Matsui is a World Series MVP of a different sort

November 5, 8:13 AMSports ExaminerPaula Duffy

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  Hideki Matsui accepts cheers from fans at Yankee Stadium. (AP: J. Phillip)

The Yankees brought the champion's trophy back to the Bronx and none of the usual suspects were handed the other trophy-the one for MVP of the World Series

That went to the quietest Yankee and one who has contributed mightily during his seven-year tenure with the club. Hideki Matsui chose the right time to have the game of his life at Yankee Stadium.

His performance will now be mentioned in the same breath as Reggie Jackson's astounding game in 1977 but because of his demeanor and nature, Matsui will not seem like he belongs there. Matsui drove in six of the seven runs from last night's 7-3 win by the Yankees and he went 8-13 during the six games of the Series.

World Series MVP' s can come from the ranks of journeyman players who get hot at the right time. The names David Eckstein and Mike Lowell come to mind. But Matsui is no journeyman. He's a Japanese super star, paid like one who fit in to the Yankee clubhouse no matter how much turmoil or harmony existed.

Few knew his thoughts on A Rod or the ongoing tug of war between the corporate staff of the Yankees and long time manager Joe Torre. Media didn't pester him about the devastation in the Bronx after its collapse in the 2004 ALCS.

Actually, many a journalist asked him, but they were from the Japanese media. During the trophy presentation on the field last night, Fox's Chris Rose pulled off the interview with Matsui through his interpreter with aplomb but the air came out of the balloon in the stadium as the MVP's own voice wasn't booming over the sound system.

And that seems fitting since Hideki Matsui was always seen but not often heard by us. He's fine with that and I guess we will be too.

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