Kaz

[Durango53]

When new switch-hitting infielder Kaz Matsui, obtained in a trade with the Mets on Friday, completes his Minor League attempt to shake a hitting slump, he'll wear No. 16. It's another nod toward his previous career, when he was a star in Japan with the Seuibu Lions.

Matsui wore No. 7 in Japan. With the Mets, he wore No. 25, since two and five add up to seven. Matsui told Japanese reporters that he liked the way one and six added up.

[Durango53]

NF Kaz Matsui, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Mets on Friday, took batting practice with the Rockies on Sunday and will report to Triple-A Colorado Springs for its game Monday at Las Vegas.

Get him out of NY should be the best thing to happen to him. Great move for the Rockies I feel. They have a hole at second which I though would be the strongest point and he would be that speed they need so very bad at the top of the lineup. The Rockies have some great hitting coachs and help him out. Get out of the pressure and just let him play in a city that most overlook with baseball. I think he can be a the player that people thought he would be.

And if not no loss for the Rockies....

[Durango53]

8 -- The number of roundtrip flights to Tokyo that Kaz Matsui had in his contract for 2006, but that was waived along with a no-trade clause so he could be dealt to the Rockies.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Obviously, he hasn't been the same player over here that we knew he was over there. We'll send him to Triple-A and see if we can get his bat going and see if he can help us at some point." -- Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd, on the acquisition of second baseman Kaz Matsui from the New York Mets.

[Durango53]

Colorado Springs Sky Sox manager Tom Runnells sees so much potential in Kaz Matsui, the Rockies may have plucked a gem from baseball's scrap heap. Matsui has played in six games for the Triple-A Sky Sox since being acquired by the Rockies in a trade with the New York Mets. So far, so good. He's hitting .364 with eight hits in 22 at-bats, including a double, with four runs scored, and he drove in his first run with a single in Sunday's 8-1 loss to Tucson. But he also has committed three errors. The Rockies would like to plug in a player of Matsui's caliber - he was a regular all-star in Japan - to stay in contention in the National League West.

[Durango53]

Infielder Kaz Matsui's journey to the Rockies' big-league roster has hit a detour. He experienced severe spasms in his lower back while going through drills before Monday's game at Triple-A Colorado Springs. Matsui was at Coors Field on Wednesday getting treatment. "It hurts, but I'll be OK," Matsui said.

[redsfan]

Does the MLB have the lemon law that the auto dealers have to have for Matsui.

[Durango53]

The Rockies knew they was taking a chance with Kaz. And I still like the idea. I think this guy can hit at least and take him out of the pressre cooker in NY let him hang it out in a team that no one looks at and he could suprise some people.

To go with people dont even look at the Rockies that goes for other MLB teams also. You see at team now about once a week try to run on the RF Brad Hawpe. He will gun them out and you see the look of shock on the other teams face. And the Rockies radio guys keep saying "I cant believe guys are still running on him"

Get Kaz in a place where he can work his swing back with a team that has some good hitting coachs he should get it going.

[Durango53]

The Rockies are considering calling up infielder Kaz Matsui from Triple-A Colorado Springs this week. Matsui, acquired from the Mets on June 9, went to the Minors to regain his hitting stroke but suffered a back injury that extended his stay.
And he would get a shot at starting also I expect right away. Moving Carrol to SS and let Kax play some 2nd to see if he can help the top of the lineup.

[Baseball Guru]

went to the Minors to regain his hitting stroke


Regain??

Wouldnt have to mean that he once had a good hitting stroke?;)

[Durango53]

I would say so. :D Before his Mets days I would say.... :D You guys are too rough on people. :D

[Baseball Guru]

Before his Mets day though he hadnt faced "major league" pitching.... He had a great swing in Japan but hasnt showed that at all since coming to the US..

If I were the Rox, I'd let him have his 1st AB of the season (his last 3 seasons have started out with a HR in his 1st AB) and then send him down.. It goes downhill after thaqt 1st AB;)

[Durango53]

As of right now he should have a shot to see what he can do. With the Mets sweeping the Rox they are about out of it unless that spark can get them. Two things the Rox are really missing is a CF and someone at second or SS that can get the job done in the field and do something with the bat. And if Kaz can do that and for some reason find his stroke that he had in Japan then he can at least get on base and help there that will be great. It seems to me that he was an error waiting to happen at SS right? Carrol has been great with the bat this year and can play SS so that will be what would happen there if Kaz can come up and do something.

But also James that could be a cause of Kaz's problems. He wants to hit the HR to bad. Dont know just going off what you said. If he can change that and get it on the groud and let his speed do something then it might turn around for him?

[Baseball Guru]

He doesnt really look like he's trying to hit it out every time.. Last years HR was an in the park hr... He's more of a slap hitter and he looks offbalanced at the plate...

He is weak at SS but again, he comes from Japan, where he was alledgedly a great gold glove caliber SS... So he has had the tools in the past but his time here in the states has been a disaster.. I know the 2 leagues are a bit different but it is strange IMO that he has fallen so far, so fast...

[Durango53]

Infielder Kazuo Matsui was recalled by the Rockies from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Tuesday, and Colorado designated infielder Jason Smith for assignment.

[Durango53]

In Matsui's 31 games with the Sky Sox, he batted .278 with three home runs, 16 RBIs and 26 runs scored.

Matsui spent the majority of his time at Triple-A playing shortstop, with only three games at second base, though Hurdle insisted that his use would be fairly equal between the middle-infield locations.

"[Matsui] played at short because he had played less time at short," Hurdle said. "We wanted him to get more time so when we put him here, he could be more acclimated. He's probably more skill-suited for second than short, but he can play short."

[Durango53]

It's hard to imagine that any other utility player has received this much attention. A battery of nearly 10 reporters is chronicling every move by Rockies SS Kaz Matsui. A former star in Japan, he has his own translator and personal trainer, who travel with him. There was actual news Wednesday, with Matsui starting at shortstop.

[Baseball Guru]

How did he do?

[Durango53]

1 for 3 with a walk and the only stinking run for the Rockies. So the only bright spot for them.

[LesPaul]

:( I have noticed the Rockies have faded significantly since the break

[Durango53]

Fading is calling it nice.......

They are ending this season like they started last season. Like a bunch of rookies trying to find there way.

[yagsy]

:nono: The pitching staff is still going strong. Francis had a rough outing his last time out but then again, it was against a very tough Mets lineup. I just think that this group will bounce back nicely and next season especially will be tough.

Has EY been picked up yet? I miss him. :(

[yagsy]

What? A guy puts on the Rox uniform and suddenly he's a Padre killer? :duh:

I just don't get it!

[Durango53]

Matsui displayed a flare for the dramatic when he opened his Rockies career in Milwaukee last Tuesday, kicking off a four-game hitting streak and hitting .412 (7-for-17) over the course of his first five games with the Rockies. He matched a career high with three hits on Saturday night and has notched a stolen base and five runs while sparking the top of the Rockies lineup with a .500 on-base percentage.

Matsui has a preference for seeing his name in the lineup on a daily basis, and manager Clint Hurdle wasted no time in penciling him in four out of his first six days. And though second baseman Jamey Carroll has excelled for much of the season atop the lineup, late-season struggles from both Carroll and Clint Barmes at short have opened a window to regular playing time for Matsui.

"We'll see if Kaz has a hot hand, and if he does, we're going to play it," Hurdle said over the weekend. "He showed the ability [in Colorado Springs], as he has in his past history, to get on base, to steal a base. He can handle the bat. He's probably got some closet power that you're not aware of. He'll click a ball."

With an eye to the future, the Rockies are eager to see what they've got in Matsui, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Matsui would welcome the chance to reestablish himself as an everyday player, whether in Colorado or on a club willing to commit to penciling him into their '07 infield.

[Durango53]

Kaz Matsui, in his first game against the club that traded him to the Rockies in May but is paying most of his $6.7 million salary, went 3-for-5 with a double, two steals and three runs scored.
How did he look last night James? :D

Kaz in a very short time has earned the 2nd base job over the other guys out there....... I have been very impressed with him so far. The hitting people the Rockies have are good and that time off just to clear his head seems to have done something for him.:thumbsup:

[Baseball Guru]

Arghhhh!

He actually looked pretty darn good last night...

[Durango53]

Colorado manager Clint Hurdle was reluctant to give Kaz Matsui regular at-bats in favor of Jamey Carroll if there was no chance of keeping the former nine-time Japanese all-star. But Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd has had productive preliminary discussions with Matsui's agent, Arm Tellem. "It always comes down to money," O'Dowd said. "But we feel like we at least have a good chance of bringing him back."

[Sheafaithful]

I remember reading a couple of things about Matsui, one when he was a Met abot how hard it was to adjust to the booing at Shea (and boy did Mets fans boo!--so your right, Shad, getting him out of NY was the best thing for him) and then something recently when he was traded to the Rockies (or shortly thereafter): when asked about how he felt about the trade, he said it was his fault. Kind of made me respect him for not making excuses.

[Durango53]

I have respected the job he has done. The Rockies right now are givng guys a shot to see what they can do and so far Kaz has made the most out of it. He has stole the bases, got on base worked some counts and been fair on the defense. I hope the Rockies do resign him.

[Durango53]

Kaz has been a very bright spot for the Rockies this month. He has been stealing bases along with hitting .389 for the past 30 days.

Coming to Denver has helped him out a ton. A place where he can be overlooked and just do his thing. The Rockies need to resign him because of the lack of a leadoff man next season and none in the minor leagues that is stepping up. He has been ok at 2nd but his bat and speed has been great for the Rockies.....

[Durango53]

Second baseman Kaz Matsui says he wants to continue to play in the United States, but several Japanese teams have shown interest in the former Japanese All-Star, who has struggled to establish himself during three years in the National League. At the top of the list is the Yomiuri Giants.

The Rockies are interested in Matsui returning, but odds are they wouldn't sign him until January, similar to how they handled right-handed pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim last offseason.

Matsui is in the final year of a three-year deal that is paying him $8 million this season. Matsui, who reportedly purchased a multimillion-dollar home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, isn't going to get a contract close to what he has been making. He will have to go on the open market to realize how far his value has plummeted, which is what happened last year with Kim. Odds are, if Matsui stays in the United States, his salary will be less than $2 million.

The Rockies have interest in his abilities to hit leadoff and steal bases, which have been problem areas for the team this season.

[Durango53]

Kaz Matsui would like to return to Colorado, but he's facing a severe pay cut from $6 million to around $1 million per season.

[Durango53]

Matsui went 2-for-5 and had two steals.
The more the season goes on the more it shows he is playing his ass off here in CR and doing a great job. The Rockies need to get this guy signed before he is gone but for some reason I see him leaving and the Rockies still having that hole up at the top of the lineup that he has filled when he has started.