Matsui begins rehab
The moment Pete White stepped out of his car and crossed the street toward Mercer County Waterfront Park on Wednesday afternoon in Trenton, N.J., groups of Japanese photographers and reporters rushed toward him, microphones extended, asking questions he only partly understood.
They had spotted the Japanese baseball jersey with No. 55 on the back, and knew White, a fan of the Trenton Thunder, was there for the same reason they were: New York Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui, one of the biggest baseball stars from Japan, was to make a rehab start with the minor league Thunder as he works his way back from the broken wrist he injured in May.
In less than 30 minutes, White was interviewed by at least 12 Japanese camera crews, all chronicling Matsui’s eventual return to the big leagues.
“It’s just great to have a player like him play here,” White said. “You look at how popular he is all over the world. He’s like his own brand. He’s like a rock star.”
The Thunder, the Yankees’ Double-A Eastern League affiliate, issued 90 media credentials for the playoff game against the Portland Sea Dogs. Sixty went to Japanese journalists.
Matsui, hoping to regain his batting stroke for the playoffs, went 1 for 3 with an RBI single and a walk as the designated hitter batting clean-up as the Thunder defeated the Sea Dogs 3-1. He played with his left wrist heavily taped.
“I was hitting the ball well,” he said through a translator after batting practice. “I think I’ll be fine out there.”
Around the horn
St. Louis left-hander Mark Mulder will undergo arthroscopic surgery next week to repair his rotator cuff after getting a second opinion that concurred with the team’s diagnosis. … The Detroit Tigers activated left-hander Mike Maroth, more than three months after his last start. … Cincinnati closer Eddie Guardado will have ligament-replacement surgery on his left elbow, an operation that usually sidelines pitchers for at least a year. … White Sox closer Bobby Jenks stayed in Chicago as a precautionary measure because of a bothersome right hip, but should be able to pitch today. … Minnesota Twins commentator Bert Blyleven was suspended for an additional three telecasts for using two profanities during a live pregame segment he thought was being taped.