Imports to US

As much fun as speculating is, I'd rather just wait until October when players can start speaking about this.

I would like to note, though, that it's looking unlikely that either Matsui will be going until the end of next season. Seibu's Matsui says that he doesn't feel that he's ready. (That may still change after the end of the season, so don't give up hope all together.) And the Giants have no desire to give up Godzilla, even after he becomes a free agent after 2002.

Also, Yakult's Ishii, who at the beginning of the season requested to be posted at the conclusion of this season, has been having a sub-par year this year. So I wonder if he'll draw the interest that was expected before the season began. I would like to say, though, that it seems to me that he does well every other year, so I expect him to rebound well next year.

Am I avoiding the question? Perhaps. I just personally feel that this kind of thing is best saved for the off season. But if others want to speculate, feel free.

Can you compare the following players to ML leauge players:

Ishii
H Matsui

Also, does the home field of "Godzilla" contribute to his power totals, or does he have legit ML home run power to produce those #'s anywhere (parkwise).

> Can you compare the following players to ML leauge
> players:

I'm afraid that I don't know many MLB players any more, so I'd rather not make a fool of myself by trying. I know that my narrow focus on Japanese baseball is a fault and I should broaden my horizons. But it's not a fault that I'm axious to correct right now.

> Also, does the home field of "Godzilla" contribute to
> his power totals, or does he have legit ML home run
> power to produce those #'s anywhere (parkwise).

"Godzilla" is H. Matsui, if you hadn't heard that nickname before. And while Tokyo Dome does seem to be a home run hitters' park, Matsui hits mosterous shots that would get out anywhere.

The managers who have come over with the MLB All Star teams for the past several series' have all commented positivly on Matsui's power. He's even recieved at least one intentional pass by the Major Leaguers, showing that they do respect that power with the game on the line.

But unless some MLB team is going to subvert JPB/MLB agreements and get Matsui to defect to the U.S. before becoming a free agent, we won't know until 2003.