The Yankees' own new addition, Jerry Hairston Jr., filled in perfectly at third base, fielding well and posting a productive 2-for-5 day including an RBI single and an RBI double. And then of course Matsui, who has seen his playing time limited recently, obviously held down the DH role in a more than adequate fashion. The offensive provided by these two "part-time players" allowed the Yanks to not miss a beat with their rhythmically and methodically efficient offense or their starting catcher and third basemen.
Beating up on the Seattle Mariners is nothing for the Yankees to get excited about beyond the further growth of their first place cushion. But considering the game from an international perspective and seeing the elite Japanese players and the enthusiastic Japanese fans, it is very apparent what a multinational game baseball is becoming. The increased fanbase and wider connection to various cultures are vitally important because, in a time when all sports face economic hardship, a meaningless Thursday game suddenly has meaning to a whole new nation of fans, which can only help the stability of the game's future.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Interesting this comes up now, someone at the NY Post thinks Matsui's not comin' back next year.
2 - Nick
Matsui is one of my favorites. I think he still has some great heroics left in him, even though he's getting older.
3 - Minderbinder
I think that if Jason Bay continues to play well the Yankees will sign him in the off season. The Sox missed their chance to sign him to an extension in the off-season and if he continues to show that June and July were a temporary slump the Yankees will definitely be involved. He will be the best free-agent left-fielder by far and has shown he can play on a big market team.
I only hope the Yankees decide on Damon for a backup and Matsui is interested in moving north. (BTW Tony, have you mentioned in any of your articles that Damon is a Boras client in a contract year having far and away his best year in terms of power numbers and only 8 stolen bases? Hmmm, sounds fishy.)
4 - Tony
Wow Minderbinder. I think this Ortiz thing has sent you into some kind of steroid obsession. [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor] Damon is a left-hander hitting in a stadium that is obviously a hitters park (with a very short porch in right) with Mark Teixeira behind him. If you can't connect that dots as to why his home run totals will likely finish 3-4 above his career high, you shouldn't watch baseball anymore.
It wouldn't surprise me if Damon tested positive for something since he was a 2004 Red Sox [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor].
5 - Tony
But that is a great insinuation. Scott Boras gives his clients steroids (or incourages them to take them) in contract years. Why don't you write something like that and see how far you get.
6 - Minderbinder
Someone else already wrote about it. New York Post article
7 - win it all
Yeah, Minderbinder. You're not allowed to say anything that doesn't amount to a faggy love sonnet of commitment to everyone in pinstripes around Tony. You should know that. Otherwise he launches into his tired, trite "You're not contributing anything to the debate." [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]
8 - win it all
"While his swing accomodates little power." Haha. Awesome. That's better than when you say "relent" when you mean "relinquish." I love it.
9 - Tony
[Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor] A swing can accommodate power [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]. But you know, we do have a sports editor here so if you don't think he is doing his job correctly maybe you should send him and email and explain.
10 - Tony
And the difference, "win it all," between you and Minderbinder is that while he is a bias Red Sox fan, he DOES add to the debate and does so in a fun way. [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]
11 - Tony
But, I'm glad you keep reading. For hating every word I write so much I think you're the most regular reader I have.
12 - win it all
A swing can GENERATE power [Edited]. Not accommodate.
13 - win it all
Also, it's funny that you would suggest Damon would be a steroid user for no other reason than that he played for the 2004 Red Sox. As if they were any more of a Roidhouse than the Yankee team of that same year, with A-Rod, Giambi, Sheffield, and Ruben Sierra in the middle of the lineup, Kevin Brown in the starting rotation, and only a year after saying goodbye to Clemens and Pettite.
14 - Tony
If a swing is tailored for power, then the style accomidates it [Edited]. Like I said, email the editor. He's a far better writer than me and didn't see a problem with the wording.
15 - win it all
Mmmmmmmmmmm...nope. That's an incorrect usage [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor]