All business, pinstripes suit him just fine

TAMPA -- Hideki Matsui feels there's too much made in distinguishing Japanese players on American teams because, he believes, if you're a Yankee, then you're a Yankee regardless of your heritage.

"I don't feel I'm here to represent my country," Matsui said through his interpreter. "Once you're a member of the team, you're a member of the team. You're one of the guys. Nationality doesn't matter to me at that point."

Matsui, 32, was a huge star for the Yomiuri Giants from 1993-2002, winning three MVP awards and three championships and hitting 50 homers in his final season.

When he made the jump to the Yankees in 2003, Ichiro Suzuki already had two successful campaigns in Seattle. But Matsui said he felt no obligation to act as a mentor for other Japanese players who came over, though he often finds himself a spokesman because he plays for a high-profile team and because there's always a significant number of Japanese media members around his locker.

"To begin with, all of the other players who have come here are on different teams," he said. "There's really no obligation I feel. I feel I support them because we're from the same country and in the same situation. In [Kei Igawa's] case, we're on the same team so I do whatever I can to help him. For the other players it's a different scenario."

Matsui, who has a far more easygoing disposition than Ichiro, said he didn't try to emulate what the Mariners superstar did in Japan. He just wanted to get used to playing major league baseball and to be a "contributor to a successful team." He added, "I just wanted to be a strength to my team and be an important part of the team. I think I've been able to achieve that part of it."

While a significant contributor in the Yankees' potent lineup, Matsui hasn't matched the numbers he totaled for Yomiuri. "The quality of pitching is very high here," he said. "And the ballparks are a lot bigger here and those are the biggest factors."

While in Japan, he followed the Yankees closely because they were the most popular team, much as Yomiuri was in Japan. Now Matsui's countrymen follow him from afar. Even when he spent most of last season on the disabled list with a broken wrist, Matsui still drew flocks of reporters almost every day.

"It doesn't bother me at all," he said. "It was like that when I was in Japan as well and maybe worse. My concern is as long as they don't inconvenience my other teammates then it's fine. I understand the job they have to do and I understand I need to cooperate with them. It's a two-way street, but I think we've all remained very courteous to one another and it's worked out fine."