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Monday, January 16, 2012

Oakland manager Melvin excited about Japan series

The Athletics and Seattle Mariners open the regular season with a two-game series at Tokyo Dome on March 28-29. Many hoped the series would feature a showdown between Matsui and countryman Ichiro Suzuki, but Melvin said the A’s likely wont be re-signing the 37-year-old free agent Matsui.

“Matsui was a great fit for us last year and we all loved having him on our team,’’ Melvin said at a press conference on Monday to promote the series. “But this year it doesn’t look like a fit for us based on the personnel we have going forward.’‘

...Suzuki also had a down season in 2011. For the first time in his career, He failed to reach 200 hits - finishing with 184 - and hit a career-worst .272. Other numbers were lower too, including on-base percentage, infield hits and home runs, while he struck out a career-high 69 times.

Former Seattle star Ken Griffey Jr., who now serves as a special consultant to the Mariners, said he expects Suzuki to bounce back this season.

“Ichiro is going to be fine, you can ask these two guys (Melvin, Wedge) if a guy had 184 hits they wouldn’t be complaining,’’ Griffey said. “But you are looking at a guy who is a special athlete. He had one hiccup in his career and come this time next year we won’t even be talking about this. He is going to come into this season determined and with a little fire.’‘

Hiccup?...That was a freakin’ Dave McNally tally if ever!

Repoz Posted: January 16, 2012 at 06:06 AM | 7 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: athletics, international, japan, mariners

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   1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: January 16, 2012 at 10:26 AM (#4037854)
Get used to it because Lew Wolff will develop a new baseball stadium/real estate development project and move the team there there if Tokyo officials will build it.
   2. TerpNats Posted: January 16, 2012 at 10:50 AM (#4037869)
Yeah, but if Wolff dreams of being the Walter O'Malley of Asia, he'll need to find a Horace Stoneham to be his transoceanic partner. And right now, no other team owner is sufficiently desperate, or available.
   3. Walt Davis Posted: January 16, 2012 at 12:55 PM (#4038051)
If Matsui doesn't sign, will he go back to play in Japan? Because, if not, the A's should sign him and bring him in just for this series so he can retire there. Selig might even give them a 26th roster spot to do it. Feel good moment, maybe boost attendance for the series and if the Ms have a big lead, they might even throw him a Cal Ripken fastball and the A's could actually hit a HR this year.
   4. GGIAS (aka Poster Nutbag) Posted: January 16, 2012 at 01:49 PM (#4038139)
Looked like a good place to put it:

Outman & Moscoso for Seth Smith is a done deal. Now Oak actually has an OF that isn't Sweeney/Sweeney/Sweeney. Smith/Crisp/Reddick not bad with Cowgill getting time in there and maybe Taylor/Choice forcing an isue mid-season? ( I know, WAY too optimistic for an A's fan, aren't I?)
   5. Starring RMc as Bradley Scotchman Posted: January 16, 2012 at 04:06 PM (#4038240)
Yeah, but if Wolff dreams of being the Walter O'Malley of Asia, he'll need to find a Horace Stoneham to be his transoceanic partner.

The Osaka A's?
   6. Randomly Fluctuating Defensive Metric Posted: January 16, 2012 at 04:41 PM (#4038270)
4. I don't think you are being too overly optimistic, the Smith trade is a good one for the A's and it's definitely a more interesting outfield than they have had in recent years.
   7. Dr. Vaux Posted: January 17, 2012 at 12:45 AM (#4038437)
And right now, no other team owner is sufficiently desperate, or available.


How about the Rays? They even rhyme with each other.

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