The sizable Japanese media contingent shadowing Hideki Matsui was all geared up, with nowhere to go.
Matsui got out of limbo but couldn't get out of the rain. He was penciled in for his first Cactus League start with the Angels, then the Sunday contest with the Oakland A's was washed out.
All those early-morning pictures of the Halos' posted lineup snapped by the Japanese photographers became nothing more than rain-check souvenirs at 11:25 a.m. local time, when the decision to scratch the game was made. The A's hadn't even bothered to appear at Tempe Diablo Stadium, with the rainstorm making its way east.
"I wasn't necessarily anxious to play," Matsui said through his sidekick-interpreter, Roger Kahlon. "You want to play under great conditions. It doesn't make sense to play when it's not safe and take a chance on something bad happening."
Matsui's debut was canceled, and delayed. He will not join the traveling party to Monday's game in Surprise against the Rangers, and is now expected to be unveiled Tuesday when the Angels host the Padres in Tempe, Ariz.
"He can get a good workout here. He can get all the preparatory work he needs in camp," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
Earlier, Scioscia had sarcastically agreed that the reason he had finally included Matsui in his lineup -- at DH, in the four-spot -- was to end being asked when the 2009 World Series MVP would play.
Now that anticipation will have to extend a couple more days.
"Once I start playing, I will play every day. There is plenty of time left," Matsui said.
Even before Matsui's contributions are put in practice -- Spring Training-style, at least -- Scioscia harbors no doubt about his ability to complement and enhance the Angels' offense.
Some want to temper the left-handed hitter's strong 2009 production as an exclusive DH for the Yankees -- 28 homers and 90 RBIs -- by new Yankee Stadium's lenient right-field porch.
Scioscia would have none of it, arguing that Matsui is simply a consistent, professional hitter "in any environment" and, besides, Angel Stadium can be equally permissive "especially in day games."
Matsui's statistical splits for last season support the manager's point: Although he did drive in eight more runs at home than he did on the road, he had two more homers (15-to-13) in eight fewer games away from the Bronx.
"With his level of professionalism, he has shown he can play anywhere," Scioscia said.
Does that include left field? Matsui's ability, at 35, to rehabilitate his knees to outfield condition is the only question lingering around him.
"Right now, all I know is that I'm doing everything right to make that possible," Matsui said. "I'm progressing fine."
In Seattle's camp, veteran Mike Sweeney recently referred to all the speculation about whether he can make the Mariners roster "noise ... static," compared to his performance on the field.
That also seems to be the case with the sidebars to Matsui's switch from the Yankees to the Angels, from East Coast to West, from Grapefruit to Cactus League.
"When the games start, the intensity will not be different," Matsui said of the surmised contrast between fans and media in New York and in Orange County. "When the season starts, there might be some little things I notice that are not the same.
"But overall it's no different. It's still baseball."
Scioscia would offer only a slight amendment to that: "It's Angels baseball."
"There are no cultural differences for Hideki. It's just baseball," the manager had said hours before Matsui was echoing those words. "There are no Dominican Angels, or Venezuelan Angels, or Japanese Angels ... you're just an Angel."
With replacing Chone Figgins at third base as one of the club's Spring Training priorities -- Brandon Wood has the inside track -- someone facetiously wondered whether Matsui could be a fallback at the hot corner.
He has played the position before in the environs of Orange County, believe it or not. Matsui was a third baseman in high school and in the early '90s participated with his Japanese team against Korea and the U.S. in an international prep tournament waged in Riverside and Cerritos.
"We were 1-1 against the U.S. -- Nomar Garciaparra was on their team -- but lost both games against Korea," Matsui recalled. "Chan Ho Park was on the Korea team, and nobody could hit him."
Park is now with the Yankees. Matsui is with the Angels. Garciaparra is jobless, on the brink of retirement.
"When I signed a professional contract," Matsui reconstructed his position change, "they saw I was fast and had a strong arm -- at least I did at that time -- and put me in the outfield. Right field."
Could he still play third?
He shook his head, smiling. "I'd be so scared of grounders, I'd keep backing up until I was in left field."
Hey, that's where he wants to be, anyway. At least occasionally, sharing time with Juan Rivera. But first, he wants to warm up his swing as a DH. After drying it out, that is.
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