![]() His obituaries this week praise him as a major force on Title IX, which has enriched sports for women – for everybody – in America, but I don’t recall him presenting himself as the Title IX guy. Now I can’t remember the reason he called. I was curious why a former US senator wanted to talk to a sports columnist, and of course I called him back. There’s that.īirch Bayh called me at the Times about a decade ago. And the launch-crowd types never got to mess with his swing. His arm, his glove, his calculated speed on the base paths, his batting-practice homers and his gametime singles made him a legend.įans around the world got to see him excel at the highest level. That said, Ichiro was a spectacle, to be observed and respected as one of a kind. I had one Japanese reporter tell me, ‘If you think he’s rude to you guys, he treats us even worse.’” “From the day Ichiro arrived from Japan, to the day I retired, he was exceedingly rude to American reporters, whether giving snide answers to good questions or making fun of -‘s girth. He could speak street English in the dugout but maintained a reserve through an interpreter with reporters and other outsiders.įrom the book "Life from the Press Box" by long-time Mariners beat reporter Jim Street: However, teammates noticed he never dived for a ball in the outfield and noticed his special care and handling in the clubhouse. He got along well with Ken Griffey, who traveled to Tokyo for Ichiro’s farewell - superstars bonding via their respect for the game. Ichiro was a force of his own, who would not have won a popularity contest in the clubhouse or the press box. He was already a force.īut young American hitters are hearing the “wisdom” of the age that is turning Major League Baseball into a dreary home-run derby, hard to watch, with players trudging impassively back from home plate with the secure knowledge they took their launch-angle cut, on orders from on high.Ģ. He was going to do things his way, and he had the advantage of a Japanese ownership with the Mariners. Ichiro arrived in North America with his climate-control bat case and his pre-game snack of a rice ball. Ichiro and Oh could do that because they had the security of a culture that prizes ritual and history. He also had the martial discipline of Sadaharu Oh, the greatest home-run producer in baseball history, who took time out to swing a Samurai sword to help him with his home-run cut. Of course, Ichiro arrived in Seattle with the statistics of the greatest hit-producer in Japanese history. 329 in his debut last season, making him scramble for a utility job in the outfield. ![]() I see how the Mets are doing their best to minimize Jeff McNeil, a late bloomer who made 74 hits and batted. The analytics crowd is currently retrofitting the new generation of hitters. The numbers guy might see him produce long balls in batting practice – which he could do, any time – and insist he do the same during games. He might be turned over to the analytics types in their bat cave, who would "suggest" he could have more “pop” if only he had a better “launch arc.” ![]() I can only speculate what would happen today if a player with similar skills arrived from Japan to the so-called Major Leagues. Two thoughts about Ichiro Suzuki, who just retired:ġ.
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