Godzilla To Have Knee Drained
From the Post -
Joe Torre insisted Hideki Matsui being sent to New York last night to have his balky right knee drained today isn’t that big of a deal. However, the procedure likely will limit Matsui to DH duty against the Indians when the ALDS opens in Cleveland on Thursday night.
“It’s nothing serious,” Torre said of Matsui having fluid removed from the hinge that has been a problem for most of the season. “It won’t affect his status.”
What it does do is kill any plans Torre may have had about getting Jason Giambi into the lineup as the DH, playing Matsui in left and using Johnny Damon in center for the slumping Melky Cabrera, who has one hit in 20 at-bats (.050).
Of course, Giambi could be used as the DH if Matsui can’t make it. Matsui, who ended the season batting .285 with 25 homers and 103 RBIs, finished in a 6-for-23 (.261) mini-slide. The knee wasn’t a serious enough issue to keep Matsui out of left field Thursday and Friday night.
I’m having John Olerud, 2004 ALCS, bad flashbacks, hearing this news.
Just have to play Giambi @ 1b, with Minky as a LIDR. Or Giambi can start @ DH, and Betemit @ 1b. Damon sees time in LF or CF depending on who’s starting where.
They should be fine.
Should be fine?
Matsui is a bat that you can trust in October. Check the stats. How would it be fine to lose that?
Matsui is a bat that you can trust in October. Check the stats. How would it be fine to lose that?
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Whether he is or isn’t right, there’s no guarantee that he’ll do well in October, as evidenced by his last two postseasons.
If he doesn’t start @ DH, he’ll start in LF. I would rather start him @ DH, and Giambi in the field.
The Yanks will go as far as their pitching will take them. The slugging approach hasn’t worked the last 3 years.