Hideki Matsui
Hideki Matsui
Hideki Matsuiis a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played baseball in Japan and the United States. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth12 June 1974
CityIshikawa, Japan
changed manager oh situation soon thinking
The situation hasn't changed at all. I'm still thinking it over. But I would like to let manager Sadaharu Oh know what I'll do as soon as he comes back from Taiwan.
baseball league major reasons ring wanting win yankees
The Yankees had their reasons for not wanting me to play. Major League Baseball had its reasons for wanting me to play. But at the end of the day, what was important to me is to win a championship ring with the Yankees.
hit lost stepped
Everything is fine. When I stepped on the bag, the way I hit it, I kind of lost my balance.
aware hard pinpoint
You feel that something's not right, but it's hard to pinpoint it. You have to be really aware of every part of your swing.
barrel became difference felt good happy hit situation swing
It felt pretty good. I didn't hit it on the barrel but I got a pretty good swing on it. I feel pretty happy in a situation like that, to be able to come through with a hit like that. And it essentially became the difference in the game.
amount salary
The amount of a salary is very important, ... I think it's important for all professional athletes. We are evaluated by our own salaries.
again certainly coming fact factor joe manage
Certainly the fact that Joe was coming back to manage again for me was a big factor in my decision.
champion chasing decided fear goals join might national reason states united
I have decided not to join up with the national squad. . . . The reason I decided to go to the United States was to try and become a world champion with the Yankees, and I fear that chasing two goals might get in the way of that dream.
happened knee
My knee isn't that bad. This has happened in the past.
knee
My knee isn't that bad. It's actually improving.
ball high hit looking pitch pulled second zone
My first and second at-bats, I pulled the ball with grounders to the right side. In that at-bat, I was looking to go with the pitch, for a pitch high in the zone I could hit to the outfield.
based decision prepare season time winning
My decision was based on what's really most important. What do I prioritize? From that standpoint, this season and winning a championship was the most important thing. Especially this time of year, it's very important to prepare yourself.
bit slightly treatment
It's something I've had before. It slightly swelled up, so I'm getting a little bit of treatment on that.
goes injury
It's not an injury that goes away overnight. Little by little every day it's getting better. Everything is fine.