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It'll be Hideki against Kazuo in New York next spring, as the Mets have signed Japanese shortstop Kazuo Matsui to a three-year, $20 million contract. To make room for Matsui, the Mets are going to move 20-year-old sensation Jose Reyes to second base. Is this a good idea? Well, ask yourself if you would've moved Tony Fernandez to second base after his rookie season, because that's essentially what the Mets are doing here. Shortstop was one of the few areas the Mets didn't need help at. But this isn't about baseball sense nearly so much as it's about keeping up with the Steinbrenners in the New York dailies.

Will this Matsui showdown turn into New York's very own Most Extreme Elimination Challenge? Right you are, Kenny.
Matsui vs. Matsui | 9 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Sean @TBG - Monday, December 08 2003 @ 01:24 PM EST (#84163) #
http://www.torontobaseballguys.com
I don't think this signing makes sense for the Mets unless they think they'll be a playoff contender within the next three years, or unless they feel Kaz Matsui will be worth $20 million worth of tickets, merchandise, TV dollars etc...

They must see things differently but I don't think either scenario is accurate. At least his contract is in keeping with the going rates. He'll be fun to watch but he won't turn that team around.
_R Billie - Monday, December 08 2003 @ 01:35 PM EST (#84164) #
That's a pretty fine contract for Matsui considering his expectations were fairly modest at first, somewhere between $4M to $5M per year. You can bet that the Mariners aren't too happy about this as I'm sure he was their first choice.

It doesn't make sense on the surface. Especially given that shortstop shouldn't have been an issue. But I guess the Mets are going to have a lot of salary space and need to make some kind of headline.
_SportsmanTO - Monday, December 08 2003 @ 01:38 PM EST (#84165) #
It doesn't make that much sense but at least the Mets are trying to rebuild (somewhat) so I give them credit for that. This signing will give the Mets a lot of visibility besides it'll be fun to see Little Matsui and Reyes in the same infield.
_Jurgen - Tuesday, December 09 2003 @ 12:05 AM EST (#84166) #
Boy, at least the Tigers might one day fix their current woes. There's light, however distant, at the end of the tunnel.

The Mets just keep digging in deeper.
_Jordan - Tuesday, December 09 2003 @ 10:01 AM EST (#84167) #
Wow ... not a single shout-out for MEEC? Am I the only Bauxite who thinks that show rocks?
Pepper Moffatt - Tuesday, December 09 2003 @ 10:34 AM EST (#84168) #
http://economics.about.com
Wow ... not a single shout-out for MEEC? Am I the only Bauxite who thinks that show rocks?

It is only the greatest show on television. I want to know where Captain Tenneal buys his clothes.

Mike
_Mick - Tuesday, December 09 2003 @ 11:35 AM EST (#84169) #
Having lived in New York, I can tell you that this move by the Mets makes perfect sense. Forget about attracting a wider Japanese fan base, or even getting better in the middle infield. This is about the back page of the Post and the News and Newsday.

Not just on the day of the signing, but the papers are going to follow "Little Matsui" with as much focus as they gave to Godzilla Matsui in pinstripes last season. If he succeeds ... that's great. If he doesn't -- no problem. The only bad publicity is no publicity, especially in the NYC tabs.
_peteski - Tuesday, December 09 2003 @ 08:44 PM EST (#84170) #
"Not just on the day of the signing, but the papers are going to follow "Little Matsui" with as much focus as they gave to Godzilla Matsui in pinstripes last season. If he succeeds ... that's great. If he doesn't -- no problem. The only bad publicity is no publicity, especially in the NYC tabs.

You know what attracts attention from the papers: winning, and that's something the mets obviously don't plan on doing anytime soon.
_Mick - Tuesday, December 09 2003 @ 11:21 PM EST (#84171) #
Actually, peteski, and it may only be like this in New York, but the only thing that attracts more attention than winning ... is losing.
Matsui vs. Matsui | 9 comments | Create New Account
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