And it’s about as even-keeled as you would imagine.
Hideki Matsui was only “vaguely aware” of what Ozzie Guillen said over the weekend, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, but after being informed of the context of his remarks, he said the following through his interpreter Roger Kahlon:“I think the circumstances might be a little different for us vs. Latin players. If Latin players came straight to the big leagues after playing in professional leagues in their own country like Japanese players do, then I think they would be treated exactly the same as Latin players in those circumstances.”
“I think there’s a good chance the circumstances may be a little similar for Cuban players who played professionally there then defected and came over here.”
Matsui has only had one Japanese teammate (Kei Igawa, sometimes) during his time in the major leagues, and as we recently learned with Hideki Okajima, he has battled with loneliness and homesickness due to the cultural divide. In other words, nobody has it perfect.