[外電] Matsui's days with Halos may be numbered

[jdtrue (練習微笑每一次)]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100909&content_id=
14488220&vkey=news_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana

By Evan Drellich / MLB.com | 09/09/10 7:55 PM ET

ANAHEIM -- Hideki Matsui wants to stay in the Majors next season, saying he
has no intent to return to pro ball in Japan. For reasons both in and out of
his control, his current team might have no intention of bringing him back.

In a stale offense that has seen the Angels all but drop out of the playoff
race, two hitters have stood out of late: Matsui and Torii Hunter. Hunter
entered Thursday's off-day with a .352 average over a nine-game hitting
streak, and his leadoff double on Wednesday led to the winning run in the
16th inning against the Indians in Anaheim.

Besides being inserted as pinch-hitter before being pulled back, Matsui was
given the day off on Wednesday, even though no one's been hotter -- not even
Hunter. Matsui is hitting .403 since Aug. 14, raising his average from .243
to .266, and he's delivered an RBI in 17 of his last 18 starts.

Quite a departure from Matsui's .184 clip in May, or the .228 average he
posted in July.

"No doubt Hideki is feeling much more comfortable in the batter's box,"
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He started off the season very strong for
us. He went through a long stretch where he was just trying to find his
timing and wasn't squaring balls up. He's gotten it back, and I'm sure he's
going to finish strong for us."

Strong finish or not, it could be a case of too little too late -- certainly
in terms of helping the Angels win, and quite possibly in terms of his return
next season. The Angels entered Thursday 9 1/2 games out of a playoff spot,
and Matsui, 36, is to be a free agent this offseason after he signed a
one-year, $6 million deal in December.

"As of right now, I'm not really thinking about anything beyond this season,"
Matsui said. "It would be nice, in general, if you were asked to stay with
the team you're with."

Matsui's 18 home runs and 74 RBIs with 22 games remaining will likely leave
him short of his totals from last season, when he was named the World Series
MVP: 28 home runs and 90 RBIs in the regular season. He's also struck out 90
times this season, already 15 more than he did last year.

"I don't think we're in this position because of anything Hideki has done or
hasn't done," Scioscia said. "We are in this position because we've had too
many guys that for long stretches were really under performing and that
really haven't gotten back to that level. But Hideki's one of those guys that
has."

Even had Matsui hit evenly this season, there simply may not be a spot for
him next year. The Angels have long been believed to be a top suitor for Rays
outfielder Carl Crawford, and another 36-year-old, Bobby Abreu, has a year
left on his contract and appears headed for the DH role that Matsui's filled.
When Scioscia didn't start Matsui on Wednesday, one of the reasons was
because he wanted to get Abreu into the DH spot.

On Wednesday, FoxSports.com reported that David Ortiz thought Crawford would
land with the Angels or Yankees. Hunter has spoken to Crawford about free
agency, and their lockers were next to each other at this year's All-Star
Game. This week, Hunter said he would love to see a Matsui return next year.

"I always respected his game, to just watch the way he carries himself, his
professionalism," Hunter said. "He's a true professional, and all he cares
about is baseball."

Matsui, Scioscia and general manager Tony Reagins said their focus remains on
this season and declined to discuss offseason plans. But speaking generally,
Reagins gave validity to the possibility that Abreu would DH next season.

"As a player gets older, and if a player can handle that type of role, that's
definitely a possibility," Reagins said.

Matsui hass appeared in 125 games this season, 104 of them as the DH. He's
been troubled by his surgically repaired knees in years past, something he
said wasn't a hindrance this season as much as it was last season, but it
nonetheless means he's become an American League player.

"This year it's been really good," Matsui said. "Compared to last year, it's
much better. Last year, even though I didn't go on to the DL, there were
times when I sort of had some ups and downs."

When Matsui began his Major League career with the Yankees in 2003, he had a
goal to play 10 seasons. With eight under his belt, he's no longer focused on
the decade mark.

"Right now, the way I see it, I really don't have a longterm goal," Matsui
said. "I look at it year-by-year."

"I have to wait until the season finishes and then think about what will
happen next. As of right now, I have no thoughts about going back to Japan."

Matsui's production level is still strong enough that he shouldn't have to
think about leaving the Majors yet. He just may have to think about the 13
other American League teams that need a DH.

松井不想回日本  但他可能得找找看除了天使以外有哪一隻美聯球隊需要他去當DH

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推 Roshiel:水兵啊....可以打二番保護一朗 XD
推 ahuahala:恐怕要降很大的價了
→ camouflage:就算回巨人也沒有DH位子，更糟的是主場還是人工草皮
推 ricky158207:水手現在的Branyan的OPS也比松井高耶
推 ninini:Vrothers Elefants
推 blackdevil:只要ops>.7 就可以來水兵了XD