A's Matsui stunned by tsunami — ‘difficult to watch'

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March 11, 2011A'S PAGEA'S VIDEOMATSUI OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Ray Ratto
CSNBayArea.com

PHOENIX -- Each day, the phalanx of Japanese reporters holds a stakeout of sort in the As parking lot awaiting the arrival of Hideki Matsui.

Friday, though, the urgency was geometrically larger for them all, given the horrific events in their shared homeland.

The 8.9 earthquake that hit northeast of Tokyo and sent a series of tsunamis across the Pacific to even the Bay Area consumed their thoughts, and the As clubhouse televisions. Where normally there is sports on TV, there was news, and the footage of entire acres and city blocks consumer by a wall of water, and where there would normally be joking there was a wall of concerned faces.

VIDEO: Matsui at A's camp (312011)Part 2Part 3

A few of the Japanese reporters in the As camp reported fears for their immediate families because they have been unable to contact them, and Matsui also said that his own family was not near the most affected areas.

I havent gotten to speak to anybody, but theyre not really close to the area, he said, so I think theyre OK."

He saw the news of the earthquake on the Internet, and watched the news until he finally fell asleep.

Its been a bit difficult to watch, especially being away, to see all this, he said through his interpreter. Its hard being away from your family and the people you know.

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Seeing the level of damage was as stunning to him as it was to anyone who watched. Just the intensity, seeing that, bring surprised by it. That was my reaction.

He expected to be in contact with his family soon, although much cell reception in Japan has been interrupted by the overload of calls, but he still appeared to be quite affected by the events of the morning. He was penciled into the As lineup against the Dodgers today at Phoenix Municipal, but that could change before game time.

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