12-21-2002, 07:22 PM
Japanese marketing is MAJOR part of this. He should be a very good player, and his pay isn't much, but the biggest part of him is marketing. Think Irabu times 5.
Rob Neyer at ESPN found someone who attempted to adjust Japanese stats for US. His adjusted stats for Matsui for the past few years are:
HR OBP Slug
2000 30 .402 .531
2001 25 .412 .514
2002 35 .418 .551
If those turn out to be real, he'll be really good (ala Bernie Williams), but no superstar like Arod or Bonds.
And again a bargain at his salary.
Rob Neyer at ESPN found someone who attempted to adjust Japanese stats for US. His adjusted stats for Matsui for the past few years are:
HR OBP Slug
2000 30 .402 .531
2001 25 .412 .514
2002 35 .418 .551
If those turn out to be real, he'll be really good (ala Bernie Williams), but no superstar like Arod or Bonds.
And again a bargain at his salary.