Godzilla to leave the BX? Torre a Yankee Hater? No Respect for Mauer?

          At the end of this baseball season the Yankees will have a very tough decision to make. Do they keep Outfielder Johnny Damon who has been with the ball club since 2006, or do they keep DH Hideki Matsui who has been in pinstripes since 2003. Well who do ya like? There is Damon (35) who turns 36 in early November this season batted .286 with 24 HR and 82 RBI. Maybe Mr. Matsui (35) .276 with 28 HR and 90 RBI. They are very comparable statistically but there in lies a big discrepancy. Matsui is a Designated Hitter while Damon plays the Outfield.

          Seems like the Bronx Bombers do not want Matsui back and would rather take a chance on Damon. This coming season they are expecting back outfielder Xavier Nady. They also want to platoon the designated hitter spot. Primarily it could be Damon’s job, but they do want a specific amount of games for Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada who are all in the mid to late 30’s. They project A-Rod for about 10 games, Posada at about 15+ while Jeter’s are undetermined. If an Outfielder needs a day off Damon could easily be called upon to play that position, something that Matsui probably could not do.

(Damon Left, Matsui Right)
           So this leaves the question. Where does Godzilla go? When he was playing in Japan Matsui was very direct in his desire to play for the Yankees and only the Yankees. If the Yankees do not want him then what are his options. There are only 2 other teams that Matsui would sign with over going back to Japan. Seattle seems very obvious due to its Japanese ties with Ichiro Suzuki. Believe it or not they don’t get along at all, they won’t even look at each other. Supposedly Ichiro is the cause for it because Matsui followed suit to the United States 2 years after he did. It didn’t help that this season Matsui hit 2 home runs to right field and gave a wink or a slight point in Ichiro’s direction each time. The option would be the New York Mets. Now wait a second met fans, Matsui would be a perfect fit. His professional approach and patient hitter is just what your team needs. Also his 28 homeruns don’t hurt either. He truly would be a great fit but, he can’t play the field. With the primitive NL still with out a DH that leave Hideki out of Flushing.

         If I were Ichiro I would approach Matsui and squash the beef. It seems and sounds and yes IS stupid. Seattle needs all the help they can get and Matsui is a definite help. If Ichiro thinks hes going to win with Ken Griffey Jr. as his DH with his. 214 batting average then he is mistaken. Although I love Griffey it would be in his best interest to hang it up after a poor season. He is considered one of the best of the generation and doesn’t need to wallow in less then mediocre seasons to finish off his career. Junior Griffey was emotional in his last home game this past season leaving people to believe that he may hang it up, but close sources to Griffey say that he may want another go around.  (Griffey Jr. -Right)
         Any one find it odd that Joe Torre loves 2 of the most hated men in Yankee history? Former Indian and Red sox Manny Ramirez and Jeff Weaver. Manny was a Yankee Killer in both of his American League stops and Weaver basically killed his own team in the 2003 World Series.
         Seems that Bobby Abreu is a God to the LA Angels. Everyone talks him up and his professional approach and ability. He has changed people in the club house for the better. Tweeking swings, changing workouts and approaches have left the Angels clubhouse a different but better place. Too bad that isn’t the same for Joe Mauer and the Twins. Close sources say that he doesn’t have the pull as an Abreu due to his quite approach, a Twins beatwriter said that if Mauer asked his team to be more patient and take more pitches that the team wouldn't listen and continue with their approach, while if Abreu mentions somthing then it would be played out on the field.