Hideki Matsui’s hitting isn’t front-page news in Japan

From the Los Angeles Times

Reporting from Chicago — Accounts of Hideki Matsui’s exploits have drifted deeper inside the sports sections of Japanese newspapers in recent weeks, the designated hitter’s prolonged slump taking him off the front page on most days.

“If he hits a home run, that’s a big story for us,” said Gaku Tashiro, a reporter for Tokyo-based Sankei Sports. “But now we have smaller articles.”

Matsui hasn’t exactly provided tantalizing fodder this month. He’s hitting .133 over his last 21 games, his average plummeting from .310 to .224 following his 0-for-3 performance Wednesday at U.S. Cellular Field during the Angels’ 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

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