Matsui Working the Outfield

From the NY Daily News:

Hideki Matsui has been testing his knees and his balky hamstring in the outfield in recent days to determine if he'll be capable of playing the field when the Yanks play interleague games in National League parks later this month. Matsui has played solely as a designated hitter this season following winter knee surgery, and struck out pinch-hitting for Cervelli in the eighth inning yesterday. The Yanks don't begin their nine-game stretch without the DH until they visit Florida on June 19.

"He'll continue to do it to see what we have," Girardi said. "It's a fine line that he walks, but he'll continue to work on it. He's doing OK."


I don't know why Girardi is so intent on keeping Matsui in the lineup for interleague play. He's slow and strictly a pull-hitter. He has power, which is why he has some value as a pinch-hitter, but he's extremely easy to pitch to. Any pitch on the outside corner almost always ends up a ground out. They would be better off playing the current combination of 4 outfielders they've used for the season.

Brett Gardner, who was hot through May, needs more at-bats. He's solid at the plate and able to manufacture runs on the bases.


--Max Caster