Kaz Matsui

by BigMac545 on Nov 21, 2007 11:10 AM EST

I'm thinking that at the right price Kaz Matsui could be a good stop gap fit for our SS problem/leadoff problem. He isn't going to make as much as Eck and had pretty good success with the bat last year. Naturally, when talking about any Rockies player having success hitting you have to consider the Coors Field factor. I did some digging and, as expected, Kaz had some pretty stark home/away splits.

Home: .330/.381/.466
Away: .249/.304/.333

Those aren't pretty at all. The OPS difference is over .230 points. However, Kaz does have speed (32 steals in 36 attempts) and can play both 2nd and SS. I know that the Cubs are looking into Kaz but at the right price I think he we could a good addition for a 1 or 2 year contract.

Also Kaz has historically hit well in bigger more spacious ballparks much like new Busch where he can slap the ball around and utilize his excellent speed.

Arizona: .315/.370/.506 -- 89 AB
Atlanta: .314/.385/.405 -- 131 AB
Washington: .274/.338./.385 -- 135 AB

Obviously all three of these stadiums are more spacious than Busch, however, I thought it was interesting. Now I'm not saying that Kaz is the long term solution or even an ideal fix for next year, just that he would be a possible cheap one or two year fix at more than one position of need (2nd, SS, and leadoff). I know the Cardinals have yet to show any interest, and that the Cubs are the only team I've really heard of that is pursuing Kaz, but there does seem to be a dying market for SS and 2nd basemen which could help deflate his value.

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Big postseason = big payday

Most likely he will be overpaid afetr the nice post-season he had.
Isn't he primarily a second baseman? Short is, after-all, a more demanding defensive position.
His numbers, outside of Coors, seem close to what we might expect from Brendan Ryan, aren't they?

The St. Louis Cardinals- 11 time World Champions!

by Zubin on Nov 21, 2007 11:26 AM EST reply actions

Kaz

I would steer clear of Kaz, because those splits are pretty ugly.

Actually Kaz came over as a SS. Kaz played SS and Jose Reyes played 2B for the Mets. Kaz struggled in NY and was moved for SS and eventually the team. He just did not hit how they wanted him to hit.

by ICbirdfan on Nov 21, 2007 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

i like him

good speed (but tony doesnt use it) decent contact Not a bad choice, but like zubin said, good postseason means big money I don't see it happening

23 homers 71 rbis, yeah, albert's having an off year

by PujolsFan4Life5 on Nov 21, 2007 12:41 PM EST reply actions

In all of Tony's defense,

he really doesn't have any speed to work with. I'm sure if we gave him Carl Crawford or Jimmy Rollins, we'd be seeing a lot more steals.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on Nov 21, 2007 5:36 PM EST up reply actions

SPEED

Kaz has 62 stolen bases in 4 full seasons. I would hardly consider him a speedster/basestealing threat.

If a team has a good basestealer the manager does not generally give the sign to steal. They have a green light and supposed to steal in the proper situation. Now I think if Brendan Ryan shows to have good baseball instincts which he clearly lacks at this time he would probably get the green light treatment. Albert has the green light right now.

The stolen base is pretty much a lost art. Guys may be good at it early but if they are power hitters most stop running. Chris Young for the Dbacks may be that type of player. He steals and hits for power early in his career but if his power numbers stay the same or go up he will probably quit running each additional year he is in the big leagues.

by ICbirdfan on Nov 21, 2007 5:59 PM EST up reply actions

He's never had

an OPS+ greater than 88. As you pointed out, last year his OPS away from Coors Field was a blistering .637 -- that's worse than Aaron Miles'. As for D, his career range factor is better than league avg. but his career fielding % is much less than league avg. All in all, can't Brendan Ryan do the exact same things or better and won't require 3 years/$10-15 million?

I'm no Cesar Izturis fan, but at least he wouldn't require a 3 year commitment.

by chuckb on Nov 21, 2007 12:49 PM EST reply actions

Why would he leave

Why would he leave Colorado? They just went to the World Series and he just had the most successful year, by far, since he came across the pond. If he's smart he'll stay with the Rockies and play second fiddle in the MI to Tulo, hit 2nd in the lineup and see plenty of fastballs hitting ahead of Holliday.

I think this would be a good signing for the Cardinals if they could get him for Jose Uribe money. Something like 2 years $11 million or 3 years $15 million. That would be a good investment and they could always move him to 2B later on if he doesn't work out at SS. He'll be decent defensively, and he's a hell of a lot better offensively than Miles, Ryan, or Eck would be. Plus he solves the problem at the top of the order because he would more than likely hit leadoff in the Cardinal lineup.

I honestly think that Coors field splits for players on the Rockies are always going to be vastly different. If it was a bandbox park like Philly's is I would believe it, but it's not...it's more like Dodger Stadium at 5200 feet. Huge outfield, deep power alleys and gaps, hitter like Kaz will always have great home games because the OF has to play so deep to prevent doubles and triples in that park. It's kind of a self fulfilling prophecy in that every hitter who plays home games there is going to struggle on the road. It would be akin to a basketball player who played at home with a rim 2 inches bigger around than rims on the road -- they'll shoot better at home and struggle more on the road.

"The Cardinals have won a World Series in THEIR new stadium!" --my Uncle Jim to a heckling Cubs fan

by fourstick on Nov 21, 2007 12:52 PM EST reply actions

do the rockies want him??

There is thought of moving Ian Stewart - a slugging third base prospect to second, as Garret Atkins is blocking third for the foreseeable future. The Rockies are probably low-balling Kaz. I would not be surprised if he left. However, he is pretty popular with the fan base and the negative PR may cause management to spend a little to keep him around.

by cdb on Nov 21, 2007 1:17 PM EST up reply actions