Mr. Matsui said, “I’m nostalgic,” and second-team coach Kuwata said, “I want to develop players like that.”
On the 13th, Hideki Matsui (special advisor to the GM of the Yankees), who is serving as a temporary coach at the Giants’ Miyazaki Field, visited Himuka Stadium, where the second team trains, and directly trained the players who aspired to be promoted to the first team. There was also a scene where he exchanged words with second-team coach Masumi Kuwata, who was the backbone of the Giants when he was an active player.
As soon as Mr. Matsui entered Himuka Stadium, he exclaimed, “It’s a nostalgic feeling!” It has been six years since he last served as temporary coach in 2018, but the current main stadium, Sun Marine Stadium Miyazaki, was first opened in 2001, and for Matsui, who joined the team in 1993, it was the main centerpiece of Miyazaki Field: in other words, it was Himuka Stadium (its name at the time was Miyazaki Municipal Baseball Stadium). You can call it a “sacred place”. The same goes for second team coach Kuwata, who is seven years older than Matsui.
Second team coach Kuwata called Matsui “Matsui-kun” when talking about Matsui as his temporary coach, but when talking about his memories of his active days, he reverted to “Goji” (Matsui’s nickname from his active days, short for Godzilla).
Speaking to the press, he said: “When Goji hit here, he was hitting five in a row when he got to the last five, and ten in a row when he said 10. Isn’t that so?” Looking back, if I told today’s players five shots, I wondered how many good shots they would be able to hit, and it reminds me of the difference in technical ability,” he said fondly. He added: “I think we need to develop players of the type”.
That day, players went to Matsui one after another to ask for advice, from veteran outfielder Takayuki Kajitani to 19-year-old infielder Ayumu Nakata. Mr. Matsui also responded with passionate guidance that included gestures. Second team coach Kuwata said: “I was very happy to see what (the players) did. They are great seniors, so I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to go and ask them anything, but I thought it’s time to go.” I was there to ask him,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “I told Matsui-kun, ‘I’m sorry,’ but I’m grateful to him for treating each player so politely,” he said, lowering his head.
There are “absolutely necessary things” to achieve batting results.
Although second team manager Kuwata himself is a former pitcher, he listened to Matsui’s advice along with the players and occasionally asked questions. “Hearing that both home run hitters and hitting hitters have something in common that is ‘absolutely necessary’ to produce results, I learned a lot too. Kuwata-san, this is absolutely necessary,” he said.
However, regarding the content of “absolutely necessary articles”, he refused, saying: “I share it with all players, but I cannot share it with you (the press).” There was also a scene where the two exchanged words and their memories must have blossomed.
During the 1st and 2nd Red and White Army games held at Sun Marine Stadium in Miyazaki on the 11th, Mr. Matsui was on the first base dugout with first team manager Shinnosuke Abe until the 4th inning, and from the 5th inning in then he was on the bench. 3rd base side with 2nd team manager Kuwata, sitting on the bench. It seems like we haven’t had a chance to see each other for a while before this training camp, and second team coach Kuwata said, “I slowly talked to Goji before he put on the uniform (before returning to the Giants) as a coach in 2021) and in private. “I think it’s since we were in New York and had dinner together. He took me to an Italian restaurant,” he said with his lips parted.
The reunion of the Giants’ pitching and batting legends appears to have provided significant lessons for the young players who will carry on the tradition.
(Hirohisa Miyawaki)
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