For the past 10 or so years, who is the best left fielder the Yankees have had? I'll help you. It wasn't Chad Curtis, it wasn't Shane Spencer, it wasn't Ricky Ledee, and it wasn't Chuck Knoublach, just naming a very few. The answer? Hands down, Hideki Matsui. I really wish the New York papers would stop bashing Hideki Matsui, because he is having an unbelievable year in his first Major League season. So what if he hasn't shown the power that he did in Japan, which could come with time in the big leagues, and if it doesn't that's fine also. I'll take 20 home runs, a .315 batting average, and 120 RBI's ANYDAY, and I can tell you that ALL teams would, too. Let's also not forget, we've got a second baseman who can hit 40 plus HR's, which to say the least, most teams don't have. It's not all about the offensive production either. Matsui can play left field, and with the injury to Bernie Williams, we were able to see Godzilla also play center field with ease. Matsui gets a better jump on the ball than any outfielder I have ever seen, and I'm not the only one who has said that. He also gets rid of the ball on a hit or a fly ball very quickly. He has time and time again held runners from taking an extra base, without even having a great throwing arm. So in conclusion, shut up New York newspapers and really take a look at Hideki Matsui - the guy can play two outfield positions, hit well over .300, hit 20 home runs, and on top of all that, drive in 120 men!! I don't remember any other Yankee left fielder doing that in the past ten years.
