Just in Time to Face Torre, Matsui Heating Up for Angels

LOS ANGELES -- When Hideki Matsui played for Joe Torre on the New York Yankees for five seasons, Torre often made plain his admiration for his Japanese star.

Before Torre and Matsui faced each other for the first time in different uniforms Friday night, Torre -- the third-year manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers -- recalled his first impression of Matsui, the first-year designated hitter and occasional left fielder of the Los Angeles Angels.

When Matsui arrived in New York 2003 as a big star from Japan, Torre said Matsui attempted to blend in with the most famous baseball team in the United States. "He's like, 'What can I do to help?''' Torre recalled. "I've never forgotten that.''

Torre smiled when he recalled how Yankees owner George Steinbrenner criticized Matsui during a slump and joked that it was probably a good thing that Matsui did not understand English at that time.

Referring to Friday's game, Torre also said, prophetically: "He's a tough player. What scares me more than anything is him in the batters' box. I'm happy he's going well."



Share As if scripted, Matsui delivered the key hit Friday night in Dodger Stadium, a three-run triple with two outs in the fifth inning off Chad Billingsley that broke a tie and lifted the Angels to a 10-1 victory over the Dodgers in the opener of a three-game interleague series. Right fielder Andre Ethier made a diving try for the sinking liner but it glanced off his glove and rolled behind him.

Matsui, whose batting average slumped to .229 at the start of June, is 17-for-44 this month. He has raised his average to .260 and the best may be about to come. For his career, Matsui has batted .312 in the months of June and July. "I have no idea why,'' he said through his interpreter. He turns 36 years old on Saturday and now has reason to celebrate.

Although he spoke with Torre before batting practice, Matsui said his thoughts did not dwell on him. "I tried not to focus on that during the game,'' Matsui said. "If I started thinking about that, I'd be confused out there.''

Matsui was removed from the game after six innings by manager Mike Scioscia and said he immediately iced his knees. He said they feel better than they did in recent seasons in New York, including last year, when Matsui was the most valuable player in the World Series victory over Philadelphia.

"He's a tough player. What scares me more than anything is him in the batters' box. I'm happy he's going well."
- Joe Torre on
Hideki Matsui Because this weekend's games are played in a National League park, Matsui must field a position if he is to play. Scioscia said he did not know if Matsui would play on both Saturday and Sunday. He does not wish to wear him out. He said he noticed nothing different with Matsui during his May slump.

"Hideki didn't change anything, that's part of his confidence and professionalism,'' said Scioscia, who added that Matsui's home runs (nine) and RBI (37) are about what Angels expected, even with the lower average. "And now, he's getting the hits to fall in,'' Scioscia said.

The Angels, who drew to within one-half game of first-place Texas in the American League West, are 10-3 since losing Kendry Morales last month in a home-plate celebration at the end of a victory. Matsui said the team has not consciously focused on making up for the absence of Morales, although the Angels have won eight of their last 10.

"Perhaps, somewhere, maybe subconsciously, there is a sense of urgency,'' Matsui said. "Not that we spoke about it.'' Nor did he speak much about the Yankees, who let him get away as a free agent when they signed Nick Johnson as their designated hitter. Johnson has missed most of the season with a wrist injury.

"There are so many great players on that team, the DH role can be easily filled and rotated,'' Matsui said.