Celebrity File Japan by Lint


英文		重要語句
■ Last season, the biggest Japanese pro baseball star to jump across the Pacific Ocean landed in New York. Of course, that player was the immensely popular Hideki "Godzilla" Matsui who just completed a very successful rookie season in 2003 with the New York Yankees. This season sees another "Matsui" headed to the Big Apple but he's not headed to Yankee Stadium. Shea Stadium, home to New York's National League team, the Mets, is his destination. Referred to in the Western press as "Little" Matsui (Dusty Baker, while on the 2002 MLB All-Star tour to Japan, gets credit for giving him that nickname to differentiate him from the bigger "Godzilla"), he is simply known by his real name here in Japan.		slick-fielding　守備の見事な immensely　とても Big Apple　ニューヨーク市 destination　目的地；到着地 get credit for ...　…の功績を褒められる differentiate ... from ～　…を～と区別する
■■ Although both Matsuis share the same last name, they are completely different players. Whereas Hideki came over as a power-hitting outfielder, Kazuo is a switch-hitting, slick-fielding shortstop (and the first infielder from Japan to try his luck in Major League Baseball) formerly known for his speed on the base paths. He has slowed down a bit with only 13 steals this past season but his power numbers have improved as four straight seasons with over 20 home runs attests to. If he has any flaws in his game, it's his strikeout-to-walk ratio now is about 2-to-1 and he whiffs a very high once every 4.7 at-bats.		whereas　…であるのに対して come over as ...　…の印象である switch-hit　右打ちも左打ちもできる base path　走路 power numbers　ホームラン数・打点・長打率の数値 attest to ...　…を証明する flaw　欠点 whiff　空振りの三振をする
■■■ Kazuo Matsui first really caught the eye of MLB scouts playing against the MLB All-Star team on their tour of Japan in 2002. Unlike Hideki Matsui who struggled in that series, Little Matsui hit .423 including homering from both sides of the plate in one game.		catch the eye of ...　…の目に留まる
■■■■ His remarkable play should not have come as such a surprise for this 28-year-old from Osaka who grew up as a Yomiuri Giants' fan in Hanshin Tigers' territory! Matsui was drafted third overall in the 1994 amateur draft after a stellar career with the high school powerhouse PL Gakuen. His talent was obviously exceptional but playing his position at a Gold Glove fielding level is remarkable. He never played shortstop prior to joining the Seibu Lions. Like most high school stars, he was, of course, a pitcher. Then again pitchers would never be able to steal 43 bases, score 92 runs and hit over .300 (the first of what is now seven seasons in a row batting over the magic .300 mark) as Matsui did in 1998. This sensational season earned him the Pacific League MVP award that year.		stellar　花形の powerhouse　最強チーム exceptional　ひじょうに優れた Gold Glove (Award)　守備に秀逸な選手を選出する賞 in a row　連続で
■■■■■ Although no one expects him to win the MVP award in the National League in 2004, his three-year deal with the Mets of $20.1 million is a pretty good indication the team expects a lot from Matsui. They've even decided to shift Jose Reyes, who is coming off a very good rookie season, to second base to allow Matsui to play shortstop.		indication　兆候 come off ...　…という結果になる
■■■■■■ It's also interesting that the bonuses in Matsui's contract are tied to the number of plate appearances. He should be able to make those bonuses easily, despite the longer MLB 162-game schedule as, Kazuo has constantly hit the weight room since his high school days to maintain his fitness level. He is also known as a very gutsy player who is willing to play through injury. His consecutive games played streak of 1,122 is a testament to that.		plate appearance　打席 hit　…に立ち寄る gutsy　ガッツのある streak　連続 testament to ...　…のあかし
■■■■■■■ One thing is for sure, Kazuo Matsui is a winner and Godzilla better watch his back as Little Matsui will own the Big Apple should he help return the Mets to glory.		glory　繁栄

－written by Brian Maitland

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