By Erie's Scribe on Jul 23, 2008 with Comments 4
This guy is better than advertised, too bad his team is 38-62.
I just moved to Akron, OH to further my edumacation. This is glorious news for Erie’s Scribe. I now get all the Tribe, Cavs, and Browns games and all the local media coverage. My excitement for the upcoming Browns and LeBron seasons can only be termed “unhealthy.” The Tribe are in the crapper this year, but I’m thoroughly enjoying watching their West Coast swing. They’re 7-2 in their last 9! I’m also enjoying the work of incomparable Cleveland sports talk guy and fellow blogger, Bruce Drennan and his All Bets Are Off show (a full run down of his work will get it’s own post, don’t let his serious movie blog fool you, this man is a tremendous entertainer).
Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of watching the Tribe take 2 out of 3 from the Mariners, and two things jumped out at me. The Mariners are ridiculously bad, and Ichiro is ridiculously good. I never watch any M’s games, so I never realized how amazing Ichiro is. Like your average dude that doesn’t live on the left coast, I knew he was damn good, but it was an eye-opener seeing him play a three-game series.
When he hits the field, he carries himself with a confidence that says “I am the best player on this field.” And then he backs it up. At the plate, he’s not going to get you with the long ball, but he’s going to get a hit. He’s so quick up the line that as long as the ball is on the ground, he has a chance to reach base. He’s like Vlad Guerrero in the respect that he can hit any pitch, regardless of it’s location. The pitcher could bounce it up there and Ichiro is likely to rope it into the outfield. His stats since he’s been in the majors are eye-popping.
Over 200 hits for 7 straight years (and soon to be 8). Who does that? He has stolen over 30 bases and scored over 100 runs every season he’s been in the league. In the field, he’s a stud as well. How about a gold glove every season of his major league career? He’s fast as crap, so he covers a ton of ground in the outfield, and he’s got a cannon for an arm. Plus, as evidenced by his famed All-Star game profanity-laced “pep-talks” to the American League squad, Ichiro is pretty cool too.
Yet, for all his brilliance, the M’s have only been to the playoffs once during the Ichiro Era (his first season, 2001, he hit a mere .421 in the playoffs). This year he is surrounded in the lineup by the likes of Raul Ibanez, Adrian Beltre, Jose Vidro, and Kenji Johjima. Great players to hit in the bottom half of the lineup for a playoff contender. Terrible guys to have as the core of your team.
He;s stuck in Seattle until 2012, but he’s already 34. How many great years can this guy have left? It’s a shame and a waste that this giant of the hardball world has spent the best years of his career in a baseball wasteland. Good God, imagine what a legend he would be if he played for a halfway decent club or in a halfway decent media market for the past seven years. Woe is the fan who hasn’t seen the Ichiro experience, damn you Seattle for keeping it to yourselves.
**Editor’s note – For some reason I thought Ichiro was going to free from the M’s after this season. Thanks to the anonymous reader who pointed out that Ichiro is locked up through 2012. Great gooodly moodly.
Filed Under: Uncategorized
Tags: Cleveland Indians • Ichiro Suzuki • Seattle Mariners
This guy is better than advertised, too bad his team is 38-62.
erie scribe needs to become more dedicated to watching sports if he is just now figuring out ichiro is a stud. last time i checked erie was in steeler county?
Steeler county? No sir, anon. I’m in Brownstown, baby!
Ichiro is under contract with the mariners until 2012.
I guess I was practicing wishful thinking. And, I’m a moron