One of the throwaway comments from Jesse's post had to do with silencing Ichiro's critics. Does Ichiro have critics? Who? And why?!? Seems pretty clear what he is... an aging table-setter who still wreaks havoc with opposing pitchers, but whose ultimate value is directly dependent on having run-producers elsewhere in the lineup. There's only so much a guy like that can do. Is he catching flak for leadership stuff? That's lame. I don't think you address that kind of thing by criticizing the guy who isn't leading... you add guys who will lead. You can't blame Seattle's situation on Ichiro.
posted by Jeff at
11:07 AM
1 Comments:
I think the case against Ichiro goes like this:
1) His hits record doesn't really count for as much as people think because they were all singles.
2) Ichiro is selfish because he doesn't take walks and/or stupid because he doesn't appreciate the value of walking/OBP.
3) Ichiro is selfish because he puts too much weight on his own personal achievements like getting 200 hits every year and not team success.
4) Ichiro is selfish for not moving to center field where he would clearly be more valuable.
5) Corner outfielders need to hit for power.
I've seen all of these comments a much of places. Rob Neyer seems like he has to hedge the "media hype" over Ichiro whenever Ichiro does something great. And any number of bloggers and stathead people who worship at the alter of OBP have said similar things over the years.
I think the selfishness stuff is totally and obviously ridiculous. But some of the other side remarks are potential marks against his the possibilities of him making the hall of fame I guess--although I imagine that will actually have everything to do with how long he's able to stay effective. Anyway, he's not as effective when he tries to take more pitches, and the Mariners haven't yet been in a situation where the overall outfield defense would be improved by moving him to center, so those are overstated even when they might have some merit.
And since the Mariners can't even seem to get a dominant power-hitting LFer, the lack-of-power-in-RF complaint seems pointless. So, I'd like for people who say all that to have to really eat their words.
By
Jesse, at 7:50 PM
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