Sayonara Kazuo...Too Bad Your Peak was Past

The Astros did something many followers had advocated for some time. They asked waivers on second baseman Kazuo Matsui for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release.

Unlike most folks who lose their jobs there should be no weeping for Matsui. He will be payed the rest of his contract which amounts to nearly $4-million. While his career may be over--at least in the United States-- he could possibly re-surface in Japan should he desire.

Matsui most likely is a victim of age and a compilation of injuries. It was apparent his bat speed was gone. Rarely did he hit a ball with authority and he finishes his Astro career with an oh for 20 stretch. He was still the club's best defensive second baseman, but his bat was so woeful a move had to be made.

The fact that he was in the final year of his contract and would not be re-signed was a factor. So was the work turned in by Jeff Keppinger while manning the position.

It was only co-incidental that Matsui was released following Keppinger's three hit, four rbi game, in Wednesday's win over the Rockies.

Before we say a final good-bye to Kazuo Matsui let us just recall what he had been. Just for the Astros he had been productive enough. In his first two Astro seasons he had hit .293 with 20 stolen bases in 2008 and .250 with 19 steals in 2009. Both seaons, however, had been marred by nagging injuries to his legs and back. He had ironically been healthy in 2010, but his hitting skills seemingly were gone.

Kazuo Matsui had come to Major League Baseball in 2004 with the New York Mets after signing as a free agent from Japan. The Mets thought they were getting their shortstop of the future. In fact Matsui's contract required he be played at shortstop for at least his first season. Manager Art Howe was saddled with that requirement even though it became obvious Matsui was not his best player for the position defensively. Injuries became a factor early on when a lower back strain put him on the disabled list late in the season.

The next year, moved to second base a bruised left knee set him down for six weeks. In 2006 he missed most of the season while being traded to the Rockies in June.

In 2007 he was the mostly regular second baseman for the NL Champion Rockies.

Then it was off to Houston and a new three year contract. The acquisition was a gamble by Astro GM Ed Wade. He was counting on health and the Kazuo Matsui that would ultimately be honored by the Japanese version of the Hall of Fame. Except for short periods and some individual games it did not work.

Matsui was a great player from 1995 through 2003 for Seibu in Japan. He never missed a game, had a lifetime batting average well over .300 with power. He hit 30 or more home runs twice and 20 or more four times. He stole as many as 43 bases one season. He never approached any of those numbers in the tougher level of MLB and was forced to change positions.

Since Kazuo won't be 35 years old until October he very well might catch on with a team back in Japan to play a few years. Whether he can be a success there again, however, might be in doubt. The level of play may generally be a bit below that of the major leagues. But, if his bat speed has declined as much as it appeared this season that may not matter.

It has been a very good overall career for Kazuo Matsui. It is just too bad it could not have been better with the Astros.