Who is better, Matsui or Choi?

[d-boy]

CNNSI Article (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/04/23/burning_questions/)

excerpt:

Who will be the best foreign rookie this season?

This has to be the Yankees' Hideki Matsui, right? The Big Apple has fallen in love with Japan's "Godzilla" import, who belted a grand slam in his Yankee Stadium debut and has been an integral piece of the best offense in baseball.
Well, maybe not.

It may be wise to take a look at the season the Cubs' Hee Seop Choi is putting together before jumping to any conclusions. The Korean first baseman has shown an amazing batting eye for a 24-year-old, with more walks (15) than strikeouts (14).

His on-base percentage, usually a key indicator of a young player's future success, is a Bonds-ian .483. Don't think it is a fluke either, because he led the Pacific Coast League in walks last season and has routinely put up OBPs near .400 in his four-year minor league career.

And despite being nearly five years younger than Matsui, Choi has outhomered the reigning Japanese home run champion 4-2.

Not trying to build up a rivalry between the two....

Just wanted to show their amazing success so far.

Many "experts" predict that both Matsui and Choi will win Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues.

Who'd have thunk it?

2 Asian men being thought of as two of the most promising sluggers in the game of baseball.

[lethal]

Matsui is better right now. Choi is younger and will probably be better in to the future.

I also like Choi because he played in the U.S. minor leagues whereas Matsui came straight from the Japanese leagues.

One of these days I wish an American born Asian American baseball player would make a big splash.

[d-boy]

Originally posted by lethalweapon@Apr 24 2003, 09:21 AM
One of these days I wish an American born Asian American baseball player would make a big splash.
i'm sure that day will come.

but with a population of only ~10 million, (compared to 200 million for Whites), you have to be realistic.

most Asian sports stars for the foreseeable future will likely come from Asia.

[rakovlam]

One of these days I wish an American born Asian American baseball player would make a big splash.

Yeah, but Bruce Chen is your hero for now. I believe he's now a reliever for the Astros.

[lethal]

Originally posted by rakovlam@Apr 24 2003, 01:51 PM

Yeah, but Bruce Chen is your hero for now.  I believe he's now a reliever for the Astros.
Bruce Chen was born in Panama. He speaks Spanish fluently and is only OK with English, but I'm not sure if he speaks any Chinese.

[rakovlam]

Bruce Chen was born in Panama. He speaks Spanish fluently and is only OK with English, but I'm not sure if he speaks any Chinese.

He said American born, he didn't specify which part of America (just like he didn't specify which part of Asian America he should come from).

[lethal]

Originally posted by rakovlam@Apr 24 2003, 02:30 PM

He said American born, he didn't specify which part of America (just like he didn't specify which part of Asian America he should come from).
What the hell are you talking about? You're replying to me in the third person? I said American born and Asian American. Sure, Panama is part of Central America, but the name of the country is Panama.

Eh whatever, reasoning with you is useless anyway.

At least I'm kicking your ass 10-1 this week so far.

[BeTheReds]

I say Matsui outdoes Choi this year.

Choi will do better and have a much longer career in the majors tho.

[Faithless]

Where are the Matsui homeruns? 3 in 33 games as of this date. Would it be that important if he drives in at least 80 runs?

[lethal]

As long as Matsui hits 5th in the Yankee line-up, he'll get 80 RBI falling out of bed. He should get 120 hitting behind Soriano, Jeter, Giambi, and Williams though. .280 BA and 20 HRs and 120 RBI is what I expect out of him.

[Faithless]

The latest SKINNY on Choi projects him to be sent down to the minors.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/prof...le?statsId=6622 (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6622)

There is a possiblity that Choi could be sent down to Triple-A Iowa, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

[d-boy]

unfortunately, Choi has been splitting time with Karros at 1st base, on top of being injured recently.  (was out for like a month.)

his BA has really taken a hit, although he just hit his 8th HR.  (given his limited number of "at-bats", 8 is a pretty decent number.)

even if he is sent down, a young guy with Choi's unlimited potential will make it back pretty soon.

meanwhile, Matsui has been doing outstandlingly.

[amietron]

<!--QuoteBegin-dzoo+Jul 25 2003, 02:31 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (dzoo @ Jul 25 2003, 02:31 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> meanwhile, Matsui has been doing outstandlingly. [/b][/quote]
I'm going to the A's-Yanks game August 1st. See you there! I'll be in a MATSUI jersey. :D

[princeton]

The Cubs must think Choi is their firstbaseman of the future...since they do give him a lot of playing time, especially when you look at the numbers, Karros is batting .330, and Choi is about a hundred points below that.&nbsp; Choi has entered games just a defensive replacement several times, too. Maybe to just get him more comfortable in the game? Then again, I read somewhere he's a good fielder...

Still...perhaps a quick trip down to triple-A might be what he needs to get his confidence back.

[BeTheReds]

<!--QuoteBegin-princeton+Jul 26 2003, 10:46 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (princeton @ Jul 26 2003, 10:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The Cubs must think Choi is their firstbaseman of the future...since they do give him a lot of playing time, especially when you look at the numbers, Karros is batting .330, and Choi is about a hundred points below that. Choi has entered games just a defensive replacement several times, too. Maybe to just get him more comfortable in the game? Then again, I read somewhere he's a good fielder...

Still...perhaps a quick trip down to triple-A might be what he needs to get his confidence back. [/b][/quote]
Trade him to Baltimore!!!!!

[amietron]

<!--QuoteBegin-princeton+Jul 26 2003, 05:46 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (princeton @ Jul 26 2003, 05:46 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Still...perhaps a quick trip down to triple-A might be what he needs to get his confidence back. [/b][/quote]
like jesse foppert. they dropped him down to the minors because he didn't have any control over his balls. when he came back up, he dominated.

[BeTheReds]

<!--QuoteBegin-amietron+Jul 28 2003, 03:45 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (amietron @ Jul 28 2003, 03:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> like jesse foppert. they dropped him down to the minors because he didn't have any control over his balls. when he came back up, he dominated. [/b][/quote]
I'm sorry maybe I am a pervert, but that sounds really sexual. :lol:

[Faithless]

<!--QuoteBegin-BeTheReds+Jul 28 2003, 10:59 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BeTheReds @ Jul 28 2003, 10:59 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm sorry maybe I am a pervert, but that sounds really sexual. :lol: [/b][/quote]
Baseball is ladened with sexual references, if your mind works that way.&nbsp; :rolleyes:

I like it when the announcer says: "No balls on the hitter. And two strikes." I'd say you'd have two strikes against you if you didn't have any balls.&nbsp; :frown:

[BeTheReds]

<!--QuoteBegin-ChottoMatte+Jul 29 2003, 05:30 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (ChottoMatte @ Jul 29 2003, 05:30 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Baseball is ladened with sexual references, if your mind works that way. :rolleyes:

I like it when the announcer says: "No balls on the hitter. And two strikes." I'd say you'd have two strikes against you if you didn't have any balls. :frown: [/b][/quote]
They don't say that.&nbsp; They say the count is 0-2.

But what she said was he had no control over his balls so he went down.&nbsp; when he came back up he dominated.

[princeton]

Ha ha ha.
Man, sad... I had to have it repeated before I really got it!

And next time I hear no balls .... I'll think of ChottoMatte...
(guess that batter doesn't need to wear a cup)

[achtungbaby]

<!--QuoteBegin-BeTheReds+Jul 28 2003, 11:59 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (BeTheReds @ Jul 28 2003, 11:59 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I'm sorry maybe I am a pervert, but that sounds really sexual. :lol: [/b][/quote]
I'm sure little grasshopper didn't intend that at all.

[princeton]

Well, Choi got in the game today! First time in a week. I thought maybe he got sent down to triple-A, or worse, Baltimore :)

But, he was in the game for only a few seconds...and didn't even break a sweat (unless of course, he does the Ichiro pre-batting stretching routine).

Short write up on his 15 seconds of fame:
Hee-Seop Choi in game for few seconds. (http://www.asianathlete.com/DaScoopsFormDisplay.aspx?ID=886)

Let's see Matsui top that!

[BeTheReds]

<!--QuoteBegin-princeton+Aug 2 2003, 10:39 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (princeton @ Aug 2 2003, 10:39 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well, Choi got in the game today! First time in a week. I thought maybe he got sent down to triple-A, or worse, Baltimore :)

[/b][/quote]
Laugh it up!

We have 1Bs anyway&nbsp; Conine and Gibbons are much better than Choi, and Jack Cust will come around...

Try to say that again next year.&nbsp; Trust me, next year or the year after, Baltimore will dominate.

[princeton]

Try to say that again next year. Trust me, next year or the year after, Baltimore will dominate.

Hey, I think you'd make a great Cubs fan! :)

(Although this might really be the year...Cubs play a bunch of chumps in August, so should be able to pad their record.)

[Red_Matrix]

like jesse foppert. they dropped him down to the minors because he didn't have any control over his balls. when he came back up, he dominated.

I'm sorry maybe I am a pervert, but that sounds really sexual. laugh.gif

I actually think that amietron wrote it that way on purpose.&nbsp; :D

[Deadpool]

Based on my uneducated guess, I'd say Ichiro is better.
ICHIRO! ICHIRO! ICHIRO!