Press release just sent out by the Angels front office:
HIDEKI MATSUI NOT OFFERED ARBITRATION BY ANGELS
ANAHEIM, CA – The Angels today announced the club will not offer salary arbitration to outfielder/designated hitter Hideki Matsui.
Today’s announcement was made by General Manager Tony Reagins.
Matsui, 36, batted .274 with 21 home runs and 84 RBI in 145 games with the Angels in 2010. The former World Series MVP led all of Major League Baseball with a .371 batting average (43/116) from August 14 through the end of the season. A native of Ishikawa, Japan, Matsui has combined for a .297 (2499/8402) career average, 493 home runs and 1,570 RBI in 2,329 professional games between the Japanese League and Major League Baseball.
0 recs | 70 comments
Going to miss the obligatory "cut to the japanese cameraman when matsui is batting" shot.
clover_black - November 23, 2010
followed shortly thereafter by the "Japanese fans with odd signs in the stadium" shot.
sheisalovelyladyandmyapologiestoher - November 23, 2010
Followed by the quick
Japanese radio broadcast…
maze88 - November 23, 2010 via mobile
followed by the Mark Gubizca catchphrases...
KB_24 - November 23, 2010
Followed by MORE Gubizca catchphrases....
Angelsfan015 - November 24, 2010
Like:
Godzilla failed to stay within his mechanics and allowed the pitchers to change his eye level too easily.
angelslogic - November 24, 2010
He only has like 3
Rally Manatee - November 24, 2010
Wow. I'm shocked.
Didn’t see that one comin’. Now we should be able to get Granderson.
halofolife - November 23, 2010
Neither did he…
think about it. ;) lol jp
BrentSchmidt - November 24, 2010
At least now the speculation can end
As does Matsui’s Angels career.
angelslogic - November 23, 2010
Shouldn't have gotten married in the first place.
Red114 - November 23, 2010
not with porn collection
who needs a wife when you’re surrounded by harujuku girls?
Moondoggy - November 24, 2010
He was mostly serviceable, but just not what we need to move forward.
Add him to the “Oh, he was on the Angels? I did not know that!” list
Bo Jackson, Kent Mercker, Jack McDowell, Phil Nevin, Eddie Murray, etc…
Ok so he gets a bit more than that.
Monkeyspanked - November 23, 2010
frank robinson
bobby bonds
Rev Halofan - November 23, 2010
Ricky Henderson also fits that bill
ryanfea - November 23, 2010
Whoa. See there's always one of those to get you. Got me with that one!
Monkeyspanked - November 23, 2010
Dave Parker
at such a cost.
Rev Halofan - November 23, 2010
sounds like a bunch of trAditon to me
Dono Romantico - November 23, 2010
+1
Monkeyspanked - November 23, 2010
Cecil Fielder might be my favorite member of that list
Suboptimal - November 23, 2010
Hoyt Wilhelm
Whitey Herzog
Quad Fin Rider - November 23, 2010
Stone Cold Steve Austin
KB_24 - November 23, 2010
Kareem Abdul Jabaar
oh no wait, he just threw out the first pitch
Rev Halofan - November 23, 2010
Here's a good one
Dave Kingman (a halo for what 3 days?)
tanana40 - November 24, 2010
I guess I could looked it up first
10 games in 1977, memory faltering
tanana40 - November 24, 2010
Raul Mondesi
red floyd - November 24, 2010
Oh, and don't forget the Big Cat -- Andres Gallaraga
red floyd - November 24, 2010
I'm sorry son
You must have me confused with somebody else. My name is Roger Murdock. I’m the co-pilot.
HoustonHaloFan - November 24, 2010
Mark Gubicza
I wouldn’t have remembered that he was on the Angels if he hadn’t told me.
Rally Manatee - November 24, 2010
hmm... I am not surprised he didn't get offered arbitration but
I was hoping he would. I am not sure it would have been bad cause he is at this point probably still going to get signed by someone as he isn’t completely washed up yet and the interest is still out there.
If I recall he would have only been a Type B also so it wouldn’t cost to much but maybe im wrong on that.
TheAngelsColts - November 23, 2010
I think you may be in the minority here
Rally Manatee - November 24, 2010
and lets admit it...
Red waant his color!!! It was as awkward!!
wheres_bourjos_at - November 23, 2010 via mobile
and lets admit it...
Red wasnt his color!!! It was as awkward!!
wheres_bourjos_at - November 23, 2010 via mobile
He'll go back to Japan to play for the Kyojin again, then retire to become their manager
eyespy - November 23, 2010
We'll still be talking about Vlad alot more than the little lizard next season
the best move the Halos have made regarding Crapsui
Dono Romantico - November 23, 2010
I don’t know aobut this. From observation—Matsui started out bad, but finished being an ok DH while increasing the attendance of Japanese fans. I think Angles fans gave up on him and never got back on board when he got comfortable being a halo.
deb d - November 23, 2010
If he put up average number in May, we'd be saying otherwise.
SenorChuckles - November 23, 2010
But he was just ok in April w/a 350 OBP, he stunk in May and July but was Godzilla in June Aug and Sept w/>400 OBP. When I see that kind of dips I always wonder if maybe he had a booboo that wasn’t reported (or he coulda been just listening to Hatcher those months and got earplug in Aug.). I think he is just fine as a DH with his strong finish and if I was GM I would give him a try.
deb d - November 23, 2010
If we didn't have abreu and had a decent lead-off bat, I'd give Matsui another try.
SenorChuckles - November 23, 2010
+1
marshgr - November 24, 2010
Goodbye
M.Napoli For President in 2012 - November 23, 2010 via mobile
It was fun while it lasted
Except for when he swung for power and came empty handed…wait that might’ve been Torii…
maze88 - November 23, 2010 via mobile
Good riddance
Teixeira Who? - November 24, 2010
We must be getting a new DH.
44FAN - November 24, 2010
Abreu is the DH
Nord15 - November 24, 2010
The Official Angels Depth Chart verified November 24, 2010
lists Mike Napoli first, then Howard Kendrick as the DH’s.
44FAN - November 24, 2010
It could happen if the Angels didn't land an OF. They'd send Abreu back to LF and Napoli would rotate between C and DH.
I don’t see it happening but it’s not such a huge leap. I think Napoli spends significant time at DH, regardless of the Angels landing another OF.
Halowood - November 24, 2010
Sayonara Godzirra
Hideki, we hardly knew ye
Moondoggy - November 24, 2010
I recall Opening Day
I was flanked by Japanese journalists and photoghers on all sides. On what may have been his first at-bat he knocked one right into Matsuiland.
And then it was all downhill from there. Too bad. Still, it was exciting for one night.
Zoe Necrosis - November 24, 2010
He was also 4th in WAR last year among Angel hitters...
with a WAR of 1.9.
Fortunately his supposed replacement is Bobby Abreu who was one of the few people with a higher WAR.
Nashdiesel - November 24, 2010
Let his Angel gravestone also read, "maybe starting him the first 32 straight games wasn't so bright"
Dude was 36, with god knows what materials in his legs, and Sosh started him the first 32 games of the year, including 4 times in LF … during which he went .237/.311/.390. Old men need rest.
mattwelch - November 24, 2010
Hopefully the 1st of many smart moves by Reagins the off-season
Rally Manatee - November 24, 2010
Apparently all of the Japanese advertising rights weren't enough to justify
keeping Crapsui around. He just didn’t sell well enough here and in Japan. So much for the “Arte will make money off of the Japanese market” theory. Hmmm where did I hear that ? I think I read it in the Huffington Post.
Dono Romantico - November 24, 2010
Well, he made "six figures" off Matsui before the season even started
According to this. In addition, merch and ticket sales were said to be seeing a bump from Matsui around the same time. I don’t know what the numbers were at the end of the season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Arte made 1-2 mil or more just by signing Matsui. There’s another article I read (can’t find it at the moment) that concluded that’s about what the Red Sox make just by having Dice-K. I would think Matsui would pull in a similar amount.
Commander_Nate - November 24, 2010
so then if he's making the team money, why are they letting that money go?
Dono Romantico - November 24, 2010
Because they need to win more
And already have a DH who can no longer play OF named Bobby Abreu. If Matsui could play 3rd base, he’d be getting a contract offer right now.
Commander_Nate - November 24, 2010
so Bobby is untradeable?
Dono Romantico - November 24, 2010
I didn’t know
there was a market for non fielding left handed batters coming off one of their worst years.
phoenix15 - November 24, 2010
apparently it's his current contract vs. Matsui's numbers last year.
Hell, I don’t know. I’m just asking some questions and trying to make some sense of it.
Dono Romantico - November 24, 2010
Bobby brings more on-field value right now
We have a crowded OF, and only 1 guy can DH per game. Abreu is the best leadoff candidate we have and has enough power to justify being the main DH. Matsui still has the power to be a DH, but he doesn’t have the skills to leadoff. We also have to figure out what to do with Rivera for next year. Matsui is a good player still, and did about what he was expected to last year, it’s just that he’s a redundancy we don’t need at this point.
Commander_Nate - November 24, 2010
thanks for bringing some clarity Nate
Dono Romantico - November 24, 2010
No prob
Commander_Nate - November 24, 2010
Hurray!, another mistake in the rearview mirror.
Wally's World - November 24, 2010
Hooray our second most potent offensive producer is gone!
Mistake is in the rear view mirror! Why is fernando rodney driving this car?
clover_black - November 24, 2010
Here is something I just read:
Vladimir Guerrero named top designated hitter
well, what do ya know.
Dono Romantico - November 24, 2010
I think it's safe to say
Fuck you, David Ortiz.
SenorChuckles - November 24, 2010
Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want some new news! Lol. Shit sucks having to wait, and wait, and wait to see what we get. Can’t we just sign or trade for someone already so that way we can have something to talk about?.. sorry for the bitching, I’m ust starving for info already. Reagins throw us a bone man!
(!ts_a_C.A._thing) - November 24, 2010 via mobile
This wait can only mean one thing...
A good deal is a brewin’!
maze88 - November 24, 2010 via mobile
i hope Maze
I feel the Dan uggla trade would have done us alot of good. Ya, we need a new third baseman but I feel we coulda kept uggla at second with his decent glove because he produces like a 3rd baseman. Then just kept Callaspo at 3rd with his decent glove because he produces like a 2nd baseman. Problem solved for now.
I just hope ninja comes through and proves his worth.
(!ts_a_C.A._thing) - November 24, 2010 via mobile
IF A GOOD DEAL
was NOT in the works… we’d STILL be waiting…
Rev Halofan - November 26, 2010
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