Ichiro Suzuki: Underappreciated in America

As the 2009 baseball season comes to its end, what will people remember looking back on the year: the dominance of the New York Yankees during the regular season, Manny Ramirez busted for a steroid suspension of 50 games, the return of Pedro Martinez, the upcoming post season developments? Lost in the settling dust of the 2009 MLB baseball calendar will be the crowning achievements of Ichiro Suzuki, who has already collected his 200th hit of the season in the same year that he also collected his 2000 hit of his MLB career. Of course, this does not include any of his hits from earlier in his career while playing in Japan. 

Ichiro, who came to the Seattle Mariners in 2001, has now collected at least 200 hits in a season for the 9th straight year--every year that he has played in the majors. Pete Rose holds the 200 hit per season record at 10. But when you consider that Rose played in the majors for 23 years and that his greatest span of consecutive 200 hit seasons was 3, Ichiro's achievements are even more impressive. Consider some of Ichiro's other career achievements: American league MVP and rookie of the year in 2001, American League batting champion in 2001 and 2004, 9 time all-star. The winner of 8 gold gloves as a right fielder and center fielder, Ichiro possesses a strong throwing arm and is one of the great defensive outfielders over this past decade. He also has 340 career stolen bases. In 2004, he collected 262 base hits, setting the all-time MLB baseball single season hit record. Ichiro became the 2nd fastest major league player to reach 2000 hits (recording it in 1402 games). 

Yet, baseball America doesn't seem to give Ichiro the fanfare he so richly deserves. Why? Maybe playing on the sleepy west coast in Seattle in a time zone incompatible with ESPN's east coast preference has something to do with it. Also, since the end of the Lou Piniella era earlier in the decade, the mariners as a team have been woeful in recent years. Another factor: baseball pundits often appear to be irked by Ichiro's lack of power and run production. Chicks dig the long ball, indeed. But while he may not be comparable to Albert Pujols or Alex Rodriguez in terms of slugging or run production, Ichiro's hitting, fielding, and running dominance makes him a very special player. 

Even more special about the contributions of Ichiro are the historic and cultural implications on the game of baseball. While there were several Japanese pitchers to play at the major league level before him, Ichiro was one of the first Japanese position players (if not the first) to play in the majors. He was the first Japanese player to be a league MVP and batting champion. Think about how teams have changed the ways they evaluate players, with more now setting up scouting divisions in the far east, as a result of Ichiro's impact at the major league level. As Bob Geren, manager of the Oakland A's, commented several weeks ago, "Even though there were players from Japan before him, Ichiro's the one you think about first." 

Next year, with 10 years of major league baseball service under his belt, Ichiro becomes officially eligible for hall of fame consideration after he retires. And there doesn't appear to be any sign of the great Ichiro slowing down. Despite being 35 years old, 3000 MLB hits are a real possibility for him. Regardless of his contributions after putting in his 10th season, he is a worthy hall of fame candidate for dominating during his era and for making a significant historic/cultural impact on the game of baseball. 

The following sources contributed to this post:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aHIT1PmXL4ZY

file:///Users/adam/Desktop/Ichiro%20defies%20critics%20and%20odds%20-%20MLB%20-%20Yahoo!%20Sports.webarchive

Meaning Behind the Moustache

We see it all the time in sports: the moustache. But what does it mean? In different sports, it may have different meanings and associations. If you see it in baseball, you may be thinking of a crafty veteran pitcher from years past who was able to find a way to get guys out. In fact he may have originally been a starter, but used his craftiness to become a proficient closer. Examples include Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers.

Some of them may have had some overpowering stuff, but these guys usually had some facial hair or beard to go with the stache. They had an intimidating style in a blue collar sort of way. Bruce Sutter and Jeff Reardon come to mind....

 

And if you saw the Fu Manchu thing, the guy certainly had a mean streak in him. He wanted to throw high and tight before eventually striking you out. Goose Gossage all the way.

And while we are on baseball, let's not forget some of the position players as well (Bill Buckner and Keith Hernandez below).

The moustache carries over in other sports and certainly has some kind of meaning, particularly with football coaches. At the college level, there seem to be very few coaches who have moustaches, beards, or any facial hair for that matter. The explanation may lie behind the association with the stache: creepiness. With these coaches knocking on the doorstep to recruit high school boys, no mother wants to let a middle-aged man with a creepy moustache come take her son away to play football in another state. A clean shaved face on a college football coach represents integrity and sincerity. 

However, in the NFL, the moustache is fashioned by coaches on a regular basis. It probably was made famous by Ditka, but lives on with other coaches from the modern era, such as Andy Reid and Mike Holmgren. These coaches look like they are going for the look of a walrus. Moustaches in the NFL seem to represent knowledge, wizardry, or expertise. Jeff Fisher's sun glasses with the stache represents a cool and calm demeanor on the sidelines. 

 

So next time you see a moustache while you're watching the game, remember: not only does it look good, but it probably means something about the person.

Close The Book On Prior

Major League Baseball is reporting that the padres are releasing Mark Prior. Cub fans remember Prior as the golden arm that guided the cubs to within 5 outs of the 2003 world series. Of course, cub fans also remember Prior as a pitcher who was chronically injured after the 2003 season, and who never regained the same glory there after. Prior's last game in the majors was with the cubs in a game against the brewers on August 10, 2006. For the last three seasons, he was with the padres, trying to rehab his shoulder and make a comeback in their minor league system. But as manager Bud Black reported, he just could never "get over the hump." Most likely it looks like Prior, at the age of 28, is done with baseball. 

When looking back on Prior, he is often associated with being a victim of the pitch count. 5 or 6 years ago, when pitch count data was not regarded as highly as it is today, it was not uncommon for Prior to go out and throw 120 to 130 pitches in a game. Former cub manager Dusty Baker, who was managing Prior at the time, was criticized by cub fans back then (and even more so today) for extending Prior and other pitchers on the staff, and"abusing young arms." In game 2 of the 2003 NLCS against the marlins, Prior made 116 pitches and stayed well into a game that the cubs won easily in a blow out. Perhaps a more rested Prior would have had a little bit left in the tank in game 6 of the series to complete that fateful 8th inning...

Other associations come to mind when looking back on Prior, especially if you are a cub fan: chronic elbow, Achilles heel, and shoulder problems, several freak injuries, unraveling in game 6 of the NLCS against the marlins, and a low tolerance for pain. Most of these associations are unfair, especially one in which a man's tolerance for pain is judged by others. It may have been that Prior's aloof, California attitude made him not as real or reachable for cub fans. 

2 crowning moments in Prior's career that are often over looked were games in which he struck out 16 batters. In June of 2003, Prior struck out 16 brewers. In September of 2004, he accomplished the same feat, striking out 16 reds. These games are probably not fondly remembered by cub fans for several reasons: the cubs actually lost both of them, with the game against the reds being lost in 12 innings; also, the game against the reds in late September 2004 is often associated with the cubs collapse for the wild card that season, as a horrible reds team took 3 of 4 from the free falling cubs at Wrigley Field in the last week of the regular season. 

Striking out 16 batters on two different occasions may not be as glorious as Kerry Wood's legendary 20 strikeout game against the astros in 1998, but it's still something to remember. And while number 22 on the cubs will always be remembered more for Bill Buckner, maybe it should also be remembered for brief flashes of brilliance from cub pitcher Mark Prior during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. 

The following sources contributed to this post:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/27/sports/national-league-roundup-prior-strikes-out-16-but-cubs-fall-to-brewers.html

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/08/report-says-mark-prior-to-be-released-by-padres.html#comments

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040930&content_id=876702&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Weighing In On Cutler: John Lynch Provides Voice Of Reason

So who is he: over hyped gun slinger, man child who pouted and demanded to be traded, and who lacks leadership skills necessary to win a play off game, or....legend waiting to happen, victim of circumstances from bad NFL politics led by a 33 year old rookie head football coach and over the hill owner in Denver? Since Jay Cutler arrived in Chicago this past off season in a blockbuster trade the day after April Fools Day, perception and speculation has varied greatly depending on who you talk to and what you read...all the way from Denver Bronco message boards to rabid bear fans lighting up sports talk radio phone circuits like Christmas trees to talk Cutler. To put in Chicago perspective, bronco fans might describe Cutler as "Mark Prior post 2003", reserved and aloof, not a team player, and snubbing autograph seekers. On the other hand, some bronco fans were so upset Cutler was traded, they were reporting to give up their bronco allegiances. Meanwhile in Chicagoland, it wouldn't be surprising if fans expect Cutler to win multiple super bowls while curing Diabetes at the same time. And then there are those pictures surfacing on the Internet--of Cutler, 26 years old and single, having drinks and enjoying some of the Chicago night life in the middle of the NFL off season. Opinions vary from "no big deal" to "grow up, kid." So when weighing in on Cutler, who can give us a straight answer?

Those following the situation may want to defer to John Lynch, a former all pro safety for the Tampa Bay Bucs and Denver Broncos, who played in 9 pro bowls and has one super bowl ring from his days with the bucs. As good as Lynch was as a player, he may be more widely known for being a great guy both on and off the field. During his college days at Stanford, Lynch began his career as a quarterback, but sustained critical injuries that forced him out of the position. While a lot of college kids would have thrown in the towel, Lynch persevered and learned an entirely new position in the defensive backfield. As a perennial all-pro and one of the NFL's most feared tacklers, Lynch was nominated as a finalist for the NFL Walter Payton man of the year award multiple times. Lynch, who is married and has 4 children, also runs a notable foundation (johnlynchfoundation.org) promoting and recognizing leadership skills among today's youth. 

Lynch's thoughts on Jay Cutler are insightful for a host of reasons: he played with Cutler during his time with the broncos, his background gives him credible perspective, and he understands what it takes to be a leader on and off the football field. In the middle of July, Lynch was interviewed on ESPN Chicago radio, and here is what he had to say when asked about his former teammate Jay Cutler:  

"I like Jay, he's a friend of mine,...He had some growing up to do, probably still has some growing up to do. But in saying that, I think the Broncos erred in letting him go.

"This is a guy, in my mind, that's a once-in-every-15-year-type talent. He's got that kind of skill. I think he'll grow into the other things. I sometimes think during this whole ordeal, they tried to paint him as a bad guy, but he's not a bad guy at all. He's got some growing up to do, but hopefully he learned something from this whole ordeal and offseason."

"I think he's very reserved and to himself, and that's fine...I think sometimes it's just the way -- I hate to put it on this -- but sometimes the new generation. They just don't understand things that you think everyone should understand. I think he wants to learn. I think he's reached out to people trying to learn, and I think he will because as I said, once you get to know him on a one-on-one basis, he's by no means a bad person or a bad teammate. He's just, as I mentioned, got some things to grow up in."

So there you have it. Sounds like good news for bears fans....based on what Lynch is saying. For right now, I'll take his word.  

The following sources contributed to this post:

http://johnlynchfoundation.org/john-lynch-foundation.aspx

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4336504

http://nwe.scout.com/a.z?s=121&p=8&c=1&nid=3902925

Twins Leaving The Metrodome Doesn't Make A Lot Of Sense

Some things in sports don't make much sense. "Utah Jazz", 11 teams in the Big Ten--these things don't seem to make sense. So when the twins say goodbye to the metrodome at the end of the season to move into the outdoor Target Field next year, I'll add that to my list of things in sports that don't make much sense. 

 From most reports, locals in the twin cities are excited to get out of the dome and finally see baseball in the sun. The proposed Target Field will also help generate extra revenue for the twins--a successful and winning team over the years despite playing in a smaller market. But how successful will the twins continue to be as a baseball team without their significant home field Hump dome advantage? 

Through the years, the twins have mastered the art of small ball to take advantage of their dome surroundings. As a result of playing on bouncy AstroTurf and under a ceiling that is the same white color of a baseball, the twins have drafted and developed players who can run, catch a baseball, and understand fundamentals--not easy to do these days. In fact, the twins play small ball and understand fundamentals better than any team in the MLB. They have some of the best scouts, a great manager who understands fundamentals, and a great former manager who understood it as well. Good enough to earn the respect of Ozzie Guillen, who refers to the twins as "piranhas" for their aggressive small ball play.

Looking at the franchise's history, the twins won two world series titles in '87 and '91, with both series going 7 games. Amazingly, the twins posted a combined 8 - 0 metrodome record in both series. Over the years, the twins have had impressive home records. As a result, they have been successful, winning American League Central division titles in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006, and tying for the division title last year (losing to the white sox in game 163 last season played in Chicago). These are amazing accomplishments for a team playing with limited payroll in a smaller market. In addition to the emphasis on speed and fundamentals preached throughout the organization, throw in the other advantages of the metrodome for the twins, such as quirky ground rules that give visiting teams fits and ear shattering crowd noise amplified by the enclosed roof. 

Speaking of the roof, the humpdome ceiling along with the "baggie" out in right field and rock hard AstroTurf may have looked a bit tacky over the years, but I'm sure fans in the stands attending games in the months of April and May weren't complaining about the climate controlled temps at a balmy 70 degrees inside, as spring snow storms were pelting their cars in the lots outside. 

If you were going to build another stadium in Minnesota, how could it not have a retractable roof?

Be careful what you wish for, twin fans. For me, leaving the metrodome for an outdoor field doesn't make a lot of sense. 

The following sources contributed to this post:

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11758062

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/derek_jeter_says_metrodome_gave_minnesota_twins_an_edge/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_World_Series

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_World_Series

Hot Stove talk in July: Cubs Should Get Sanchez

Since it feels like winter this July in Chicago and since we are nearing the July 31st trade deadline, why not heat up the hot stove? The cubs should snatch Freddy Sanchez away from the bucs and put him in at 2nd base. The pirates general manager, Neal Huntington, is no different from former pirate GM Dave Littlefield. He's the kid that everyone on the block wants to trade baseball cards with. Maybe that's unfair, given small market economic factors--but that's the way it is. Jim Hendry feasted on the acquisitions of Aramis Ramirez, Randal Simon, and Kenny Lofton from the pirates back in 2003, while giving up almost nothing in return. That worked out pretty well, and so it's time to rethink this same strategy. If the braves were able to pick up Nate McLouth for a bag of marbles from the pirates, why couldn't the cubs offer up some more of the same? 

The pirates will settle for mid tier prospects: throw in a Sam Fuld, maybe a pitcher or two from the DeRosa deal. And then plug in Sanchez at 2nd base everyday. No more of this Fontenot, Baker, Miles stuff. Fontenot is a solid bench player with some good pop. He is great off the bench for 200 to 300 at bats, but anything more than that and he becomes a liability. 

The finances of Sanchez's contract could complicate the move. He's currently earning 6 million with an option to earn 8 mil next year if he gets 600 at bats this year (so far this year he has about 350 at bats).  Given his solid numbers over the last few seasons (2006 NL batting champion, and currently 314, 354, 474, 828), Sanchez is a relative bargain and will be a good investment for any team looking to add some offense. Unfortunately for the cubs, the current ownership limbo and financial constrains will make it challenging for them to once again swap baseball cards with the bucs and get this guy. I've always been a fan, even before his 6 hit game against the cubs earlier this year at Wrigley.