Retiring Matsui showered with praise

For whatever reason, most likely aging, Matsui lost his plate discipline. Too many whiffs, not enough contact.

Matsui’s father Masao, 70, said his son had “nothing to regret as a baseball player with such good results.”

Does he not regret playing this year? He did not know when to hang 'em up.

I will remember his 2009 WS performance.

"sugoi" fever in Japan, every sport player is "great" here.

@some14some

There hundreds of baseball players here in Japan. Not everyone is praised. Many players retire unannounced. What's your problem with him anyways ?

You leave negative comments on every single Matsui related article. You don't like the guy ? Fine, don't read articles related to him, that simple

Please don't feel that you have to leave comments on every article you read, thanks

@massa, this season was his 10th season which, IIRC, means that he will be receiving the highest MLB pension he could receive. So I think he retires at just the right time. ;)

Retiring at 38, now thats a special kind of class royalty. I appreciate this great Godzilla guy; hope he finds a happy 2nd career.

Such a great athlete with such a great personality. Not so often that you find both coming from one individual. Japan should be proud of this guy and appreciate the amount of praise he is getting from the US media, NY media in particular following his announcement not to mention the fans there. What a great ambassador he turned out to be.

some14some has some kind of Japanese sports complex. 2009 World Series MVP for the New York Yankeees who were filled with the games greats - Rivera, Jeter, A-Rod, Damon, CC Sabathia, Pettite, AJ Burnett, Cano, Posada. Pretty great to me.

A fine man and a fine sportsman, a credit to his family, his upbringing and his own character. He will be missed.

I remember when Masui apologized for getting injured (separated wrist) and causing problems and even offered to repay some of the money from his contact. Just a classy person/athlete. You will be missed Godzilla!

Matsui batted .147 last year. Ouch! Played well past his prime.

When will the other overrated Japanese player, Ichiro, hang 'em up? Who wants to bet Ichiro doesn't hit over .270 this year? I actually think he'll be down around .250 since he gets so few infield hits at this stage of his career.

For every Matsui or Ichiro, there are about 20 Irabus, Tagawas or Nishiokas.

I wouldn't want either now.

Massa, Ichiro batted .322 with the Yankees last year. Playing for a team chasing after the pennant is always a motivating factor. Playing for a perennial cellar-dweller is not.

This is to inform you that your message on JapanToday.com has been removed for the following reason: Off Topic "some14some has some kind of Japanese sports complex. 2009 World Series MVP for the New York Yankeees who were filled with the games greats - Rivera, Jeter, A-Rod, Damon, CC Sabathia, Pettite, AJ Burnett, Cano, Posada. Pretty great to me." JapanToday.com Moderator Team

Now explain to me exactly which part of my message was off topic? Or do you not bother to read the posts but just delete certain users? As anyone can see there is not one thing in my post that is off topic. You just have a black book of certain posters that you dont want posting on your site.

Great player - even as a non-baseball tragic I can respect that. Played 5 years too long in my opinion - but who wouldn't with the money on offer!? He should defo play a few years now in Japan to pay for his retirement fund - hopefully for the local Tohoku Rakuten mob!

Matsui-san's knees are gone, so even if he wanted to play a little longer back home in Japan he would have to battle the pain in his legs. Like Harimoto-san, Oh-san, Nagashima-san and others, when the legs go, that's it.

Pete Rose once said that when the timing goes, that's it. Explaining that timing, he said something like when the eyes can no longer keep up with the wrists, the timing is gone ... and then down, down goes the batting average. At that point, time to hang up the spikes.

Ichiro said last season he is beginning to have eye problems concerning his timing, so his timing might go before his legs. For a baseball player, he's an old man at 39 years of age. Two more years of playing will test his body more than ever.

Back to Matsui ... he has said he wants to "study" baseball some more in the U.S. ... so some day look for him to come back to baseball as a coach ... and then a manager. And if he does manage ... he might make a good replacement for Hara-san at the helm of the Giants.

332 homeruns in ten years in NPB. 175 home runs in ten years in MLB. With a great World Series and a few great years. A class act, a pro.

He should have come to the majors five years sooner...

He should have come to the majors five years sooner...

then he would have retired 5 years earlier (!)