Ichiro/Sisler Watch!

Outlier anyone? Check today's Hardball Times for a great article on Ichiro's regression.

He has definitely lost a step or two speedwise. He flubbed a flyball yesterday, not too different from the one that got away last week.

His range on the flub (scored a single) looked feeble, like there was no doubt that a ball in semi-shallow right was a potential out (the A's fans were particularly shocked at the miscue). Ichiro got a bad jump, and the play was bookended by a particularly ungraceful finish (he inadvertantly kicked the ball into the infield after the flub).

Except he hasn't done it -- his SLG is down from last year, and is right in line with his career average. Sacrificing loads of BA and OBP in order to hit the ball in air more and drive a few more balls out of the park isn't making him more of a productive player, judging by the correlations between G/FB ratios and his BA.

Look, I don't think he's as good as he was last year. But neither is he ready for the scrap heap, either as a player or in the court of baseball-nerd public opinion. A lot of OMG SO AWESOME players were allowed to slip off after a stat-spike season and it was treated like "well that was predictable." Seems like people just want to go "haha told you he wasn't any good." I think he's also suffered from having one of the crappiest lineups in baseball behind him; what's the point of getting another 262 hits if there's no one to knock you in?

Who's called him 'substandard'? That'd be silly. Overhyped without a doubt.

He's one of those exciting, stylish players who's fun to watch (who the hell knows how he makes contact with some of those swings) but just... is... not... GREAT. (unless he hits .360)

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=430838

Doesn't change the fact that he's #1.

Okay so someone explain to me again why Ichiro wasn't always in CF?

1) Mike Cameron
2) He was a big baby about moving from RF

Heh well it's clearly not cuz he can't play the position.

it seems like he's always watching out about being hurt. it limits his range.

Uh his Zone Rating is really really good (.916) and he's made 50 plays OUTSIDE of his zone according to Hardball Times.

Back in the day he was very awed by Mike Cameron's defensive plays, I remember him praising MC very highly. I think he said at one point that he was the best player he ever played with (take that A-Rod!)

He never played with A-Rod though?

a-rod = adrian beltrod.

I didn't get to watch much of the game the other day, but I have to say, what I saw was awesome. You know, the one where Seattle was playing. Against some team. TBH I completely forget now. Anyway, Ichiro's up, hit a single grounder to the left (and basically STOPS the bat mid-swing when he realizes it's an off-speed pitch, too), 3rd baseman makes a spectacular diving play + throw and still doesn't beat Ichiro because the dude is amazing.

Then Ichiro steals second. Then Ichiro steals third. Then some dude hits a grounder to third, 3rd baseman makes a nice catch, looks at home and realizes he has NO chance of catching Ichiro, and trows to first for the out which he gets.

It's been a while since I've watched much baseball but I REALLY like watching Seattle. If I didn't hate their cap so much I would buy one! (I think I used to have one in the mid 90s, actually, but that was the mid 90s when navy and green were ok together, amirite?)

i won't buy another mariners cap until they do away with the teal. fuck that color.

alex, with his speed i think his range could be even wider. (but my thinking is more based on watching him than any statistical analysis)

wow this thread kinda makes me hate all of you, now i see why all the cool ppl left for I luv football

Do you like teal a lot.

THIRD IN BLORP!~!!!! PONDER THAT U SECRET-KOREAN ICHIRO HATERS

(NICK SWISHER THINKS U CAN SUCK A DICK BTW, NO HOMO)

HI DERE MORAN

NE MORE TRADE OFFERS LOL?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4329684

Haha I like that Ichiro is coyly bitching about the team dress code while talking up the prez.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/3724404004_792e3eb603_b.jpg

Ichiro is crushing hard in that picture.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/ichiro-surprises-keeper-ichimeter-special-thank-presents-232543149--mlb.html

One hit away from 4000!

bbr: ichiro's WAR in '04 was 9.2, which led the league (3rd in mlb behind bonds and beltre)

Third post on this thread:

Raul Ibanez is 5 for 5.
― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, August 17, 2004 9:32 PM (9 years ago)

Know who else had 4000 hits? Jigger Statz.

http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ddd7d6e6

http://deadspin.com/last-night-on-fox-sports-1-the-worst-sports-panel-disc-1182957398

Haha good grief

was sure before i clicked that Pete Rose wd've been invited

wow what a meas

Read a couple of things yesterday that both concluded he'd be at or very close to 4,000 if he'd started in Seattle at age 21. A big factor is that all those years in Japan, he was playing a 136-game schedule.