Despite Decline, Yanks' Matsui Still Has Star Power

Of all the professional ballplayers who've crossed the planet, moving from east to west, none have hit balls with greater power, or thrived under greater scrutiny, than designated hitter and designated hero Hideki Matsui, a 35-year-old member of the New York Yankees.

Matsui is not the best Japanese power hitter of all time. But he is certainly the best power hitter Japan has ever exported to Major League Baseball, and his success at the highest level -- as a central, if not starring figure, for the flagship franchise -- explains why, even seven years after his arrival here, a 40-person Japanese press core travels with the Yankees, strictly documenting the life and times and knee problems of one.

These days, it's difficult to find proper perspective on Matsui. Depending on which side of the language barrier you stand, he gets more recognition or less recognition than deserved. American fans know of Matsui as a complementary player -- steady, consistent, a soon-to-be free agent with perhaps a few good seasons left. Japanese fans know Matsui as "Godzilla," and remember him as a super-superstar for the Yomiuri Giants, for whom he once hit 50 home runs. Matsui has now been in professional baseball since 1993, dividing his career between Japan and America. In both countries, he's lived in the largest, loudest metropolises and played for the highest-profile teams. Few have had more novel journeys. Perhaps nobody has more personnel on hand to write about it.

The numbers explain just a portion of Matsui's uniqueness. He has hit 140 career home runs, not counting his latest postseason longball, a two-run blast in New York's Game 1 win against Minnesota. All other Japanese-born ballplayers in major league history have combined for 314. Even Yankee Stadium has been shaped by Matsui's home run-hitting. Some of the biggest Japanese corporations -- Toyota, Casio, Sony -- have placed their billboards in right field. Thinking is, when Matsui's homers are shown in Japan -- NHK broadcasts 120 Yankees games there -- fans will see the appropriate signage.

"Japanese people, they are watching these home runs," said Isao Hirooka, employed by the Yankees as a liaison between Matsui and the Japanese press. "They want to see that Asian guy that hits the big home runs, and that is why everybody is interested in Hideki."

When Matsui first joined the Yankees in 2003, signing a three-year, $21 million free agent deal, he instantly became the sustaining figure of a mini-industry. Hirooka, who'd covered baseball in Japan, was persuaded by Matsui to join him in New York. Translator Roger Kahlon, eyeing a real estate job, decided instead to put his bilingual skills to work within the clubhouse. In 2003, when Matsui finished second in AL rookie of the year voting, 60 journalists wrote exclusively about Matsui. The 40 who still follow him marvel at his patience, appreciative that he tolerates twice-daily interview sessions, even on days he doesn't play. Sometimes he even takes the group out for dinner.

Not all Japanese ballplayers who've spawned the media throngs have been so understanding. Ichiro Suzuki, almost immediately after joining the Mariners in 2001, distanced himself from the press. "Three hits, four hits, five hits, he'd say, 'No comment today,' " said Gaku Tashiro, of Sansei Sport, who covered Ichiro's first MLB season and has been with Matsui since 2003. "Since 2003, [Matsui] talked to us after every game. No hits, three hits, he doesn't care. Any question he answers, always -- private, baseball, anything."

On Thursday, in preparation for Friday's Game 2, the Yankees held an afternoon workout at Yankee Stadium. The Japanese press, as always, assembled during batting practice near the visiting dugout -- specifically because no other spot in foul territory allowed enough room for them. Some 40 Yankees players and coaches gathered on the field, but cameras from that side followed just one man. Matsui picked up a bat. He bent down. He stretched. He laughed at something.

These could be among Matsui's final weeks as a Yankee. His contract is up at season's end, and despite the .274, 28-homer season -- "Matsui has been huge for us all year," Manager Joe Girardi said -- the team has offered no hint about plans to bring him back.

Those who've followed Matsui believe he wants badly to remain in New York. And though he's tight-lipped about any talk beyond 2009, he doesn't hesitate to describe his hopes for how to end the year.

"As far as the way I look at it, yes, I came here to help the team win a championship," Matsui said, speaking through his interpreter. "So if I don't, you can look at it as a failure."