Matsui and Matsui

Hideki Matsui has quietly put up better numbers than Alex Rodriguez. Currently he is the best hitter in the Yankees' lineup. [Link - MLB.com player stats]

It really depends on which media you listen to as well. I've been following the Yankees through the YES network (full Yankees channel), and they've never been down on Godzilla, even during his hitting slump. It seems like the Yanks are extremely pleased with his overall performance. They were thinking they were getting another "Bronx bomber" to hit for power, and while he hasn't put up the home run numbers they were quite expecting, they were actually shocked by his ability in every aspect of the game - contact hitting, situational hitting, and fielding.

Thanks to Ichiro and Godzilla, Kaz ended up with some pretty high expectations - but much like the other Matsui, Kaz will probably need a season just to get his bearings again. If he starts a trend of good clutch hitting like he did yesterday against the Phillies, the media will eventually come around.

- Stevie

One of the best compliments I heard last year was that, when the Yankees lost Paul O'Neill to retirement last year, they replaced him with Mastui. One noticeable difference is Matsui does not throw his bat or helmet after making an out. He keeps his emotions inside.

Paul O'Neill was truely a great Yankee. I think his number should be retired. He was really the team leader during 1995-2001 before Jeter took over.

For Matsui to be compared to him, it is a great compliment.

Kaz and Hideki have been hammered on and praised, back and forth, over and over again. But the thing that is strange to me is that I never hear anything good or bad about Ichiro (at least where i live).