Good news for Hideki Matsui. He saw hand specialist Melvin Rosenwasser and had a CT scan earlier today, and was subsequently cleared to begin hitting off a tee. "It should go quick from here," Joe Torre said. Matsui, who was en route to Seattle last night to continue his rehab with the Yankees, could hit soft tosses by the week, take live batting practice sometime next week. And who knows? Maybe he's in a minor-league rehab game before their seasons end the first week in September.
Either way he looks as if he's on track to come back next month.
Matsui told Japanese reporters earlier today, “This is one further step toward recovery. I’m only going to be hitting off the tee. I’m just going to give it my best each day toward making it back to the team." Asked about playing this season, he said, "I’m going to work toward that, but that decision is entirely up to the team.”
Should be interesting, but still impressive considering the shape his wrist was in when he walked off the field against Boston on May 11. Even the Yankees admitted in the coming days that Matsui's wrist was so shattered that he could be out for the season.
We'll see.
On a totally separate note, I want to thank the fine people at Logan Airport for upgrading me to first class today on my 7:40 a.m. flight from Boston to Seattle. Let me tell you, it's a different world up there. And in case you're wondering, Seattle is surprisingly cold today, with temperatures in the low 60s today. Caught me by total surprise, I had to go buy myself a coat. But alas, the coffee is super strong here, understandably so, this being the birthplace of Starbucks. We like that.
Comments (4)
Honestly, I do not care to see Matsui back.
We've got a good thing going here with Melky.
Melky is a great kid with good tools and some speed. Matsui is one if not the most productive run producing hitters in the game! Clutch almost every time with RISP, a comparable fielding outfielder(Melky has a better gun)and a big reason we haven't finished third in the division the last couple of years. How soon we forget! How many doubles into the corner with the other team ahead and men on first and second with two out replays will you need to remember Matsui by? I like Melky, yet he is at best a backup to Hideki Matsui. Melky will never hit 100 RBIs in his career. He may hit 300 and steal 20 bags and throw out alot of guys but 100 RBIs year in and year out are Matsui's trademark as are 20-30 dingers that Melky aint gonna hit either. Same fielding-edge Melky for speed and youth, everything else including intangibles goes to Matsui.
I cannot image Matsui being in game shape with his return and limited playing time. I would stay the course with the players available. As far as Matsui next year he's the man and Melky is #4. Melky will get alot of playing time with the age of our OF. Sheffield is already planning his apparent exit. He's been around the block and see's the roster formation for 2007. I would place all available cash into pitching.
Andy, I wouldn't be so sure about Melky not getting 100 RBI's if I were you.
He is such a terrific hitter, the type that can hit for power as well as average that 100 RBI's would simply be too easy for him to reach, if given the opportunity to hit further up in the lineup, of course.
On second thought, I don't even think he needs to hit that high up to reach 100 RBI's. He has that much potential.
He is a Andruw Jones type player. Matsui can't touch him.