GODZILLA'S FINAL WAR

Two of my least favorite Godzilla movies were Godzilla Raids Again and Godzilla: Final Wars. Ironically, though, they are two of the best in terms of a BT column title usage. I was fully prepared to use the former as a title for when Brian Cashman did the right thing and re-signed the Yankees' own Godzilla, World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, but now I am forced to use a variant on the latter title. Fittingly so, I might add, as the two titles really do convey Matsui's history here. GRA could have been the title of a column from when he resigned with the Yanks after the '05 season, and now that he's fought his "final war" in the Bronx, I unfortunately get to use the GFW variant. And there's no doubt, Godzilla has fought his final war here, as yesterday he agreed to a one year deal with one of our big AL rivals, the Angels. So enough about titles, let's get into what will be a multi-headed Ghidorah-type of column.

First on the man himself. Matsui wasn't like other free agent signings, he wasn't a mercenary, he was a player that was worshiped in his homeland, and whose greatest honor was to come play for the world's greatest franchise. Sure, he wasn't what he had been in Japan, but in the Yankee line-up he never needed to be. What he was, though, was clutch, and to Yankee fans that means everything. From the very beginning we knew we were in for a special ride. He hit a grand slam in his debut home game in the snow, and who could forget his double against Pedro in the greatest ALCS of all time and the subsequent emotional slide at home that tied the game (and ultimately got Grady Little fired). He became a natural fit for the club, and soon was thought of as brothers with Jeter, Posada, and Mo. He prided himself with being a Yankee and put up very good numbers during his initial contract. It earned a second pact, which unfortunately was marred with injuries. He broke his wrist in '06 that ended his Iron Man streak, and when he returned he did so with bad knees. It was as if the time off let his body assess all of the time he had put in and it blamed it all on his knees. He battled knee injuries for the next two years, and even this year when he had them more under control, he still missed a bit of time. That said, though, Matsui put up some good solid numbers which led to the playoffs where he did well, and then to a World Series where he was spectacular. He drove in six runs in the clinching game and earned the MVP.

Now that we know his run in pinstripes is over, I can't think of a more fitting way to leave. And honestly, there's a part of me that is happy his time here ends like this. Matsui finally achieving a World Series championship that he helped capture, getting to ride down the Canyon of Heroes, and being cheered like the true Yankee hero he had been. He has been my favorite Yankee since his first day here, the Godzilla connection holding strong, and he'll always have a special place in my heart. And make no mistake, the first tickets for the 2010 season I will be getting will be against the Angels, so I can stand up and help with the standing ovation Godzilla deserves.

That said, let's touch on the culprit here. Yankees GM Brian Cashman. I came down on him over Chien-Ming Wang on Saturday, but Matsui's way above him in the grand scheme of Yankeeland Icons. Matsui had become a true Yankee, and Cashman's refusal to think about his DH spot before answering apparently every other roster question is a clear slap in the face of the noble Japanese warrior. I understand it's a business, but sometimes there needs to be a line for players like this. If not for a player that as recently as November was one of the main catalysts for bringing this franchise its 27th World Championship, then for who?

So Cashman letting him go really gets my goat. I understand the importance that pitching and left field have, but I'm starting to believe the GM never wanted Matsui back. His staunch belief that the DH spot can be used as a weigh station for the aging players is nonsense at this point. I've said it a bunch of times already, maybe in another year or two you can start doing that, but it's just not time yet. It wasn't going to take much to bring Matsui back for one year, as witnessed by the Angels signing, he just needed to show the man some respect. When it was time for Bernie to go, I kind of agreed, as he had clearly declined, but Matsui wasn't there yet, and I valued his return over a possible Johnny Damon return. Matsui wasn't going to hurt you at DH, but Damon hurts you in left. Matsui is the better bat, too! Honestly, though, I'm glad he took the Angels' deal, as it was more a matter of pride and sticking it to Cashman. He didn't deserve to wait, and he didn't. Good for Matsui.

So what now? I'm down on Cashman? My team? No, not really. Cashman is all business, yes, and while that pisses me off sometimes, more often than not I'm on board. And once the season starts, I'm all in. This move, though, isn't even good business wise to me, so for now I'm not happy with the guy, but I'm a Yankee fan through and through, and I'll be anxiously waiting to see if there are other moves to be made.

So let's touch on that for a moment in regards to the outfield and DH spots. Besides Matsui going, another decent outfielder went to the Red Sox yesterday, and that's Mike Cameron. I'm very happy with this because I know the Yanks have had their eye on him for years, and he's never done anything for me. So good signing for the Sox. Does Damon become more imperative now for the Yankees? Perhaps, but I also hear the Yanks have engaged the agent of Jason Bay, who the Mets are hot on the trail of. I'd hate to further sink the cross-town rivals, but I'd prefer Bay over Damon. Might as well get a bit younger in left as well. Or heck, give me Matt Holliday, why not?

I just want the Yankees to show me why Matsui was let go. So let's get on with it Cashman, open the Yankee purses for the player YOU want, just do it already.