Ichiro to the Yankees

Yanks gave up a couple of nobodys for him. But then again, Ichiro is washed up so the trade is a wash.

I predict he'll hit at a .300+ clip the rest of the year in pinstripes.

His on base percentage is .288. It was .310 last year. It's not what you're looking for from a singles hitter. He's a bandaid until Swisher is healthy.

i can picture him gettting some big hits in October

I'll offer this fishing anolgoy;

These 'late come to the Yankees at the end of your career guys' are like fighting marlin. They fight and they fight and just when you think they're done, they surface, join the Yankees and hit like crazy for two months before they give up and get pulled in the boat.

Ichiro is just a marlin with a little more fight in him.

I've always felt Ichiro should have adapted/evolved into a power hitter. His average might be down as he can't leg out as many infield singles. But if you've ever seen the man take batting practice he can hit homeruns at will. His BP is an amazing showcase of power.

He made a career slapping out singles but at Yankee stadium he could make a mini-career whacking bombs. Time to let loose, Ichiro: It's easier to walk around the bases.

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Originally posted by Bum:
at Yankee stadium he could make a mini-career whacking bombs.

Safeco RF: 326 ft
Yankee Stadium RF: 315 ft

11 feet for redemption

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JMoff said....I'll offer this fishing anolgoy;

These 'late come to the Yankees at the end of your career guys' are like fighting marlin. They fight and they fight and just when you think they're done, they surface, join the Yankees and hit like crazy for two months before they give up and get pulled in the boat.

Ichiro is just a marlin with a little more fight in him.

That is hilarious and so TRUE!

I think he may have more than just a few months "left in the tank."

He needed this change in scenery and an opportunity to compete again for a title and play with other proven stars. I think he will help them tremendously and could be a bigger contributor next year.

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Originally posted by Bum:
I've always felt Ichiro should have adapted/evolved into a power hitter. His average might be down as he can't leg out as many infield singles. But if you've ever seen the man take batting practice he can hit homeruns at will. His BP is an amazing showcase of power.

He made a career slapping out singles but at Yankee stadium he could make a mini-career whacking bombs. Time to let loose, Ichiro: It's easier to walk around the bases.

I tend to agree. He certainly has the talent and intelligence to make such an adjustment.

I remember reading about Ty Cobb answering a question as to why he did not hit for more power. He told the reporter that swinging for the fences was easy, but it lowered ones on base %. So he adjusted his grip on the bat which was higher(some would consider choked up)than normal, and did bp with a lower grip. Sure enough he started belting them out.

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Originally posted by northwest:
As a Seattle fan and native, it was time. I like this move if for anything else to get him out of town.

Why to get him out of town? I would have liked to see him retire in a M's uni.

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Originally posted by zombywoof:
Yanks gave up a couple of nobodys for him. But then again, Ichiro is washed up so the trade is a wash.

"Nobodys" is a relative term. Both are young, skilled RHP's. One is a good friend who is just "figuring it out"....just went 11 innings with 14 K's, one hit no walks for Yankees AAA.

To me it's kind of sad that Ichiro couldn't remain a Mariner for his entire career. I would think he's among the top 3 players in franchise history (Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, and Ichiro, and after that the closest you get is Edgar Martinez; after that you have to stretch to claim A-Rod).

But to those who think he's washed up, don't bet on it. I suspect that some of his tailing off may relate to the depressing effect of having to play for a team hopelessly out of contention year after year.

Personally I hope he can return to form and actually get all the way to 3,000 hits before he's done.

Though I have enjoyed the somewhat rejuvenated Andruw Jones and I'm wondering now if his PT is going to suffer. (The way Jones has played the last 5 years, I keep expecting someone to discover that he's actually already 42. But the amazing fall of his career is a story all its own I guess.)

I agree. Ichiro is oh so talented. He could really get hot with the playoffs coming up.

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Originally posted by Dad04:

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Originally posted by zombywoof:
Yanks gave up a couple of nobodys for him. But then again, Ichiro is washed up so the trade is a wash.

"Nobodys" is a relative term. Both are young, skilled RHP's. One is a good friend who is just "figuring it out"....just went 11 innings with 14 K's, one hit no walks for Yankees AAA.

Should be careful when one calls someone a nobody, you never know who knows who!

Too bad Danny can't keep this years air miles.

I think he's got a better chance where he's going.

Yes, he' 38 and nearing the end of his career but Seattle was simply ******* the life out of him. Watching a guy like Figgens show and take the money while not producing plus essentially playing with a bunch of AAA/AAAA guys (not including Felix of course) for years took it's toll. He will feel a sense of rejuvenation, a sense of purpose with the Yankees and as stated earlier I to believe he will hit around .300 with New York as well as being highly productive defensively.

"believe he will hit around .300 with New York"

is that like .260 ?

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Originally posted by TPM:

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Originally posted by Dad04:

quote:

Originally posted by zombywoof:
Yanks gave up a couple of nobodys for him. But then again, Ichiro is washed up so the trade is a wash.

"Nobodys" is a relative term. Both are young, skilled RHP's. One is a good friend who is just "figuring it out"....just went 11 innings with 14 K's, one hit no walks for Yankees AAA.

Should be careful when one calls someone a nobody, you never know who knows who!

Too bad Danny can't keep this years air miles.

I think he's got a better chance where he's going.

I think he's got a shot there. He was killing it at AAA SWB, which is why he earned trade bait status. Tacoma's his 5th team this year.

This is also great for the other nobody that was traded, DJ Mitchell (Clemson).

DJ was already on the 25 man roster, working as a reliever.

Not too shabby for a young 25 year old college CF turned pitcher.

I keep thinking about how upset his folks were that he wasn't in the game everyday!

Zomby, you should check in to the internet, many people feel that the Mariners were the real winners in this deal.

I was reading about DJ (saw the Clemson thing) and saw that he was a converted CF. He's done remarkably well. I knew you knew him.

Ichiro wanted out. Seattle got solid two pitchers who want in real bad. Seattle might have gotten the best deal.

I agree Mildo, he is running out of years and no one can blame him for wanting to top off the trophy case with a World Series MVP.

However wishing to leave so the "young guys" can get playing time, does anyone really believe that?

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Originally posted by Bear:
"believe he will hit around .300 with New York"

is that like .260 ?

Ichiro left the Ms hitting .261. As a Yankee starting 23 Jul through 17 Aug he's hitting .300 (bringing his season average up to around .267)

Ichiro's contract is a far larger concern than his play. He's getting paychecks in A-Rod territory.

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Originally posted by JPontiac:
Ichiro's contract is a far larger concern than his play. He's getting paychecks in A-Rod territory.

Not so much for the Yankees. They can afford to overpay. The only time Yankee contracts are an issue is if these layers don't pruduce world series appearances/wins and a shot every year to win the WS. While many of their players are homegrown thru the farm system and have paid many big contracts for current and free agant players, 17 of 18 years in the playoffs seven world series appearances and five world series titles is what the Yankees are looking at. A few overpaid players along the way that may or not work out can easily be covered by the Yanks.

As far as Ichiro goes, I think he's the right player at the right time for the Yanks. Brett Gardner out for the year and Ichiro speed is much needed in the Yankee lineup and should hit better since he's got a far more explosive lineup surrounding him. Whatever his salary is, it's not an issue since he's expected to and most likely will contrbute to give Yanks a better shot to win a world champiobship.

Kenny Albert, it was not a Yogi'ism when he said McCarver talks to much. It's the truth.

McCarver, STFU. You make my ears bleed.

So, to sum up. In 67 games with the Yankees Ichiro hit .322, played errorless defense (103 chances) and stole 14 bases. Overall a solid effort. Now comes the post season.

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Originally posted by snowman:
So, to sum up. In 67 games with the Yankees Ichiro hit .322, played errorless defense (103 chances) and stole 14 bases. Overall a solid effort. Now comes the post season.

The way I see it Ichiro only had 55 runs and rbi's in 67 games. Extended to 162 games it would be the equivilant of 66 runs and 66 rbi's. That's hardly great productivity. He only hit .277 with runners in scoring position.

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Originally posted by RJM:

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Originally posted by snowman:
So, to sum up. In 67 games with the Yankees Ichiro hit .322, played errorless defense (103 chances) and stole 14 bases. Overall a solid effort. Now comes the post season.

The way I see it Ichiro only had 55 runs and rbi's in 67 games. Extended to 162 games it would be the equivilant of 66 runs and 66 rbi's. That's hardly great productivity. He only hit .277 with runners in scoring position.

Sorry. Didn't know SOLID was spelled G R E A T.

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Originally posted by snowman:

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Originally posted by RJM:

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Originally posted by snowman:
So, to sum up. In 67 games with the Yankees Ichiro hit .322, played errorless defense (103 chances) and stole 14 bases. Overall a solid effort. Now comes the post season.

The way I see it Ichiro only had 55 runs and rbi's in 67 games. Extended to 162 games it would be the equivilant of 66 runs and 66 rbi's. That's hardly great productivity. He only hit .277 with runners in scoring position.

Sorry. Didn't know SOLID was spelled G R E A T.

I wouldn't call these stats even solid. I would use the word mediocre.

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RJM said....The way I see it Ichiro only had 55 runs and rbi's in 67 games. Extended to 162 games it would be the equivilant of 66 runs and 66 rbi's. That's hardly great productivity. He only hit .277 with runners in scoring position.

I think you have to factor in (somewhere) where Ichiro was hitting in the Yankee lineup. Look at me JH and Zombywoof.....I'm defending a Yankee.... of all things. Gerardi had him hitting in the 9 spot for a lot of the season since the trade, and now he's moved him into the 2 hole for the playoffs. Gerardi is a LOT smarter than he looks. Last night it paid off with Ichiro hitting a full count double RBI. The man can hit.

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Originally posted by fenwaysouth:

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RJM said....The way I see it Ichiro only had 55 runs and rbi's in 67 games. Extended to 162 games it would be the equivilant of 66 runs and 66 rbi's. That's hardly great productivity. He only hit .277 with runners in scoring position.

I think you have to factor in (somewhere) where Ichiro was hitting in the Yankee lineup. Look at me JH and Zombywoof.....I'm defending a Yankee.... of all things. Gerardi had him hitting in the 9 spot for a lot of the season since the trade, and now he's moved him into the 2 hole for the playoffs. Gerardi is a LOT smarter than he looks. Last night it paid off with Ichiro hitting a full count double RBI. The man can hit.

I prefer 67 games as a sampling to one game. Besides, my comment is based on what others said about his season's production since being acquired by the Yankees.

Even though I knew the Yanks got Ichro for basically a bag of baseballs, I really didn't think he had much left other than he still had speed. Ichiro has proven to be very valuable down the stretch and made his mark early in the playoffs. Right now, it looks like a very good pickup for Yanks and Ichiro has got a second wind getting out of Seattle. What I like is as big a star he is, he did whatever the Yankees asked him to do and didn't show up anybody of act as if he was to big to platoon or hit 8th in the batting order. And once he became a force in the lineup, he's where he belongs now up in the order.