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| Kazuo Matsui won't start for the Astros on Tuesday against the Cardinals. Jeff Keppinger will play second base and hit seventh in the order. |
Our View: Kaz isn't a power hitter, but he is a decent offensive catalyst for the team's lineup. He is only hitting .251 this season, but he has 31 walks and 19 stolen bases. He isn't a great fantasy player, but 19 stolen bases are a decent number.
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| Kazuo Matsui was the Astros best offensive player on Tuesday. He went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and a stolen base in a 5-4 loss to the Reds. |
Our View: The home run was Matsui's first since August 3rd, and just his sixth on the season. Still, he's only one away from his career high season total.
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| Kazuo Matsui went 1-for-5 with a single and two RBI in tonight's 5-4 win over the Phillies at Minute Maid Park. |
Our View: Matsui has a hit in four straight games, which is encouraging since he held a poor .202 batting average in August.
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| Kaz Matsui went 3-for-3 on Wednesday, but like ever other Astro, failed to drive in a run, as Houston got whitewashed 12-0 in Chicago. |
Our View: Amazingly, it was Matsui's first three hit game since April 28. In case you didn't already notice, he's not an option outside of NL-only leagues.
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| According to the Houston Chronicle, Kazuo Matsui is feeling better after leaving Tuesday's game with a contusion on his right knee. |
Our View: Matsui was back in the starting lineup for the 'Stros on Wednesday and had this to say, "It's sore a little bit, but it should be fine, I think I had luck because it was inside. It wasn't in the center of the knee."
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| Kazuo Matsui left Houston's win over St. Louis on Tuesday in the seventh inning with a right knee contusion, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Matsui went down for several minutes in the fifth inning after fouling a ball off the knee. He is considered day-to-day.
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| Kazuo Matsui sat out Sunday with a sore left hamstring, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: Matsui has dealt with various injuries this season, and is hitting just .255 with three home runs. He doesn't hold much value outside of NL-only leagues.
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| Kazuo Matsui was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in the Astros' 5-0 win over the Nationals on Sunday. |
Our View: Matsui's homer was just his third of the season, and the highly touted Japanese import is having yet another unimpressive season. His .252-3-21 line isn't wowing anyone.
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| Kazuo Matsui went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and his second home run of the season on Saturday. |
Our View: It was Matsui's first real good game since coming of the DL in June 16, though he's always been a viable fantasy second baseman when healthy, so feel free to pick him up if you need help at the position.
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| The Miami Herald is reporting that the Astros have activated infielder Kazuo Matsui from the 15-day DL. Matsui is expected to be with the team for their interleague matchup with the Rangers on Tuesday night. No corresponding move has yet been announced. |
Our View: Matsui was expected to be ready to go tonight, so this is not a big surprise. No word yet on whether or not he is in the lineup, but chances are he will be. NL-only owners should feel free to activate Matsui as soon as you need him, but it might be best to give him a few days if you can.
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| Second baseman Kazuo Matsui (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Wednesday. He will stay there through Saturday, the AP reports. |
Our View: If all goes well, Matsui will rejoin the Astros next Tuesday. NL-only fantasy owners can tentatively plan to use him next week but be sure to check for updates.
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| Kazuo Matsui is progressing in his recovery from a strained right hamstring, and he displayed good movement while fielding ground balls before Saturday's game, according to the Houston Chronicle. Skipper Cecil Cooper said, "He looks like he is moving freely and it looks like things are coming along." |
Our View: He could come off the DL as early as Wednesday, but Cooper said he will likely give him another day or two. The club has options at second base, and do not need to rush him back before he is 100 percent. Edwin Maysonet has been handling the bulk of the workload at second while Matsui is out.
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| The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Kazuo Matsui resumed baseball activities on Thursday. Matsui has been on the disabled list since May 30 with a strained right hamstring. |
Our View: Matsui hopes to be able to return to the team when he is eligible to come off the DL, so the fact that he has begun baseball activities is a good sign. He has not been very good this season, and any Matsui owners should probably find another option at this point. He is not worth holding on to unless you have a vacant DL spot on your roster.
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| The AP reports that the Astros placed Kazuo Matsui on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring following Friday night's win over the Pirates. Matt Kata was called up from Triple-A. |
Our View: Edwin Maysonet figures to play second as long as Matsui is out. The replacement went 4-for-4 with a home run on Friday, while Matsui has struggled to a .219 average this season. Matsui is probably not worth holding onto except in very deep formats on teams with an open DL spot.
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| Kazuo Matsui was out of the lineup for the second straight game Wednesday while dealing with a strained right hamstring, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: The Astros are off today, and there is belief that Matsui could draw back into the lineup as early as Friday against the Pirates. Matsui has a very poor track record with durability, as he is yet to play more than 114 games in a season.
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| According to MLBlogs.com, Kazuo Matsui is out of Tuesday's lineup with tightness in his hamstring. |
Our View: Depending on the health of Geoff Blum, who is also dealing with a hamstring injury, Matsui may be out of the lineup on Wednesday as well.
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| Kazuo Matsui sat out Tuesday's game against Washington to rest, according to the Houston Chronicle. Skipper Cecil Cooper said, "Kaz is at that normal day off. I thought it would be a good day to do it."
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Our View: Matsui dealt with a back ailment earlier this season, and was held out by Cooper in a bid to keep him healthy. Matsui should be back in action for tonight's game against the Cubs.
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| Kazuo Matsui had a nice day at the plate on Tuesday, going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI and runs scored in the Astros 8-3 win over the Reds. He stole two bases in the game as well. |
Our View: Matsui is still only hitting .254 on the season and isn't much of a fantasy option at second base this season. His four steals are nice, but the lack of production elsewhere hurts his value.
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| Kazuo Matsui went 1-for-2 with two walks, two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base as the Astros beat the Dodgers 8-5 on Tuesday. |
Our View: Matsui had missed a number of games with s balky hamstring, but he is back at the top of the order and apparently was given the green light tonight. It will be interesting to see how Jeff Keppinger's hot bat affects the other infielder's playing time.
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| Manager Cecil Cooper expects Kazuo Matsui to be back in the Astros' lineup Monday against the Reds, according to MLB.com. Matsui has been out of action for a week with a sore back. |
Our View: Matsui hasn't done much so far in 2009, be he is a sparkplug who can get on base, steal a few, and score some runs when healthy. His fantasy value is limited to NL-only or very deep mixed leagues as a backup.
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| Kazuo Matsui, who is nursing a sore back, took batting practice Friday, according to the Houston Chronicle. He said, "It went OK. I want to run a little bit, but there was no discomfort."
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Our View: There is a chance that Matsui could return to the diamond tonight against the Reds. We will keep you posted on his status.
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| Kazuo Matsui is still dealing with a sore back and is not expected to return to the diamond until at least Saturday, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: He is getting better each day, but the club wants to make sure he is healthy before penciling him back into the lineup. He missed 19 games with an irritated disk in his back last season, and won't be rushed back into action.
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| Kazuo Matsui is likely to miss Wednesday's game at Pittsburgh due to his stiff back, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: Matsui missed 19 games with an irritated disk in his back last season, and the club is going to be cautious with his latest ailment. He should be held out of fantasy lineups until further notice.
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| Kazuo Matsui exited Monday's game in the seventh inning with a stiff back, according to the Houston Chronicle. Manager Cecil Cooper stated, "He said his back started to stiffen up on him and he had problems reaching down, and that is not a good thing for us. Hopefully that is all it is, that it got stiff."
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Our View: Cooper sounds a bit concerned, namely since Matsui missed 19 games in 2008 with an irritated disk in his back. Stay tuned for further updates on his status.
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| Kazuo Matsui continued a rough spring with an 0-for-4 outing against the Yankees on Saturday. He is now just 2-for-30 this spring. |
Our View: Matsui does not have much competition for the middle infield job, so the poor spring should not factor substantially into his role in 2009. Regardless, much of his fantasy value is derived from his batting average and if it takes a hit, he will be little more than a reserve in 2008. He did steal 20 bases last season, which will be enough to have him selected in most NL-only leagues.
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| Kazuo Matsui had another woeful day at the plate Wednesday as his anemic spring training continues. After an 0-for-4 day, his spring average now stands at a paltry .045. |
Our View: Not a good performance on the day Matsui was named the Astros leadoff hitter. He's a risky fantasy pick regardless, but he's going to disappear altogether if he doesn't pick it up this spring.
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| Kazuo Matsui will likely bat leadoff for the Astros if he is healthy, according to the Houston Chronicle. Skipper Cecil Cooper said, "Matsui can really jump-start us, and as it stands right now he is the guy at the top. We look for him to set the tone. He is a good offensive player when he has got his legs under him."
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Our View: Michael Bourn has more speed than Matsui, but Bourn only batted .212 in the leadoff spot last season, while Matsui hit .295 with a .354 OBP. Matsui will remain a risky fantasy option going by his track record with durability, but he is still worth a look as he could generate solid numbers while hitting ahead of Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee.
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| Team GM Ed Wade indicated that there is a chance Kazuo Matsui could have surgery in the off-season to repair a disc in his lower back, according to the Houston Chronicle.
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Our View: Matsui was limited to only 96 games in 2008 due to injuries. He has never played more than 114 games in a season and will turn 33 on October 23.
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| Kazuo Matsui was three-for-three on Thursday night and drove in three runs in the Astros' 8-6 win. |
Our View: Matsui has only driven in 33 runs this year in 93 games.
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| Kazuo Matsui singled and hit his sixth homer of the year in the Astros' loss to Cincinnati Tuesday. |
Our View: Matsui has been good when able to play, but it isn't really a surprise that he's managed to participate in just 91 games this season.
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| Kazuo Matsui was given a day off Sunday to rest his back, according to the Houston Chronicle. He played in five straight games after missing more than a month with an irritated disc in his back, and manager Cecil Cooper said, "He’ll get two days, and hopefully he can go the rest of the time or at least four or five more days. This is something that will probably happen with him in the future."
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Our View: Matsui is riding a four-game hitting streak, with three knocks in his last game (at Pittsburgh). He should be considered for lineups in NL-only leagues for the closing week of the season.
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| Kazuo Matsui went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Pirates. All three of his hits were singles. Geoff Blum's double was the Astros' only extra base hit of the night. |
Our View: Matsui has bounced back nicely from the irritated disc in his back, and should be considered for NL-only leagues heading into the final week of the season. He is riding a four-game hitting streak, with three runs scored over the span.
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| Kazuo Matsui was in the starting lineup for the second straight day Thursday, but is not expected to play a full game for at least a few more days while still recovering from an irritated disc in his lower back, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: The team, namely manager Cecil Cooper, does not believe he can handle a full nine innings yet. He is still worth using in NL-only leagues, as he is 2-for-7 with one run scored over his last two games.
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| Kazuo Matsui returned to the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time since August 12, according to the Houston Chronicle. He had been dealing with an irritated disc in his lower back. |
Our View: He believes he is at 80 percent, and went 1-for-3 against Florida. Matsui was performing well in August prior to going down, as he registered multiple hits in four of 12 games. He is worth consideration for NL-only leagues again.
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| Kazuo Matsui, out since August 13th (irritated disk in his lower back), received an injection on Wednesday, according to the Astros Official Website. There was no timetable given for his return, but the team is fairly certain it will be soon. |
Our View: Matsui was hot when he was shut down hitting .313 over his last 28 games before the injury. At this point it would be tough to expect him to flash the wheels often even when activated, so it's best to count on someone else the rest of the way.
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| The Houston Chronicle reports Matsui is unlikely to be available until Monday due to an irritated disk in his back that has kept him out since mid-August. |
Our View: It is at least a good sign that we know when he will return. Matsui owners should look into activating him this week.
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| Kazuo Matsui was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday. The second baseman was rehabbing a back injury.
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Our View: Mark Loretta will continue to start at second base, but Matsui will be available for spot duty if needed.
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| Kazuo Matsui participated in pre-game drills Monday, including taking batting practice on the field, but skipper Cecil Cooper said his ailing back will keep him out until at least the weekend series in Colorado, according to the Houston Chronicle. Cooper said, "He’s not as good as Saturday. We’re still going to play it day-by-day, but hopefully by the weekend or late in the week. He’s probably out for this series."
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Our View: Matsui has a shot to return by the end of the week, but should be left out of fantasy lineups. His speed could be compromised when he comes back, which is where he holds most of his fantasy value with 19 stolen bases.
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| Kazuo Matsui hit some soft toss in the batting cage with hitting coach Sean Berry on Wednesday and did some side-to-side agility drills, according to the Houston Chronicle. His back ailment is getting better, but he still isn’t expected to be activated from the DL until Monday in Chicago at the earliest. Matsui said, "That’s the plan to be able to play on Monday. The only concern is my speed and how much I’ll be able to run."
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Our View: It looks like he should be back at some point next week, but his speed could be compromised, which is where he holds most of his fantasy value with 19 steals.
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| Kazuo Matsui (irritated disc) would be eligible to be activated from the DL on Thursday, according to the Houston Chronicle. But Manager Cecil Cooper isn't sure if he will activate him until rosters expand Monday. Cooper said, "Thursday’s his day, but I kind of doubt it. Probably Monday, if I had to pick a day."
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Our View: Fantasy owners in NL-only leagues should pencil him back into the lineup for next week. He is hitting .285 with 49 runs scored and 19 stolen bases over 85 games.
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| The Astros have placed second baseman Kazuo Matsui on the 15-day DL due to an irritated disc in his back, the Sports Network reports. |
Our View: The Astros have many of options at second, beginning with Mark Loretta and David Newhan. Those two could platoon while Matsui is out.
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| There is a chance that Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui will be placed on the disabled list if the soreness in his back does not improve soon, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: Matsui has missed three straight games, and should his pain persist over the weekend, he'd likely be put on the DL. David Newhan has started in Matsui's place twice, but has no fantasy value.
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| Kazuo Matsui was out of the Astros' lineup for his second straight game Thursday due to a sore lower back, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: An MRI revealed no structural damage, and manager Cecil Cooper expects him to play as early as today. Cooper noted that he planned on giving Matsui the day off Thursday even before he got hurt.
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| Kazuo Matsui was out of the starting lineup Wednesday due to a stiff back, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: Matsui likely won’t return to the Astros' lineup until Friday against the Diamondbacks, at the earliest.
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| Kazuo Matsui is still out due to a sore back, and it is unknown if he will be ready to play this weekend during the Astros series versus Arizona, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Matsui is a decent fantasy option due to his stolen base potential, so if you have him in your lineup, be sure to monitor his situation. He has had a sore back from time to time throughout his career, so it's not likely a serious injury.
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| Kazuo Matsui had to leave tonight's game against the Giants due to a sore back, according to Astros.com. Matsui exited the game after the second inning. |
Our View: No official word yet on how long Matsui will be out, though the injury is not thought to be very serious.
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| Kazuo Matsui went 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and stolen base to help the Astros pummel the Reds 13-4. |
Our View: Matsui is hitting .333 in August, and surprisingly, he has three home runs in the month as well. He will give you a decent average and stolen base total, making him a good play in all fantasy leagues.
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| Kazuo Matsui went 2-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Mets. He hit a triple and a solo home run. |
Our View: Matsui is hot as he homered in back-to-back games, and extended his hitting streak to nine games. He is worth starting in NL-only leagues for the upcoming fantasy week.
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| Kazuo Matsui had a hit, knocked in a run, and scored three times for the Astros. Matsui also stole his 17th base while walking three times. |
Our View: Matsui was in the leadoff spot today with Michael Bourn hitting second (he had two hits and stole a run). Bourn still isn't suited to hit at the top of the order at this time, but Matsui is a fine top of the order replacement for the Astros.
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| Kazuo Matsui was activated from the 15-day disabled list and was back in the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Pirates. Pitcher Chad Reineke was optioned to triple-A Round Rock to make room on the 25-man roster for Matsui. The Astros second baseman is hitting second in the batting order.
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Our View: Matsui has been out since June 22 because of a strained right hamstring.
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| Kazuo Matsui has recovered from his strained right hamstring, and is expected to be activated from the DL today, according to the Houston Chronicle. He has missed 30 games this year due to injuries. Manager Cecil Cooper said he would likely go back down to 12 pitchers today.
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Our View: Matsui will be a welcome addition back to NL-only and larger mixed-leagues, as he was hitting .271 with 15 stolen bases and 31 runs scored over 57 games prior to landing on the DL.
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| Kazuo Matsui did some on-field work prior to Friday's game and remains on track to come off the DL on July 8, the Houston Chronicle reports. He is out due to a strained right hamstring and will not go on a minor league rehab assignment. |
Our View: Hopefully the oft-injured Matsui can stick around for a while after he returns. He has performed decently for fantasy teams when healthy this year.
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| The Houston Chronicle reports that Kazuo Matsui took batting practice and fielded ground balls on Tuesday. He is set to return from the DL when he is eligible on July 8th. |
Our View: Matsui has 15 stolen bases this season and that makes him worth consideration in fantasy circles. Kaz is very streaky. In 2007, he hit .309 and .354 during June and August but only .219 and .224 in July and September.
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| The Astros placed Kazuo Matsui on the DL Tuesday with a strained right hamstring, according to the Houston Chronicle. Matsui was injured in Sunday's win over Tampa. "I feel bad for my team," Matsui said through an interpreter. "Right now all I'm thinking about is coming back as soon as possible." David Newhan was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to replace him on the roster. |
Our View: Matsui owners will take a hit in the stolen base department, but not really anywhere else. Mark Loretta will be the team's primary second baseman while Kaz is out.
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| Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui has left today's game against Tampa Bay with a strained right hamstring, according to the Houston Chronicle. |
Our View: Matsui played six innings today and went 2-for-3. He grounded out to shortstop in his final at-bat in the sixth inning, and Mark Loretta took over at second base. The team believes the injury is not serious and are tentatively listing Matsui as day-to-day.
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| Both teams brought hot bats to the field tonight as the Orioles outlasted the Astros, 6-5. Houston was led by second baseman Kazuo Matsui , going 1-for-4 at the dish with his 11th double of the season to total three RBIs on the night. |
Our View: Matsui was hitting .341 through June coming in but had driven just one run home.
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| Houston put 10 hits on the Pirates this evening and needed each and every one of them pulling the 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Second baseman Kazuo Matsui led the way, going 4-for-4 (all singles) with two runs scored. |
Our View: Matsui was caught stealing for the third time this season and his numbers have slipped a bit coming into tonight, hitting just .259 through the month of May. This may give the jolt needed to get back on track.
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| Kazuo Matsui will get the day off on Sunday, the Houston Chronicle reports. Mark Loretta will start in his place. |
Our View: FYI for fantasy owners in daily transaction leagues. Matsui is not injured.
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| Kazuo Matsui returned to the Astros' lineup on Wednesday, according to the Houston Chronicle. He collided with outfielder Hunter Pence while chasing a bloop single hit by the Giants' Bengie Molina. Matsui took a blow to his left knee and slid into Pence's right shin. Matsui commented that he is fine. |
Our View: This is good news for the Astros, as Matsui racked up seven doubles over 24 games, with 21 runs scored and seven stolen bases. He has also drawn 13 walks.
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| The box score from Houston's 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals shows 2B Kazuo Matsui failed to garner a single hit, but that doesn't mean he wasn't a force. Matsui went 0-for-2 at the plate, but he garnered three walks and swiped two bags |
Our View: That brings Matsui to six stolen bases on the season.
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| Kazuo Matsui has moved into the leadoff spot in the Astros' lineup, due to Michael Bourn's 4-for-30 slump, according to the Houston Chronicle. Manager Cecil Cooper stated, "I like Matsui's game, period. He makes the pitcher work. He's not one of those one-, two-pitch out guys. If you take all his at-bats and total them out, he makes the guys throw strikes. We saw that when we played against him last year. At that spot, he can still do the same things that Michael Bourn does. He can steal a base. He's a veteran, and this is Michael's first time going through a slump. He's sometimes not sure of what he wants to do and how he wants to do it, and this takes the pressure off and lets him just hit and be himself."
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Our View: Matsui should hold the leadoff spot just until Bourn breaks out of his slump and gets on track. Bourn has a lot more speed, evidenced by his 13 steals over 23 games.
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| The Houston Astros won their third consecutive game for the first time this season, putting the Padres to bed 7-11 with several players at the top of the order getting the job done. 2B Kazuo Matsui hit 2-for-5 at the plate with is second stolen base of the year, his first double of the season, and two RBIs posted to set a strong pace as the Astros' leadoff hitter. |
Our View: It was Matsui's two-run single in the 8th inning that put his team in the lead and eventually the win.
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| Kazuo Matsui (anal fissure) will make his debut with the Astros on Friday night, this according to the Houston Chronicle. In order to make room on the roster the team designated Humberto Quintero for assigment, so they have 10 days to trade him, give him his release of place him on waivers. |
Our View: Matsui will look to provide speed and the ability to get on base on the top of the order to allow the team's big boppers the opportunity to produce a bushel of runs.
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| Kazuo Matsui will return to the starting lineup this weekend, this according to Rototimes sources. Houston skipper Cecil Cooper told sources that the Astros' second baseman will start Friday and Saturday against his old mates, the Roks. |
Our View: Kaz is coming off a .288 season where he stole 32 bases. He's a solid pickup and potential contributor in the speed category for managers in shallow leagues. The former Met and Rok shouldn't be available otherwise.
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| Kazuo Matsui is closing in on a return to the Astros from his anal fissure issue, this according to MLB.com. Matsui is targeting a possible return this weekend as he returned to playing on Tuesday night. "We'll see him in Houston on Friday," manager Cecil Cooper said. "If everything is a go on Friday, he'll play. He could also be a go on Saturday. It's about time for him to tee it up." |
Our View: Matusi will bring speed and the ability to get on base to the top of the Astros lineup and should be in a great spot to score a bunch of runs with some pretty big bats in the middle of that lineup.
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| Houston 2B Kazuo Matsui will not be able to join his team on the field of play until next Friday, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: GM Ed Wade spoke with reporters on Sunday morning and noted Matsui, listed on the team’s disabled list since spring training as he recovers from surgery to correct an anal fissure, was unable to complete his scheduled four-game rehab assignment and thus is not expected back for at least two more weeks. The Astros had hoped to have their second bagger back on the field for the start of a three-game set at Philadelphia on Tuesday, but now Matsui will be aiming his efforts towards stints with Triple-A Round Rock until he can round into form.
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| Kazuo Matsui worked out with the Astros on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park, after going 1-for-3 with a double in the first game of his rehab assignment on Tuesday at Double-A Corpus Christi, according to the Houston Chronicle. He played seven innings and commented that he felt good, and added, "It's been a while. I hadn't played in a game in a month and I got a little bit tired. Before I played, I knew that." Matsui will rejoin the Hooks on Thursday for a three-game series, and could potentially be activated as early as Sunday's series finale against the Marlins. Mark Loretta will continue to man second base until he returns. |
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| Kazuo Matsui is going to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday and could possibly return by Sunday, according to MLB.com. Astros GM Ed Wade stated, "Possibly by the Sunday game, he could be back. If not, if everything moves in a straight line, figure Matsui could be back at Philadelphia on Tuesday. We'll play it by ear." Mark Loretta is currently filling in at second base until he can return.
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| Kazuo Matsui, who is on the disabled list after problems with an anal fissure, is scheduled to go on a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi starting Tuesday. The second baseman is already eligible to return, and will do so once he successfully completes his rehab. |
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| Kazuo Matsui will be checked out on Monday and could begin a rehab assignment at Double-A as soon as Tuesday, MLB.com reports. He is aiming to return on April 15. Matsui had surgery to repair an anal fissure this spring. |
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| Kazuo Matsui took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since undergoing anal fissure surgery, according to MLB.com. "I've been making good progress," he said. "It's not going to be that long. Hopefully, as soon as possible." Matsui will likely play in a few rehab games before being cleared to rejoin the Astros, which could come as soon as April 15 when the team travels to Philadelphia. This is good to hear, since last week we heard Matsui's recovery was going slower than expected. |
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| Kazuo Matsui has been recovering more slowly than expected and could be out until April 15, the Houston Chronicle reports. Under that timeline, he would miss 13 games. Matsui underwent surgery on March 17 to repair an anal fissure. Mark Loretta will likely start while Matsui is out. |
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| Kazuo Matsui has been released from the hospital on Wednesday, according to the Houston Chronicle. Matsui underwent surgery Monday to repair an anal fissure, and will remain in Houston to be re-evaluated on Monday. He will begin the season on the DL, and could be cleared for light exercises next week.
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| It appears Kazuo Matsui will need more time to rest his bum than first expected, according to MLB.com. Following the always-enticing anal fissure surgery, recovery time was initially estimated to be two weeks. However, the Astros increased the timetable to two-to-three weeks, after which time Matsui will resume working out to prepare for the season. Withholding Matsui from the Opening Day 25-man roster opens a spot for another player fighting for a job in the show, such as infielder David Newhan or catcher Humberto Quintero, who would have to pass through waivers before the Astros could send him to the Minor Leagues. Tomas Perez is also an option. |
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| Kazuo Matsui decided to go ahead and have anal fissure surgery on Monday, according to MLB.com. "We won't put him on [the DL] right away, but from the report from the doctors, it's a foregone conclusion he'll start the year on the DL," general manager Ed Wade said. He's expected to require 2-3 weeks to recover from the procedure, so he'll almost certainly miss the begining of the season. |
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| The Astros announced Friday that Kazuo Matsui would undergo anal fissure surgery on Monday, but he sought a second opinion Saturday and is undecided about the procedure at this point, according to the Houston Chronicle. "I'm still thinking about whether to the operation or not," Matsui said through an interpreter. "I haven't decided yet." Part of the holdup might be that he'd miss a couple of weeks while recovering, which means he'd probably miss the season opener. |
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| Kazuo Matsui had hoped to return to action this weekend but instead will undergo surgery Monday to repair an anal fissure, according to the Houston Chronicle. "His understanding, and there's no reason for us to doubt it, is it would be a week of inactivity and a week to get ready," GM Ed Wade said. "Right now, we're hopeful that that's the case." An anal fissure is torn skin near the anus, which obviously is painful. Matsui will be cutting it close for being ready for opening day, but it sounds like he shouldn't miss much time if he's not ready then. |
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| Kazuo Matsui said he's feeling better and is aiming to return to game action this weekend, according to the Houston Chronicle. Matsui has been sidelined due to an anal fissure. |
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| Kazuo Matsui will likely be sidelined for another 4-5 days due to an "anal fissure", according to a report on MLB.com. The Astros are counting on Matsui to a spark at the top of the order so they want to make sure he is 100% healthy by the time that game action roles around. |
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| Kazuo Matsui will meet with a specialist concerning his ongoing problem with hemorrhoids, according to the Houston Chronicle. "He's going to see if there's another treatment we can do to accelerate the healing process," general manager Ed Wade said. "We're going to make sure we are doing everything to relieve the discomfort he's got." He left a game late last month due to the ailment but should be able to play while receiving treatment, so it shouldn't affect his preparation for the start of the season. |
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| The Astros took a bit of a gamble based on one year of production, but thus far they are pleased with the production of leadoff hitter Kazuo Matsui . In the Astros' 10-12 loss to the Washington Nationals, Matsui finished 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and a stolen base. Matsui is competing with Michael Bourn for the top spot in the Astros' batting order. At this rate, Kaz seems right for the job. |
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| Kazuo Matsui missed Friday's game due to what originally was diagnosed as hemmorrhoids, but further tests revealed the it was something else, according to the Houston Chronincle. "It wasn't what we thought it was, so he'll get a chance to play (today)," manager Cecil Cooper said. Um, well, we'll just leave that all up to your imagination as to what really was going on there, but it sounds like he should be back in action Saturday. |
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| Kazuo Matsui was a late scratch from Friday's game because of a bout with hemorrhoids, according to the AP. He's expected to play Saturday. You'd think Matsui would've been better off just playing. It couldn't have felt very good sitting on that bench. Hopefully they gave him a donut. |
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| The Astros have agreed to a three-year contract with Kazuo Matsui. The deal is expected to be worth about $15 million, according to the Daily Herald. Matsui hit .288 with four homers, 37 RBI and 32 steals in 104 games for Colorado in 2007. |
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| Cubs GM Jim Hendry flew to Los Angeles Tuesday for a lunch date with free agent Kazuo Matsui. Matsui has already turned down a two-year, $7 million offer to stay in Colorado and could be looking at a three-year deal worth between $11 million and $15 million, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Hendry wouldn't discuss details of his talks with Matsui, but a deal does not appear imminent. |
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| Kazuo Matsui pinch-ran Wednesday and was back in the starting lineup Thursday in his first action since straining his hamstring on Sept. 8. Matsui hit leadoff and was 3-for-3 with a walk. He was replaced by Jamey Carroll in the seventh. "We didn't want to push it," manager Clint Hurdle said in the Denver Post. "He should be good to go (today)." |
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| Kazuo Matsui took some rips before batting practice Wednesday, and he said he'll be able to return from his hamstring injury in the next couple days. "I am not 100 percent, but I am ready to play," Matsui said in the Denver Post. |
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| Kazuo Matsui took ground balls Saturday, but manager Clint Hurdle isn't sure when he'll be ready, the AP reports. Matsui has been hampered by a right hamstring strain. "He seems to be making steps forward," Hurdle said. A large part of Matsui's fantasy value is tied to his legs, so he's a risky play for the final two weeks.
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| Kazuo Matsui is unlikely to play this weekend. Matsui says his hamstring feels better when he hits, but he hasn't run at full strength, according to the Denver Post. |
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| Kazuo Matsui is not expected to play Thursday. It will be the fifth straight game Matsui has missed due to a strained hamstring, according to the Denver Post. He is making incremental progress. |
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| Kazuo Matsui was forced to exit Saturday's game with a strained right hamstring, according to the Denver Post. The Rockies are optimistic that he will return in a few days, but we'll have to wait and see how quickly he heals. |
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| Kazuo Matsui was given a day off Tuesday, in part because of his 0-for-14 slump, the AP reports. "It looks like he's a little tired right now," Clint Hurdle said. "His offensive game isn't what it's been, and we'll give him a chance to get a blow and recharge his batteries." Matsui had been having a strong month before the last few games, hitting .323 overall in August with 10 stolen bases. |
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| Kazuo Matsui was held out of Sunday's game as a precaution. Manager Clint Hurdle wanted to take advantage of Monday's off-day to give Matsui two days off to avoid creating problems with the second baseman's back, according to the Rocky Mountain News. "He is healthy and we want to keep him healthy," said Hurdle. "We want to stay on top (of the back problem)." That's the kind of diligence that you like to see from a manager; rather than overworking frail players, it's better to keep them fresh. Matsui will be back in the mix Tuesday. |
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| Kazuo Matsui had the go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning at San Francisco Friday, and he also stole a base and scored an insurance run later in the inning. Matsui was 0-for-4 prior to his last-inning heroics. |
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| Kazuo Matsui was given a day off Wednesday after playing the first two games of the week. Clint Hurdle doesn't want to overload Matsui, who missed almost five weeks with back spasms. |
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| The Rockies activated Kazuo Matsui from the DL on Monday, according to the AP. He missed 32 games with lower back spasms. Manager Clint Hurdle said he would limit Matsui's playing time at first. "We won't overload him early," Hurdle said. |
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| Kazuo Matsui will join the Rockies on the road in Arizona today to be examined, according to the Rocky Mountain News. If all looks well, he could be activated from the disabled list prior to tonight's game against the Diamondbacks. He's been out with back spasms. |
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| Kazuo Matsui will head to Tucson Monday to take part in extended spring training games, according to the Rocky Mountain News. After several games there, he'll move to Triple-A Colorado Springs for a brief rehab stint. Matsui is recovering from back spasms. |
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| The Rockies will make an evaluation of Kazuo Matsui in the next few days to see how much his back has healed, according to the AP. He has been on the disabled list since April 15. "His first stop will be extended spring for some game activity and then to Triple-A Colorado Springs," manager Clint Hurdle said. |
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| Kazuo Matsui took groundballs during batting practice Thursday for the first time since going on the disabled list April 15, according to the Rocky Mountain News. "I thought that was a good indication that he's feeling close to normal," infield coach Mike Gallego said. It's still unclear when Matsui, on the DL with back spasms, will be ready to return to action. |
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| Kazuo Matsui is playing catch and lightly swinging the bat, but he's not running yet, the Denver Post reports. He's coming back from back spasms, and the club hasn't set a date on his return. |
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| Kazuo Matsui continues to work through his back pain slowly, but he's now been cleared to start swinging the bat with one hand, playing light catch, and jogging, according to the AP. There is no timetable for his return to action. |
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| Kazuo Matsui walked around the clubhouse Thursday, no longer hunched over and grimacing, the Denver Post reports. Matsui took a month to recover from back spasms last year, but said he doesn't think he will be out that long this time. "Within the next (nine) days, I want to start moving. It could quickly heal," Matsui said. |
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| Kazuo Matsui underwent an MRI on his lower back Monday and a Rockies spokesman said the test showed that the disc problem appears to be less severe than the one that sidelined Matsui for more than a month last season, the Denver Post reports. The club is hoping that Matsui will have a short stay on the disabled list.
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| The Rockies placed Kazuo Matsui on the 15-day disabled list Sunday due to back spasms, according to the AP. He suffered the injury on Saturday against the D'Backs. The news is no doubt unfortunate, as Matsui was off to a hot start, hitting .361 with five steals through nine games. |
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| Kazuo Matsui left last night's game in the bottom of the fifth inning with lower-back spasms, according to the AP. It's not clear if he will miss more action. |
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| Kazuo Matsui went 3-for-4 with a stolen base Wednesday in his first game back from a strained foot. Matsui hadn't played in over a week due to the injury. |
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| Kazuo Matsui has missed the last two games with a strained foot, the Denver Post reports. He's still considered day-to-day. In the meantime Jamey Carroll has picked up some at-bats, though Carroll is hitting just .111 this spring. |
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| Kazuo Matsui has a strained foot and is day-to-day, according to the AP. Matsui is batting .250 this spring. |
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| The Rockies inked Kazuo Matsui to a one-year deal Monday, according to the AP. Terms were not disclosed. Matsui, who hit .267 with three homers and 26 RBI in 243 at-bats in 2006, will share time with Jamey Carroll at second base next year. |
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| Kazuo Matsui took batting practice on Friday, according to the AP. He has missed the last two games with a sprained left thumb. |
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| Kazuo Matsui has started eight of the last 10 games at second base, and it looks like he'll continue to get the bulk of the playing time there, according to the Denver Post. "He's got all the skills he needs to play second," Hurdle said. "Offensively, we are still evaluating him. But we think he's got the ability to hit from line to line, and his speed is an element we haven't had at the top of the order." Matsui was acquired in early June via trade from the Mets. |
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| The Rockies recalled Kazuo Matsui from Triple-A Colorado Springs Tuesday. Matsui, who was acquired from the Mets in early June, was hitting .278 with three homers and 16 RBI in 115 at-bats for Colorado Springs. Jason Smith was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Matsui, who will back up at shortstop and second base. |
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| The Rockies will recall Kazuo Matsui from Triple-A Colorado prior to Tuesday's game, according to the Denver Post. Luis Gonzalez or Jason Smith likely will be replaced on the roster by Matsui. |
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| The Rockies likely will recall Kazuo Matsui from Triple-A Colorado Springs early next week, according to the Rocky Mountain News. It looks like they wanted to wait until after the Rockies wrap up their weekend series with Matui's former team, the Mets, before adding him to the roster. |
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| The strained back of Kazuo Matsui is improving, according to the Rockies website. He can now take part in all of the pre-game activities except for baserunning. |
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