with the Yanks and welcomed him back with open arms. But knowing what we do about his injury history, I thought Cashman was going to offer him a much lower salary than the $5.5 million he got. If the Yankees could spend that much on the DH spot, why didn't they just offer that to Matsui? He is the epitome of a clutch player and loved playing in New York so he probably would have taken it.

"He's as professional as it gets," Derek Jeter said of Matsui this week. "We're definitely going to miss him. I'm sure Anaheim is going to love him."

I miss him already.

Thanks to MissChatter via Wikipedia for the photo.

Pressure on Cano growing each day

The pressure on Robinson Cano to fulfill his enormous potential is growing every day now that he doesn't have clutch players Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon hitting ahead of him in the New York Yankees lineup.

Cano is being talked about as a possible #5 hitter, but before he gets the important job of protecting Alex Rodriguez, he has to prove that he can hit in the clutch, something he has struggled with.

General Manager Brian Cashman, hitting coach Kevin Long and Tex have all been talking about Cano's MVP potential. But you wonder if that kind of talk will make Cano put too much pressure on himself, which could magnify his struggles. Worse, the talk could go to Cano's head and lead to a repeat of his previous behavior of not putting enough work in and just relying on his talent. Cano swears it won't. We'll see.

Thanks to Keith Allison via Wikipedia for the photo.

Worst moves of baseball offseason

This was an easier list to compile because several teams made questionable decisions, starting with the New York Yankees cross-town rivals:

1) Mets strange offseason moves: Under tremendous pressure to redeem themselves after a lost 2009 season, the Mets made a good move signing Jason Bay to the deal they wanted rather than on his terms. But everything fell apart after that. Defying conventional wisdom, catcher Bengie Molina dissed the Mets to resign with the San Francisco Giants. But the most embarrassing, head-scratching move was the Carlos Beltran surgery debacle. Getting into a nasty, public dispute with one of your best players is unwise and a true reflection of the behind-the-scenes dysfunctionality that prevented the Mets from really fixing their ballclub.

2) The Yankees letting both Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui walk: Yes, Brian Cashman fulfilled his stated desire to get younger, but he did so by letting two clutch performers who perfectly fit their roles with the team walk away. He didn't even put up a fight to keep Matsui, signing another injury-plagued player, Nick Johnson, to replace him without saving much money. Damon is going to end up signing with another team for about the same dollars he could have gotten from the Yanks so that's partly on him and Scott Boras, but the team could have been a little more flexible in those negotiations. I just hope Johnson and Curtis Granderson can fill those big shoes.

3) Phillies trading Cliff Lee: When I heard the Phils got Roy Halladay, I thought they would be unbeatable, until I heard they gave up Lee as part of the multi-team trade to get him. They cited a need to replenish their minor league system, but I think they blew a major chance to dominate the National League for the next five years. Lee was incredible during the 2009 playoffs and will make a nice free-agent target for the Yankees, unless Seattle locks him up first.

Thanks to Wknight94 via Wikipedia for the photo.

Best moves of baseball offseason

With spring training starting this week, it's time to examine the best and worst moves of what can only be described as a slow and steady offseason.

1) Teams locking up young players: Whether it was King Felix Hernandez in Seattle or Justin Verlander in Detroit, teams (with the notable exception of the San Francisco Giants and Tim Lincecum) were determined to secure their young stars to long-term deals that will take them through at least part of their prime years. A big prize of the 2010 free-agent class, Joe Mauer, may soon be off the market if the Minnesota Twins can finally get him to sign on the dotted line. Bad news for the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, but great news for smaller-market teams and the game of baseball.

2) Phillies get Roy "Doc" Halladay: Not only did the National League champs get the best pitcher in baseball, they managed to convince him to forgo free agency and sign a much-cheaper deal than he could have gotten in the 2010 offseason. In return, Halladay got to sign with a major contender and fulfilled his wish of playing for a team with a spring training camp close to his offseason home. We finally found a player who meant it when he said money was not his most important consideration.

3) Signing proven veterans: There were a couple of solid moves made by teams in the offseason, namely Seattle signing Chone Figgins to pair up with Ichiro at the top of the lineup, Boston getting John Lackey to solidify its rotation and Anaheim signing Hideki Matsui to replace Vlad as their designated hitter. But I wouldn't qualify any of them as game changers.

Worst moves to follow shortly in a separate post.

Thanks to Keith Allison via Wikipedia for the photo.

Jr Boss ready for Yankees repeat

Hank Steinbrenner is ready for the start of spring training baseball, which he considers a mere formality in the quest for a repeat championship for the New York Yankees. As Yankee Captain Derek Jeter said Wednesday, the mantra for the Bronx Bombers does not change: win it all or the season is a failure.

Steinbrenner thinks the offseason moves made by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman (trading for Curtis Granderson and Javy Vazquez) have improved the team. I would quibble with that notion on the Vazquez end, but he may be right. The Yankees did fulfill Cashman's stated desire to get younger and more flexible. They managed to revamp their roster in a cost-effective way, a goal of Hank's brother Hal after years of what he sees as out-of-control spending by the real Boss: George Steinbrenner.

Yet, I think Jr. Boss & Co. are underestimating the impact of losing both Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon, good guys with clutch bats. The brass is counting on Granderson and Nick Johnson to fill that void both in the lineup and the clubhouse. We'll see if they have the goods to do it.

Jeter: State of the Yankees Union is strong

After a great year for the New York Yankees with a new stadium and another World Series title, Captain Derek Jeter believes the State of the Yankees Union is strong. But the mantra hasn't changed for Jeter or the Yankees: the only thing that matters is winning another title.

"I would never want to be with an organization that's happy to go home," he told Harold Reynolds of MLB Network. "I don't like to play with people that accept losing. If you don't win, you shouldn't be walking around with a smile on your face."

The Yankee Captain is still as competitive as ever. Despite his great affection for Joe Torre, he pledged to show no mercy toward his old manager when the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers meet in interleague play this year.

He seemed excited to play with newcomer Curtis Granderson, a great guy who has really improved his game, according to Jeter. But he is genuinely sad about the loss of Hideki Matsui, one of his favorite teammates, a professional who, like Jeter, never made excuses. "I really will miss him."

Jeter is famous for not paying much attention to his individual stats, but he expressed pride and happiness about becoming the all-time Yankees hits king, a "mind-boggling" feat, and being named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. "What an honor."

The Yankee shortstop also takes a lot of pride in his work ethic and he told Reynolds he worked at changing his workout routine to increase flexibility, mobility, agility and lateral movement in response to criticisms of his defense. "I always accept criticism as a challenge," Jeter said. "It's not saying I'm out there trying to prove somebody wrong, but I'm just trying to make myself a better all-around player."

As the Yankee Captain closes in on 3,000 hits, he's doesn't appear ready to retire anytime soon. "As long as I'm having fun and I'm having the time of my life right now," Jeter said.

Thanks to chris.ptacek via Wikipedia for the photo.

Yankee brass knows team will miss Matsui

New York Yankees officials finally acknowledged what us fans have known for months, that they are really going to miss Hideki Matsui. During a six-day tour of Asia with the 2009 World Series championship trophy, Brian Cashman and Randy Levine were full of praise for Godzilla, who left the Bronx Bombers to sign with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Cashman called the signing of Matsui one of the best baseball deals he ever made while Levine called Godzilla a great Yankee. They tried to blame timing for Matsui's departure, with a focus on re-signing pitcher Andy Pettitte before they could move on to other players. But Matsui reportedly told a Japanese newspaper that he loved the Yankees, but no longer felt valued by the team.
Matsui's absence presents a real lineup problem. Who will protect Alex Rodriguez? The Yankees could put Jorge Posada permanently in that slot, but he hits into a lot double plays. Robinson Cano is not a good option because he's terrible with runners in scoring position. Perhaps Curtis Granderson, if he can solve left-handed pitching?

The Yankees also have a marketing problem. Matsui was the main draw with the die-hard Japanese fan base and Levine said he hopes they keep rooting for the Bronx Bombers. Will those fans get up early to watch Yankee games without Matsui? Probably not. But with Matsui now joining Ichiro on the West Coast, at least they can sleep in.

Thanks to Keith Allison via Wikipedia for the photo.