After getting stiffed by Godzilla last offseason, the Mets have finally signed their own Matsui -- in this case, shortstop Kazuo. Unfortunately, Matsui's signing means that rookie wunderkind Jose Reyes will have to move to second base in order to keep his spot in the lineup, something that neither I, or Avkash Patel of The Raindrops is terribly happy about it.
Steven at The Eddie Kranepool Society has his doubts as well. Joe at Betty's No Good is keeping an open mind.
One thing does seem clear, however: most Mets blogs just want GM Jim Duquette to sign Vlad Guerrero.
UPDATE: David Pinto thinks Matsui will be a good fit for the Mets, and thinks their infield defense will be much improved. However, he also points out that Reyes needs to do more to get on base -- something that got lost in all the positive press the rookie received last year after he was called up from Triple A Norfolk. Sure, Reyes hit over .300 for the season, but he was something of a free swinger, with only 13 walks in 274 at bats last year.
ANOTHER UPDATE: KD at Flushing Local (Mets blogs continue to blossom everywhere), has something to say to Matsui doubters:
[I] have one question for the skeptics - what would you have done differently?Danny Garcia and Victor Diaz are not viable options for 2004 and probably not 2005 either. Fernando Vina is an injured 35 year-old and Todd Walker hits about like Matsui is expected to, but is nowhere near the fielder Matsui is. I haven't heard of any decent secondbasemen available in trade for anyone the Mets could offer.
Would you have put Matsui at 2B instead? Assuming a 7-time all star and 3-time gold glove winner in Japan would have come to a last place team to change positions, it still makes more sense to me to move the 20 year old with only 69 games in the majors under his belt.
Guess we'll have to wait until February in Port St. Lucie.
Not to get your hopes up or anything, Eric, but once upon a time the Mariners brought up a young phenom shortstop. He walked only 6 times while striking out 42 times in just 142 at bats at the ripe age of 19.
He’s now cashing a $20 million annual paycheck, polishing his brand, spanking new MVP award. Nobody’s complaining about Alex Rodriguez’s plate discipline these days.
Mr. Reyes is a bit young to be harping on his plate discipline. It’ll come.
Is Mike Cameron the next Met? Cross your fingers, Eric.