Hideki Matsui

Once teammates, and now rivals in a different country, Hideki Matsui and Koji Uehara have a ton of similarities:

• Both are 34 years old and were born in Japan.
• Both players were first round picks of the Yomiuri Giants.
• Both players showed superb skills during their playing days in Japan.
• Both players were also friends off the field.

But now the biggest difference is that one is in pinstripes and the other is an Oriole.

The New York Yankees came into 2009 with more depth on offense than any year since Darryl Strawberry came off the bench.

With the acquisition of Nick Swisher and the emergence of Brett Gardner in center field, head coach Joe Girardi had countless ways to mix and match a powerful offensive attack.

The signing of Mark Teixeira, however, was the first spark in an eventual flame out of Girardi’s plans.

It is impossible to question the signing of a dynamite offensive leader in his prime who also possesses top-notch defensive prowess.

From the AP:

According to a report published by the AP, Hideki Matsui is not likely to play in the outfield at all at least until interleague play in June, when the Yankees will be without a DH for the first time.