November 27, 2004
Back East
Hideki Matsui returned to Japan and tells the press he was disappointed in his season.
Matsui returned to Japan for the first time in eight months Friday and said he considers his second season in the major leagues a "big minus" because the Yankees missed the World Series.
"I think about it now and it's still heartbreaking," said Matsui when asked of the playoff loss to the Boston Red Sox that sent the Yankees' archrivals to the World Series and saw them become world champion.
"In my eyes it wasn't a good season. My personal stats improved somewhat, but I've only played (in the majors) for two years. It means I've gotten used to their baseball and learned to adjust," he said.
It's the Yankees attitude; if you didn't win the World Series, you didn't have a successful season.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:17 PM
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Matsui used to play for the Yomiuri Giants, which is like the Yankees in the Far East (more championships with shorter history, only since 1936!!!!). The competitive fire in anybody that has played for the Giants could easily surpass the Yankees. He wasn't kidding about an unsuccessful season.
With their payroll, it should be. They stockpile the best players and can afford to pay any of the biggest stars that they want...winning the World Series should be expected.
With that said, Matsui is a real gamer and is one of my favorite Yankee players.