Swingin' A's » Matsui http://swinginas.com An Oakland Athletics Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Wed, 22 May 2013 05:23:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 A’s To Bring Back Matsui In 2012? http://swinginas.com/2011/09/23/as-to-bring-back-matsui-in-2012/ http://swinginas.com/2011/09/23/as-to-bring-back-matsui-in-2012/#comments Sat, 24 Sep 2011 04:52:44 +0000 Joseph Lopez http://swinginas.com/?p=3095 According to multiple sources, including the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Athletics may try to bring designated-hitter Hideki Matsui back for the 2012 season. The Chronicle also notes that there is a possibility that the A’s will open the 2012 season in Tokyo. If that should come to fruition, the A’s would face Seattle and [...]

A’s To Bring Back Matsui In 2012? - Swingin' A's - Swingin' A's - An Oakland Athletics Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

]]> According to multiple sources, including the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Athletics may try to bring designated-hitter Hideki Matsui back for the 2012 season. The Chronicle also notes that there is a possibility that the A’s will open the 2012 season in Tokyo. If that should come to fruition, the A’s would face Seattle and the enormously popular Ichiro Suzuki in Tokyo.

A Matsui-Ichiro would definitely help sell a lot of tickets.

Matsui, who turned 37 earlier this season, has seen his numbers fall a bit compared to last season, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that his best days are probably behind him.

This season, Matsui has put together a .253/.324/.383 slash line with 12 HR and 71 RBIs in 135 games this year. Last year, while with the Angels, Matsui put together a .274/.361/.459 slash line with 21 HR and 84 RBIs in 145 games. (more…)

]]> http://swinginas.com/2011/09/23/as-to-bring-back-matsui-in-2012/feed/ 0 A’s Matsui Finally Starting To Produce http://swinginas.com/2011/08/31/as-matsui-finally-starting-to-produce/ http://swinginas.com/2011/08/31/as-matsui-finally-starting-to-produce/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:48:30 +0000 Joseph Lopez http://swinginas.com/?p=2946 The Oakland Athletics made a few moves before the start of the season in an attempt to revamp an offense in major need of some power. One of the guys the team landed in the offseason was veteran Hideki Matsui, and entering the season, the Athletics had some high hopes with Matsui penciled in the [...]

A’s Matsui Finally Starting To Produce - Swingin' A's - Swingin' A's - An Oakland Athletics Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

]]> The Oakland Athletics made a few moves before the start of the season in an attempt to revamp an offense in major need of some power. One of the guys the team landed in the offseason was veteran Hideki Matsui, and entering the season, the Athletics had some high hopes with Matsui penciled in the designated hitter spot.

Oakland hasn’t had a productive DH since the days of Frank Thomas back in 2006, and while Jack Cust provided a little bit of pop for a few years after Thomas, the A’s haven’t been able to find a player as productive as Thomas was during ’06.

General manager Billy Beane, who will be portrayed by Brad Pitt in the film adaptation of Moneyball, searched for ways to upgrade an offense that struggled to score runs in 2010, and must’ve figured Matsui still had in him to be a productive everyday player.  (more…)

]]> http://swinginas.com/2011/08/31/as-matsui-finally-starting-to-produce/feed/ 0 Where’s Godzilla? http://swinginas.com/2011/06/02/wheres-godzilla/ http://swinginas.com/2011/06/02/wheres-godzilla/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 06:13:26 +0000 Joseph Lopez http://swinginas.com/?p=2148 Entering the 2011 season, many expected the Oakland A’s to do well in a weakened American League West division. But, after the season’s first two months, the A’s are four games back of the Texas Rangers at 27-30. The A’s have been inconsistent for a majority of the season, with the starting rotation keeping the [...]

Where’s Godzilla? - Swingin' A's - Swingin' A's - An Oakland Athletics Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

]]> http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2011/03/07/sp-knapp08_PH_ma_0503095274.jpg

Where's Godzilla? The A's haven't gotten much out of Hideki Matsui this season...(Photo Credit: Eric Risberg)

Entering the 2011 season, many expected the Oakland A’s to do well in a weakened American League West division. But, after the season’s first two months, the A’s are four games back of the Texas Rangers at 27-30. The A’s have been inconsistent for a majority of the season, with the starting rotation keeping the team near the .500 mark.

Offensively, the A’s have not played well enough to stay at or above the .500 mark for most of the year. The A’s rank 25th in runs scored (202), 25th in on-base percentage (.240), and 27th in slugging (.353). Oakland’s front office made a few additions this past winter—with Josh Willingham, David DeJesus, and Hideki Matsui coming to Oakland—but the team’s offense hasn’t found consistency in generating run support for a stellar starting rotation.

The A’s infield has been a major problem this season, as players like Daric Barton, Mark Ellis, and Kevin Kouzmanoff have all been disappointments thus far. Barton, who rebounded last season, is off to a terrible start, as he’s batting just .206/.320/.265 with no home runs and 13 RBIs in 52 games this season. Ellis, while a valuable defensive player for Oakland, is also having an awful 2011 campaign, as his .214 average is a far cry from his career average of .265. Ellis, 33, has been solid defensively for Oakland in the past, as has Barton, but these two infielders have failed to produce in Oakland’s lineup this season. (more…)

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