Godzilla? I'd Rather They Sign King Ghidorah
by Sam Page on Oct 11, 2009 5:01 AM EDT
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PrintDavid Lennon penned a pretty straightforward article the other day titled "Could Matsui and Mets be a match?" about the soon to be free-agent outfielder. Lennon notes three circumstances that might make Hideki a good fit for the Mets: 1. He wants to stay in New York, 2. He wants to play the field again, after a year as a DH, and 3. The Mets have a need for a leftfielder and a power hitter. The most telling part of the article, however, was a typically vague quote from the ubiquitous unnamed team-official:
When asked if Matsui can play the outfield again, the official said, "I don't see why not."
After spending an entire season as a DH, nursing two bad knees, Matsui's ability to reacclimate to the outfield is debatable. His track record of poor fielding, however, is evident. Over nearly 5,500 career innings in the outfield, Matsui has averaged a -16 UZR/150. In his last season of 900+ innings in the field, 2007, he posted a -7.6 UZR in 112 games. Going forward, Matsui figures to be at least 10 runs below average over a full season.
Offensively, Godzilla has a .367 wOBA in his American career. After a career worst .348 wOBA in an injury-shortened 2008, he rebounded this season with a .378 wOBA, due in large part to a career-high 17.4% HR/FB. Like other left-handed hitters on the Yankees, Matsui seems to have enjoyed hitting to the short rightfield porch in the New Yankee Stadium:
Even without the homefield advantage, career high power numbers are not the kind of thing you expect a player to replicate at age 36.
Assuming a .360 wOBA and -15 runs in the field, Matsui would be in the neighborhood of a 2 WAR player. That's a market value of ~$9MM, a four-mil pay cut from his Yankee salary. A 2-WAR leftfielder would be serviceable, but probably available elsewhere for much cheaper. Ultimately, Matsui seems out of line with both the Mets stated priorities this offseason, get younger and minimize injury risk, and their needs, better defense and increased production from non-premium positions. Matsui is also better suited for an AL team that can make him a part-time DH to rest his knees.
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King Ghidorah
Makes the most sense, actually. The three heads could help mitigate any concussion injury (and concussions are epidemic around the Mets) and the guy can really fly. I mean REALLY fly, which would probably play well in that Citi outfield. I don’t know what his contract status is, and wouldn’t he have to be posted by his Japanese club? If that does happen, he’s a must get for the Mets.
Oh yeah, and I agree, stay away from Godzilla.
He can fly
But is he gritty? He’s never shown any consistency in his career to WIN.
On the other hand, his ability to generate hurricane-force winds should keep balls in the park.
+1
matsui makes little to no sense for the mets
by Rob Castellano on Oct 11, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I Appreciate...
… the in-depth analysis of whether the Mets should or shouldn’t sign Matsui but, c’mon, we know it wasn’t REALLY necessary, right?
The piece was well-written, though.
"We praise or blame as one or the other affords more opportunity for exhibiting our power of judgment." Friedrich Nietzsche, "Human,All Too Human" (1878)
I might be writing a bunch of these quick free agent profiles this offseason
so be forewarned, and take them for what they are.
King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president
But...
He’s a TRUE YANKEE!!!!™
This postseason is reminding me just how hateable the Yankees are. You have my sympathies.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
If omar's priority is really "health"
Then matsui doesn’t even get a look.
by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Oct 11, 2009 10:54 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
NO THANK YOU.
If Matsui were at all capable of playing the field, he would be, because they have like a zillion guys who should be playing DH only.
Maybe the Mets should sign the entire Justice Leauge
Gary Thorne=Simply the Best!
by The American Mr.Hockey on Oct 11, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions
Hey, why not?
Superman would more than replace Beltran in CF, what with his speed and flying. And Batman’s style of vigilante justice would be an excellent deterrent to potential basestealers. As always, Aquaman would continue to be utterly useless.
by BobbyV_Incognito on Oct 11, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I look at it this way
we play with a two man out field, the Flash covers everything except for home runs we have Green Lantern to pull them back in, basically Green Lantern will just stay on the warning track while the Flash gets to everything else. On the five man infield, we can have Superman play behind second base to any ground ball that gets through. I like Wonder Woman at first, she’s definitely got the power to play there, and I like Martian Manhunter behind the plate. Second, short and third are hard to fill. Green Arrow at second maybe, he has no powers so he definitely has grission, I’m sure Captain Marvel has the arm to play third, he is basically Superman’s equal ya know, And just to fill out the roster throw Hawkgirl (I go by the modern Justice League) at short, she may not be the best defender out there but Supes will back her up and she’s got one hell of a stick that plays great at shortstop. And of course, Batman is the Manager. He’s not the most team first guy, but he always has the right plan.
"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."
We need Mighty Mouse
Shortness=Grission
"We're just as bad as the old Mets, but this time nobody's laughing"
-Dallas Green
by Stephen Schmidt on Oct 11, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Shortness, eh?
Maybe we need to sign Atom Ant.
"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Oct 11, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh God...
Please don’t sign Matsui. He will be like having Carlos Delgado as an outfielder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRn9BRo4Igw
King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president
Oh shit
Is that DOOM? How many fucking aliases does this man have? Viktor Vaughn, MF DOOM, DOOM, King Geedorah, Zev Love X, that’s all I got off the top of my head.
"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."
the supervillain, metal face
then all the collab nicknames
King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president
I was just goin by names he released albums under
but yeah, he needs to pick a name and stick with it
"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."
On second thought, pass.
He’s freaking huge, and he’s going to draw fewer walks than Frenchy with a strike zone that legitimately stretches all the way to Floral Park. And I don’t see any arms, so how does he swing the bat?
by BobbyV_Incognito on Oct 12, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions
On the other hand, being that big, he's going to get hit by a lot of pitches.
Plus if it takes him one step to get from first to second, he’ll rarely get caught stealing.
Is this the part when the Mets, trying to follow in that "champion" mold,
say hey, the it worked for the Phillies, and give Matsui a 3 year deal like Ibanez. Probably.
"It's like the old phrase goes.....The balls in your court now Mr.Church, so you take that ball, you dribble it up the court and....................................... get a layup"
- Keith Hernandez
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