Hideki Matsui, OF, New York Yankees

April 11, 2007 @ 14:27:32

By KFFL Staff and Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Nicholas Minnix

New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, April 8.

Matsui had strained his left hamstring in the previous day's game, which was played in cold-weather conditions. An MRI exam revealed a small amount of blood near the injury. The team believes the injury will take about 15 days to heal properly, which initially tested the team's outfield depth; outfielder Johnny Damon (calf) suffered a calf injury early in the season and was limited to late-innings appearances until recently. If the injury flares up, the Yankees could be down to one starting outfielder.

The Yankees have been beaten up a fair amount already in their outfield this young season. Prior to Damon's calf injury, right fielder Bobby Abreu strained an oblique during spring training but has since recovered from the injury.

From 2003-05, Matsui never missed a game. In fact, he has worked overtime, logging 163 games played in 2003. The 2006 season wasn't so kind. Sliding to catch a fly ball, Matsui caught his glove in the turf and fractured his wrist, an injury that cost him all but 51 games of the season.

Now, after just four games, a stint on the disabled list may have some wondering if the soon-to-be 33-year-old Matsui is starting to show a decline in durability.

Table: Hideki Matsui - Career Statistics (2003-07)

Year	TEAM	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG
2003	NYY	163	623	82	179	16	106	63	86	2	.287
2004	NYY	162	584	109	174	31	108	88	103	3	.298
2005	NYY	162	629	108	192	23	116	63	78	2	.305
2006	NYY	51	172	32	52	8	29	27	23	1	.302
2007	NYY	4	12	3	3	0	3	2	2	0	.250
Total	--	542	2,020	334	600	78	362	243	292	8	.297

Matsui had been an iron man for most of his career, playing in 1,768 consecutive games with the Yomiuri Giants (Japanese League) and Yankees before missing a big chunk of the 2006 season. The veteran was hitting .250 (3-for-12) with three RBI in four games at the time of his current injury.

The Replacements

Infielder Miguel Cairo filled in for Matsui in left field during the April 7 game, marking just his fifth appearance in the outfield since 2003. The team used both Cairo and outfielder Melky Cabrera in left field in the April 8 game.

Since, Cabrera started in left field April 9, against the Minnesota Twins, batting 0-for-4 on the day. Cairo hasn't played since April 8. April 10, Cabrera hit 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI against the Twins.

The Yankees have recalled outfielder Kevin Thompson from Triple-A Scranton to fill the empty roster spot. Thompson played in his first game of the season April 10 and recorded his first hit of 2007 during his only at-bat.

In case the question is being asked, longtime Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams will not be returning to the team, according to general manager Brian Cashman.

Fantasy Outlook

Matsui owners should place Matsui on their team's disabled list, if available, and look to acquire a temporary replacement. Neither Cairo nor Thompson has any notable fantasy value.

Cairo has never been a great fantasy option to begin with and is not seeing playing time, while Thompson has produced sporadic results over seven minor league seasons and part of one major league season. Other potential pickups include New York Mets outfielder Shawn Green and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Corey Hart.

After a poor spring, Green has begun 2007 with a bang, going 10-for-27 with four RBI. He could be a solid short-term option because he plays in a stacked lineup, much like Matsui does.

Hart, 25, has started slow (4-for-20, one home run and one steal), but he has more upside. The Brewers' offense in general has been a bit slow, but when it picks up, Hart should be in the middle of it.

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Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL

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