Ichiro

[nate]

All these tweets about Ichiro in Tokyo and I had no idea it was to play a MLB game.  Thought he retired from MLB and joined a NPB team.

So I guess what I am saying is, they could have marketed this better.

[floplag]

Yeah, they really could have, and should have.. he deserved a sendoff worthy of his service, but then again i think this is probably how he wanted it. 

[Blarg]

It's the Mariners so nobody gives a shit. 

[fan_since79]

"Bones, are you sure he's retired?!! I can't take any more of these updates and what it's doing to my crew!!"

"Yes, Jim, he's retired. No doubt about it. Put your mind at ease. Do you want a sedative?"

"I do not want a sedative! I just want him to go away and not bother us anymore! We have a mission and it doesn't include Ichiro!"

 

 

[zenmaster]

I too was confused by the whole retired, not retired, playing in Tokyo, retired thing.

[Jay]

He got a nice sendoff, classy and old-school.

 

[T.G.]

I think it's very cool that he could play his final game as a Mariner and do it in Japan. Truly one of the most entertaining and dedicated baseball players I've ever seen.  His work ethic and prep work for every game is legendary.  More young players should learn from him.  He was always and I mean constantly stretching.  His regimen allowed him to play for a long time.  Phenomenal hitter.  Crazy good defense and a true cannon of an arm. 

[ScottT]

I think it was cool, but strange. Good thing the Mariners won both games. 

[Chuck]

 

 

[Bronson]

27 minutes ago, ScottT said:

I think it was cool, but strange. Good thing the Mariners won both games. 

Mariners taking the division this year? 

 

Looks like the A’s might be back to their normal selves. All things balanced in the universe. Just as it should be.

[Chuck]

 

 

[Taylor]

I thought Ichiro retired last May.

[gotbeer]

1 hour ago, True Grich said:

I think it's very cool that he could play his final game as a Mariner and do it in Japan. Truly one of the most entertaining and dedicated baseball players I've ever seen.  His work ethic and prep work for every game is legendary.  More young players should learn from him.  He was always and I mean constantly stretching.  His regimen allowed him to play for a long time.  Phenomenal hitter.  Crazy good defense and a true cannon of an arm. 

 

 

[Blarg]

2 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

 

 

More like Ohtani looking down and seeing Ichiro doesn't have his own branded Nike shoes like Trout does. 

[Glen]

2 hours ago, Bronson said:

Mariners taking the division this year? 

 

Looks like the A’s might be back to their normal selves. All things balanced in the universe. Just as it should be.

We're already two games back in the win column.

[Taylor]

8 minutes ago, Glen said:

We're already two games back in the win column.

Season o–

*gets shot*

[ten ocho recon scout]

5 hours ago, True Grich said:

I think it's very cool that he could play his final game as a Mariner and do it in Japan. Truly one of the most entertaining and dedicated baseball players I've ever seen.  His work ethic and prep work for every game is legendary.  More young players should learn from him.  He was always and I mean constantly stretching.  His regimen allowed him to play for a long time.  Phenomenal hitter.  Crazy good defense and a true cannon of an arm. 

Agreed.

Hate the mariners. But Ichiro was by far one of the coolest players ever. Just knew how to hit, like a Gwynn or Carew. And his glove and arm were insane, not to mention his baserunning.

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Ichiro is probably the closest thing to Cobb as a hitter we will see and he wasn’t a racist asshole. 

[Stradling]

Kenny Lofton was better. 

[Inside Pitch]

10 hours ago, The Ghost of Bob Starr said:

Ichiro is probably the closest thing to Cobb as a hitter we will see and he wasn’t a racist asshole. 

Ty Cobb knew how to take a walk -- he also had gap power -- over 700 doubles in his career, Ichiro managed maybe half that number.   Ichiro was the all time 55 foot slow roller king.   

He had more in common with Tony Gwynn and Rod Carew than Ty Cobb and event then very different in the way he actually amassed his hits. 

He was IMO very unique.

[Inside Pitch]

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Kenny Lofton was better. 

Yeah, he was...  and he never made a dent in the HOF voting which is one of the bigger embarrassments along with Bobby Grich.    Lofton and Grich were both one and done -- while Kirby Puckett was a first ballot HOFer and you better believe there will be people making the case that Ichiro should be also...

[fan_since79]

21 hours ago, Bronson said:

Mariners taking the division this year? 

 

Looks like the A’s might be back to their normal selves. All things balanced in the universe. Just as it should be.

American League West.

Lots of offense, terrible pitching. Except for Houston. 

[T.G.]

Kenny Lofton may have been a better all-around player - but he was not a better hitter, IMO.

[Stradling]

More doubles, more stolen bases, higher OBP which lead to a higher OPS.  Now obviously this all changes if Ichiro was here for his early 20’s.  I’m simply going off of his MLB numbers that actually happened. 

[T.G.]

My only point is that Ichiro was the better hitter.

Besides, I don't know why we even have to talk about Kenny Lofton in a thread about Ichiro.  But this is typical of AW...

I feel very fortunate to have seen a player like Ichiro in my lifetime. His impact on baseball is somewhat historic.  He disproved a lot of critics along the way.  Amazing talent and his defense was every bit as good as his hitting.