Friday, December 16, 2005
Matsui undecided about WBC
12/14/2005
NEW YORK -- Hideki Matsui remains undecided when it comes to participating in the World Baseball Classic as the outfielder must decide between representing his country or staying with his team during Spring Training.
Matsui, who signed a four-year, $52 million contract last month to remain with the Yankees, told The Associated Press in Tokyo that he had not made a decision on playing for Japan in the inaugural WBC tournament.
There has been a lot of pressure on Matsui in recent weeks as people in Japan want to know if he plans to play for his country.
"I'm also a Yankee," Matsui said told reporters Tuesday. "Is it my goal to become a World Series champion in 2006? Of course it is."
Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh, who will manage the Japanese team, has been trying to persuade Matsui to play in the event. Oh has already convinced Ichiro Suzuki to take part in the tournament.
Last week, Oh told reporters hat he was 100 percent certain that Matsui would participate, saying that he would leave a roster spot open for the Yankees' left fielder.
Matsui has said that he wants to make a decision soon, as it would be rude to keep Oh and Japanese fans waiting much longer.
Japan, which is part of Group A with South Korea, China and Chinese Taipei, will be home for the first round of the tournament, March 3-5 at the Tokyo Dome. That, of course, is the stadium in which Matsui played his entire 10-year career in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants.
Three members of the Yankees -- Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano -- have agreed to participate in the event. Bernie Williams and Al Leiter also committed to play in the WBC if selected by their respective countries.
Jorge Posada wanted to play for Puerto Rico, but the Yankees objected, given the wear and tear that comes with catching a full big-league season. Puerto Rico has a deep talent pool at catcher, including Ivan Rodriguez and Sandy Alomar Jr.
Mariano Rivera has not made an official decision, but he told WFAN radio on Wednesday that he will likely skip the event because his arm won't be in pitching shape by the first week of March.
Sixty-man rosters must be submitted by Jan. 17, with 30-man rosters finalized 24 hours prior to the start of the tournament.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
NEW YORK -- Hideki Matsui remains undecided when it comes to participating in the World Baseball Classic as the outfielder must decide between representing his country or staying with his team during Spring Training.
Matsui, who signed a four-year, $52 million contract last month to remain with the Yankees, told The Associated Press in Tokyo that he had not made a decision on playing for Japan in the inaugural WBC tournament.
There has been a lot of pressure on Matsui in recent weeks as people in Japan want to know if he plans to play for his country.
"I'm also a Yankee," Matsui said told reporters Tuesday. "Is it my goal to become a World Series champion in 2006? Of course it is."
Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh, who will manage the Japanese team, has been trying to persuade Matsui to play in the event. Oh has already convinced Ichiro Suzuki to take part in the tournament.
Last week, Oh told reporters hat he was 100 percent certain that Matsui would participate, saying that he would leave a roster spot open for the Yankees' left fielder.
Matsui has said that he wants to make a decision soon, as it would be rude to keep Oh and Japanese fans waiting much longer.
Japan, which is part of Group A with South Korea, China and Chinese Taipei, will be home for the first round of the tournament, March 3-5 at the Tokyo Dome. That, of course, is the stadium in which Matsui played his entire 10-year career in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants.
Three members of the Yankees -- Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano -- have agreed to participate in the event. Bernie Williams and Al Leiter also committed to play in the WBC if selected by their respective countries.
Jorge Posada wanted to play for Puerto Rico, but the Yankees objected, given the wear and tear that comes with catching a full big-league season. Puerto Rico has a deep talent pool at catcher, including Ivan Rodriguez and Sandy Alomar Jr.
Mariano Rivera has not made an official decision, but he told WFAN radio on Wednesday that he will likely skip the event because his arm won't be in pitching shape by the first week of March.
Sixty-man rosters must be submitted by Jan. 17, with 30-man rosters finalized 24 hours prior to the start of the tournament.
Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/
