Pitarresi: Hail, Hideki, a favorite Yankee

My second favorite New York Yankee is Hideki Matsui.

Of course, my favorite Yankee is Derek Jeter, and then, after Matsui, probably Mariano Rivera and then Jorge Posada.

I’ve said before, my favorite major league player is Jim Thome of the White Sox, but Matsui is right up there. A very, very good, sometimes great lefthanded hitter.

Matsui was 28 when he made his way from the Yomiuri Giants to the Yankees in 2003, and he’s had four 100-rbi seasons and three 100-run seasons in the last six years. He won’t get to 100 in either category this year, but only because he won’t have enough at bats. He’s a very reliable, tough hitter.

Matsui cracked two home runs against the Red Sox in Fenway Park Sunday night. Pretty impressive. And I just love his all-business attitude. Really, I wish he’d crack a smile now and then, but I think he keeps a big check on his emotions because he’s in a foreign country and doesn’t want to violate any customs he might not be aware of, and because the traditions of Japanese baseball work against the celebration of individual accomplishments.

Anyway, the guy is a gem. I hope Yankee fans and baseball fans in general appreciate him.