届かなかった想い
Mr. Fred Wilpon
Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer,
The New York Mets
Dear Mr. Wilpon,
Hello. I live in Japan, and love Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Mets.
But this year, I cannnot enjoy listenning(in Japan Yankees and Mariners are televised almost everyday, but few games of Mets are) to MLB. Because as you know Shinjo started only in 6 games this year in spite of his BA(more than.400) during spring training. I know his batting was no good for Giants last year. But that Shinjo knew well more than everybody. So he worked hard at weight training and quit eating meat and sweets. As a result, Shinjo kept hitting well during spring training. But in regular season he is given very few chances as starter. He usually pinch-hits in the 7-9th innings, and fails.
I think putting Shinjo in as a pinch hitter does not make full use of his talent, and does not work well for the team. Shinjo is a very good defensive player, and his fielding always helps the team. He makes many amazing catches and assists. It brings the field to life, and makes the team into good rhythm. When Shinjo takes the field as starter he must hit more because he cannot get himself in good batting condition with few TC. It is unfortunate for Mets and Mets fan to give Shinjo very few chances to play.
Shinjo is so wonderful, attractive player, so we Japanese fan miss him when he’s gone to America. On the other hand we are proud of his courage to challenge, and we want American people to see Shinjo’s play and know his high ability. But now he is not given enough chances to show what he can do though he is worthy of getting equal chances as other outfielders. He starts only for left-handed pitchers, but that is nonsence because he can hit right-hander too and occasional appearance makes him out of form.
In 2001 I went to Shea Stadium to see Shinjo and other Mets. And last year I went to Pacific Bell Park. I was going to visit New York again this summer, but now I may call off my trip…
I am not good at English and I feel sorry if this letter displeased you. I only hope you and all of Mets to make much of Shinjo. He is our treasure and can be your treasure too, I believe. Thank you for reading.
Sincerely yours,
ＰＣの中身を整理していたら、こんなものが出てきました（苦笑）。もうそろそろ１年経つんですね。。。
新庄の起用法に我慢ならず、メッツのオーナーに向けて出した抗議（？）の手紙です（＾＾；）。
上記の通り中学生並の英語レベルで、その割には辞書を引き引き徹夜で書き上げた記憶があります。
一刻も早くなんとかしてほしい、そんな想いがあったんですよね。今となっては苦くも懐かしい記憶です。
たぶん間違っている箇所もあるかと思いますので、気づいたらどうぞご指摘ください（苦笑）。
後日、オーナーの息子さんから（おそらくこういう場合に対応する）形式的で丁寧なお返事をいただきました。
そのすぐ後にＧＭの交代があったので驚きましたが、むしろ新庄を取り巻く状況は悪化していく一方でした。
メッツ自体の状況も良くはならなかったと思います。
（２００４年４月３０日）
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