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I'm not a Yankee fan, but this picture moves me.
Now he's playing for the Durham Bulls.
After tonight's game, Bulls' manager Charlie Montoyo was asked by a member of the Japanese media what he sees in Matsui's struggles. Montoyo, with his customary wisdom, and defense of his players: “Our whole team is struggling at the plate. Matsui just needs at-bats. It would be easier for him if our whole team was hitting. When we aren't hitting (we only have six hits in our last 18 innings), it makes the opposing pitchers feel more confident and it puts more pressure on each batter. The lack of hitting is contagious. Matsui has been inserted into a lineup that is struggling to hit.”
But, Montoyo, ever optimistic, then said: “It's still early. It's only May. And we've won 12 of our last 23. There are signs.”
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Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Rays won an extra-inning affair against the Toronto Blue Jays to extend their margin over .500 to nine games. In the post-game call-in show, Neil Solondz (the brilliant, former longtime Bulls' radio broadcaster) answered a caller who suggested that Matsui be called up to the Rays this week by saying, something like, “Well, he's only four-for-30 in Durham, but he's a proven veteran that might be able to help the Rays sooner rather than later.”
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A few notes:
Archer was hitting 97 mph in his last inning, the sixth. He finished the game at 97 pitches, 64 strikes. As Montoyo reiterated afterward, if Archer continues to hone his release point, he's got MLB ace-type stuff. Along with his fastball, he has off-speed pitches (a change, a slider) around 83-85. Plus, he throws just as hard or harder out of the stretch as he does out of his wind-up, which makes you wonder if his future is as a MLB closer.
The home run by Tides' center fielder Lew Ford in the top of the ninth inning bounced off the tin awning of Tobacco Road restaurant above the wall in left field. It was Ford's first home run of the season, but it was a bomb. Bulls left fielder Matsui didn't move, or glance up much to speak of, after the ball was hit.
The Bulls only had one base hit all night. It came off the bat of third-baseman Matt Mangini in the ninth inning. Before that single hit, Tides' second baseman Ty Kelly booted a routine ground ball on a tailor-made double-play that would have ended the game and preserved the no-hitter. Go figure. If Kelly hadn't booted that grounder it would have been the second “staff” no-hitter against the Bulls this year.
But the Bulls still aren't out of it. After five straight division titles, it'll be fascinating to watching Charlie Montoyo try to squeeze out every possible win that he can this year.
We are lucky to have this product in our backyards.