Now that’s consistency
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Aug 16, 2009 
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I promise, last post about Ichiro this weekend. But it’s hard to resist passing on this note the Mariners have.
Ichiro last went consecutive games without a hit on Aug. 13 and 15, 2008. He has gone 150 games since. That’s the longest streak in the majors since Stan Musial went 174 games from 1943-44 and the longest streak in the American League since Doc Cramer went 191 games from 1934-35.
Ichiro is 27 hits shy of recording 200 hits for the ninth straight season. That would be an all-time record.
suzuki a great player
so tired of hearing about ichiro
Yeah, but will any of his own teammates be there for his induction to Cooperstown?
and it’s produced a ton of wins for his team.
I remember the George of the late 80′s and early to mid-90′s…..let’s just say that I was happy when he was suspended. That said, overall – the man wanted to win more than anything else. He didn’t know how to go about it, though – and just sort of ordered his baseball people to make stupid moves that killed the franchise for a long time. He thought baseball was like football and tried to motivate players by yelling at them and publicly calling them out – that always made me very uncomfortable. This same man also gave Strawberry and Gooden chances when no one else did, and this was when things were really bad for them…..George has a very compassionate side to him.
Hank I could do without – in his short tenure as self-appointed spokesman, he showed me absolutely nothing. I just wanted him to shut up. I still don’t know that much about Hal, but he’s smart, he trusts his baseball people and he doesn’t like publicity. That’s an A-OK combination. I really hope the Steinbrenners don’t sell the team when George passes……
IIRC, he also has a career BA of over .300 against every AL team.
Pete, could you check that out to see if its accurate?
If it is, that’s amazing.
Ichiro Suzuki is a “Dominator” of his position for the decade. He is a sure-fire HOF ballplayer. He has a future date in Cooperstown and it will be a great party!
300 avg. vs. EVERY AL team?
Insane.
If the Steinbrenner’s do sell the team, I hope it’s to Jeter. It’d be awesome if Jeter owned the Yankees.
Isn’t that the second Doc Cramer reference this week?
I think “Doc” was a nickname, in lieu of his given name – Cosmo.
Can anyone explain why Ichiro’s teammates hate him so much? Maybe give some examples? Thanks a lot.
Ichiro is a dominator? Okay then.
Albert Pujols is a dominator. Manny Ramirez is a dominator. Alex Rodriguez is a dominator.
Ichiro not so much.
I don’t know if it’s there yet – maybe not until the Yankees start winning again – but I would love to get to the point where players really WANT to come to NY. I think now they don’t mind coming, but for a few years there, they actually specifically wanted to come.
He does the same thing every game, so whey wouldn’t he have the same results everywhere? The ability to lob baseballs over the infield is not particularly effected by Park Factors.
Well, Tex and Swisher both said they wanted to come to NY.
Yeah, players don’t want to come to NY lol.
Who’s the last player the Yankees wanted that didn’t want to come to NY?
Smoltz? Maddux 15 years ago?
Trust me, when the Steinbrenners open their checkbooks players listen with open ears.
Do the Yankees now have the best bullpen in baseball?
interesting thought…
Of course the Yankees typically get the players they want when they open the checkbook…
but will we see a day when players give NY a “hometown discount” for a chance to either join such a great club or to stay with the club??
It has happened with teams like the NE Patriots.
If a player wants a shot at a title, the Yankees are the team to be on right now.
That’s worth something!
Betsy,
3 guys really wanted to come to NY this past off-season.
If they didn’t, they had good options elsewhere.
AJ Burnett could have gone to Atlanta for 2 million dollars less. When you factor in the tax savings, he left a better deal on the table in Atlanta to come to NY.
I heard the Angels went up to 150 for Sabathia. If true, that’s close enough to keep negotiating and try to push it a little higher. Instead, CC took the Yankees offer.
We all know Tex was ready to sign with the Red Sox until the infamous Dallas meeting.
Baseball is a business, something a lot of fans tend to forget when it comes to free agency. When these guys have the hammer, they need to use it because when the team has it, they aren’t afraid to use it on them.
However, all 3 players left really good offers (some better than the Yankees offer when you consider the tax consequences) to come to NY.
In doing so, its changed the team on and off the field.
I know a lot of guys in the game now talk about how good the Yankees clubhouse is these days.
That’s a good thing and will pay more dividends in coming years.
To that end, Girardi deserves a TON of credit. He’s created that family atmosphere.
You would have NEVER seen Mariano Rivera’s and Andy Pettitte’s kids in the dugout during games in the Torre Years.
You would NEVER see the kids on the field and in the clubhouse with their dads before games. Girardi has made the team more family friendly while not sacrificing any professonalism.
Hard thing to balance yet, he’s done it very, very well.
Yeah, Tex. Between the Yanks and Nats (not good competition of course, but it’s something) he took the Yankees because we’re the better team. And he made Theo Epstein look reaaaaally bad. MT curse, anybody?
” Can anyone explain why Ichiro’s teammates hate him so much? Maybe give some examples? Thanks a lot.”
While I’m not sure exactly how overblown that story was, last night’s game certainly could be viewed as an example of why there may be a degree of clubhouse contempt for him.
Not only the dumb steal but IMO, the Guittierez error as well.
cor shep:
This is JJ Putz, after being traded form the Mariners:
“There were just some guys that just aren’t really team guys,” he said. “There’s a lot of guys that are team guys in there. There was definitely some butting heads on certain things. What the hell can you do? Some guys are just stubborn.”
He refused to name any names. But his inference was strong.
“I’m not going to throw anyone under the bus,” he said. “But I think everybody knows who everybody is talking about. It is what it is. Hopefully, it changes for them over there.”
You don’t have to be a Rhodes scholar to ascertain that Putz was talking primarily about Ichiro. We’ve heard that line of thinking before, of course, usually in veiled or off-the-record comments.
IIRC, he also has a career BA of over .300 against every AL team.
——————–
SJ44, your recollection is 100% correct:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/pl.....pe=Batting
that is a pretty amazing stat.
cor shep August 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Can anyone explain why Ichiro’s teammates hate him so much? Maybe give some examples? Thanks a lot.
————————————————
1. He always takes up two parking spaces.
2. He borrows team mate’s soap and doesn’t give it back.
Girardi has done a great job this year. He’s continued the brilliant bullpen management from last year and has turned our club’s biggest weakness into one of its’ many strengths.
I stil say if the Sox lose today, it’s over.
“The ability to lob baseballs over the infield is not particularly effected by Park Factors.”
Not true.
It’s significantly easier to lob one over the 2nd baseman’s head at Fenway than in any other park.
BD,
Damon will be a test case on that theory. The Yankees want him back and he REALLY wants to come back.
I don’t see him getting a deal for more money than he’s earning right now.
Perhaps a shorter deal with incentives? Perhaps he goes year to year like David Cone did at the end of his career with the Yankees.
Either way, Johnny is going to be the interesting case. If does a team/player friendly deal, then its clear the Yankees have crossed the “hometown discount” barrier.
Don’t be silly.
Boston still has the best bullpen in the history of baseball — that is, not only in this universe, but in all parallel universes where major league baseball exists.
– D.D.
Ichiro is almost 37 come Oct,he looks and plays so much younger.
Good read about Ichiro from last year:
And it was a clubhouse in need of some direction, given the problems engulfing it as the season came undone. When it came to Ichiro, who got off to a typically slow start in April and part of May, the internal turmoil nearly hit its boiling point.
“I just can’t believe the number of guys who really dislike him,” said one clubhouse insider. “It got to a point early on when I thought they were going to get together and go after him.”
The coaching staff and then-manager John McLaren intervened when one player was overheard talking — in reference to Ichiro — about wanting to “knock him out.” A team meeting was called to clear the air.
Now, you might wonder, what could Ichiro have done to foster such open anger? Clearly, he must have offended someone pretty severely.
Ichiro this year had to battle a midseason hamstring problem, and he was shifted from center field back to right because McLaren thought Ichiro was a better defender in the corner. While Ichiro is said to have recovered from his injury, his stolen-base totals dropped as the season progressed. He also did not get to some balls in the gap and the right-field corner at times, prompting more clubhouse complaints that he cared only about piling up hits instead of sitting out to heal properly.
http://ussmariner.com/2008/09/.....teammates/
I could be wrong, but imo I think the steal last night was Ichiro showing off. It’s the Yankees, and he wanted to show them the great Ichiro. He put his bravado ahead of his team winning the game.
Like I said I could be wrong, but that’s what my gut tells me.
Texas looks like a very formidable opponent and legit wildcard contender thanks to their pitching
Millwood is having one of his better years (3.31 ERA)
Tommy Hunter is doing amazing (2.26 ERA)
Derek Holland is looking good (3.13 ERA over past month)
Scott Feldman is doing his part too (3.90 ERA this season)
and…. Neftali Feliz makes that bullpen pretty good all of a sudden.
the thing that eluded the Rangers in the past, good pitching, is finally what is going to make them a playoff team this season (IMO).
their offense isn’t too shabby either.
David Duchovny-
is the cigarette smoking man dead?
I can’t wait until he’s a Yankee
Whoever wins this game, IMO, will win the wild card.
This game, as in between the Sox and Rangers.
SJ44,
great point.
what do you think the market for Damon will be?
will other teams think his #s were grossly inflated due to NYS?
I really hope they keep Johnny. He looks bad in the field at times, but there is no doubt the tremendous net value he brings.
Sardine Can,
perhaps, but I think the better team will win the wildcard regardless of today.
I believe that team is the Texas Rangers.
Neftali Feliz gives their bullpen solid, if not elite, 7th, 8th, and 9th inning guys.
Their rotation, at this time, is deeper than the Sox by a mile.
I’d rather have Beckett and Lester in a playoff series, but I’d rather have the Rangers 5 starters than the Sox 5. that’s more important over the final 50 games.
The Tampa Rays have been letting their chance slide away. The iron was hot last week and Tampa played poorly. Though, they could go on a run and make it a 3-way race.
Yankee Stadium “Cathedrals of Baseball” on mlb network
Boras, on Beltran’s behalf, offered the Yankees a discount. So it’s hardly unprecedented.
I don’t see him getting a deal for more money than he’s earning right now.
__
Are you serious? Damon will have to take a paycut in this economy.
If the Yankees want Damon back money will not be a factor IMO.
The Yankees can pay Damon whatever he wants and they have the most money to pay.
I just don’t see any scenario where the Yankees willlet Damon go if they feel like he’s needed on the team.
The Ichiro stat reminds me of an amazing fact about Ted Williams. Somebody did some research a few years ago and found that Williams virtually never went two consecutive games with reaching base somehow. I mean, literally, Williams would go an entire decade at a time having only one or two instances in which he failed to reach base in consecutive games.
For several years we’ve heard this narrative about how vital Jason Varitek has been to the Red Sox. About how his defensive prowess, game calling skills, and handling of pitchers was at a near historically great level.
I’ve always wondered if this was going to be an argument that would later resurface in a push to somehow get Varitek elected to the hall of fame.
That Texas Boston game yesterday was really something. The Sox just got – literally – run over. 8 steals – and one on a pitch out.
Normally it’s the catcher that gets killed for stolen bases. Interestingly, much of the emphasis for these stolen bases was put on Brad Penny.
And Penny is awful with men on base. But that doesn’t mean that Varitek also isn’t awful behind the plate.
So far this year runners have attempted to steal off Varitek 101 times.
One of the games’ “greatest” catchers has thrown out – get this – 9 runners.
9 runners out of 101.
That’s 9%.
And the 9% is actually misleading unless you look at the total number of attempted steals. 9% of say 30 steal attempts is one thing. 9% of 101 attempts is a completely separate issue.
Varitek has the chance to “break” the record of most bases stolen against this year.
Alot of this is on the pitchers, especially Penny. But I thought this quote from Ranger’s rook Elvus Andrus was just amazing:
““Well, yeah,” said Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus, who stole three bases to go with his three hits and three runs scored. “You have those teams you always want to run on. Varitek, he’s not that fast to second base. Penny, he’s pretty slow to home plate. So those are the little things you’re looking for as a runner.
“You get on base, you go and get the other base, because they’re going to give it to you.””
The only reason Andrus said this that he’s a rookie. But you can tell by the way he said it, this is the “book” on Varitek amongst players.
There comes a point where reality runs over the myths. That’s what the Sox are dealing with know.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sp.....id=1191334
i think Ichy- got greedy when he tried stealing for Third..he had no reason..in the post game interview he said ” he was going for a double steal”..100% lie..he was just building up his Stolen Base count.
“Baseball is a business, something a lot of fans tend to forget when it comes to free agency. When these guys have the hammer, they need to use it because when the team has it, they aren’t afraid to use it on them.”
Amen
I was thinking 2/$24M for Damon is a good offer. Perhaps they could nickel and dime him and get him and let him test the waters a bit and get him to sign for 2/$20M.
I can’t see him getting a 3 year offer from anyone.
When you realize the #s he’s on pace to put up this season -
118 runs, 40 2B, 31HR, 95 RBI
it’s almost an insult to try and go cheap on the guy.
Tunnel Man
August 16th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
David Duchovny-
is the cigarette smoking man dead?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Be sure to see the next movie.
Who starts the 1st game at fenway?
Totally off the field relaed but did anyone see the story in the New York post today about Yankees wives and th einterview with Laura POsada. IN the story and in a sidebar it says thatMatsui has become a father this year.
SJ, that’s true. Actually, one thing that bugged me this off-season was that people just said Cash threw the big $$$ at players and that’s why they signed. Jon Heyman did report long after CC signed that the Angels did up the offer to $150 million……..I think by then, though, that CC had already sort of made up his mind, in part because of Cash. He is very good in terms of personal relationship – the players like dealinig with him. He never put any pressure on CC to make a decision right away, and I think CC appreciated it. I think fans reduce every single transaction to $$$, but when we’re talking about many millions of $$$$, many times it’s the little things that sway a player in one direction or another.
I’ve no idea as to how the AJ conversations went – I assume Cash went to see him personally. I agree that he didn’t come to NY mostly about the $$ because the Atlanta offer was practically the same (though he admitted at the press confererence that it was in part because of the $$$ – which totally threw Francesca, and most people off, because you never hear players be that honest). The Yankees had an advantage with AJ in that he clearly wanted to stay in the AL East…Also, by his quotes in ST, it’s pretty clear that even as a Jay he was fascinated by the passionate nature of the YS crowds.
Rumors about Tex were flying that, all things being equal, he would have preferred the Yankees……….but at the time the Sox were about to sign him, the Yankees weren’t really involved. Again, it bugs me that people say that he only signed because of the $$$….The difference between the Yankees and Sox offers was a grand total of $10 million. It didn’t even really come down to $$ – the Sox lost this guy because they messed things up personally.
“It’s significantly easier to lob one over the 2nd baseman’s head at Fenway than in any other park.”
I really enjoyed that comment
I cannot believe all the hate towards Ichiro. Did he make a stupid play trying to steal? Of course he did. But every player who ever put on a uniform has done that at least once. This guy will have 9 straight years of 200 hits or more. How awesome is that? Pete Rose did it 10 times in 24 years and Ty Cobb did it 9 times in 24 years. For comparison sake Derek Jeter did it 6 times in his career. Throw in a .333 career batting average on top of that. He could play one more year, and go back to Japan, and still, this guy is a first ballot Hall of Famer, the numbers are so constant. Everyone complains about compilers (Like Eddie Murray or Don Sutton), this guy is anything but that.
CB,
I’ve been fascinated by the “Varitek Argument” for a long time.
He has had some ALL TIME GREAT pitchers throwing to him.
Pedro in his prime. Curt Schilling. Derek Lowe had some great seasons.
Now it’s Beckett and Lester.
How much credit should Tek get? How do you calculate that?
I’ve always thought he was the most overrated catcher in the game based on seeing many Sox games over the years.
But I never had any stats to suggest I was right or wrong.
Sox pitchers said they loved Varitek, but what were they going to say about the team captain? They didn’t like him??
To this day, I have not seen anything to support that Varitek is either a great, average, below average defensive catcher…. except that teams now run wild on him.
SJ, I guess word gets around because players talk to each other during and before games? I suppose that’s a benefit of the fraternization between players (not that I have a problem with it, I never have).
No question Joe deserves a ton of credit. The players don’t get to see their families all that much during the season – to be able to have their kids running around in the clubhouse has to be really special for them. It’s nice that these guys are allowed to have fun – isn’t that why they all started playing the game in the first place? It almost seems like now that Torre (maybe because he’s an old school kind of guy) ran the place like a morgue. Girardi being a younger man (and not that far removed from his playing days) may help him more easily identify with the players…..I think that’s a big deal.
BD, it happens with the Sox, but for some reason, Yankees players never give their team any kind of hometown discount……
Last I checked 10 million is a lot of money, so yes the money did make a difference and yes the money always makes a difference.
It’s always about the money.
Guys might not admit it but the money always plays a big factor in where guys sign.
I don’t care how much Tex wanted to be a Yankee. If the Sox had offered him 190 million then he’s manning first base for them right now and the Yankees are likely not in first place right now.
“BD, it happens with the Sox, but for some reason, Yankees players never give their team any kind of hometown discount……”
————–
I can’t remember it happening with any free agents for the Sox (though it’s quite possible). They have gotten some pretty good deals when buying out arbitration years (Youk, Pedroia, Arroyo at the time).
It’s clear that since the Yankees have the most $$, if they offer less it makes them look cheap.
But Cashman (along with Hal) has done a good job, IMO, of changing the image of the Yankees in terms of spending. Teams and players are finding that they cannot fleece the Yanks when it comes to $$ alone.
I’m sure players in the past knew George would pony up if you held out for the $$. I still think elite players know they can get top dollar from the Yankees.
But the mid-level players may find that they need to take a discount if they want to play for a title in the Bronx.
game post
There are examples of Yankees getting hometown discounts. Paul O’Neill and Robinson Cano come to mind.
I remember reading that Damon played a big role in CC coming to the Yankees. Damon and his wife worked very hard to tell CC and his wife about living and playing as a Yankee.
BD, I don’t give Damon a 2 year deal, no way. He may fall off the cliff next year – you don’t know with older players. What he’s done this year has no bearing on what he will do next year. The Yankees have an old lineup – as SJ or CB said recently, they are hitting on all cylinders and that’s unexpected for a team with so many older players. We can not expect the same type of production out of the lineup next year. Jeter can go forever it seems, but Damon? Who knows? Matsui will be gone. Posada? Again, who knows? He’s aging catcher. Can Melky and Gardner give us the same solid production as this year? That’s a question mark. The Yankees need to figure out why Swisher can not hit at home…… Not that it matters right now, but this team has alot of question marks going forward.
Interesting draft news from Lane Meyer: Cotham looks like a SIGN, and Lyons is going back to school. This quote struck me as incredible: “The LHP who dominated on the Cape was told by the Yankees that they weren’t going to have the money he was looking for and that they didn’t see this coming”. They didn’t see that coming? Why is that? Is it because they cut the budget? Or were they able to get an unexpected guy signed (Such as Bruno), and Oppenheimer was told if you sign this guy, you have to cut someone else? Less than 36 hours to go, and that answer will come out.
====
cor shep August 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am
“Can anyone explain why Ichiro’s teammates hate him so much? Maybe give some examples? Thanks a lot.”
====
No doubt the clubhouse was a mess last season. But I think rumors of “Ichiro hating” were slightly overblown (as is everything in the midst of a 101 loss season).
I used to think managers got too much blame when things went wrong – on the field or off. But this year, with Wak, I have changed my tune entirely. He has totally turned the attitude around. Of course, much credit goes to Jack Z for acquiring players that mesh and lead.
Anyway, things are just fine with Ichi, others and especially the Kangaroo Court Judge. Here’s a snippet from an article back in May…
“By the way, Ken Griffey Jr. has found Ichiro’s “tickle spot” and had him on the ground, during warm-ups, tickling him until Ichiro could be heard crying out in laughter and pleading for him to stop.”
Mark-
Pete’s Aug 14 th game thread has the complete pitching schedule Andy,Burnett,and CC
So sick of hearing about Ichiro.
Very selfish player.
Yes indeed…Ichiro is the “Dominator” at his position for nearly a decade.
Yes indeed…Pujols is the “Dominator” at his position.
As is Jeter…as is Rodriquez…as is Manny (though Manny is based on hitting prowess as his fielding is not a positive difference making skill set).
Matsui used to be the man; he was THE most popular baseball player in Japan. As Ichiro told the press, no matter how well he played, Matsui was always more popular than Ichiro. But now such is not the case here in Japan, especially after Ichiro and Co. led the Japan team to win the WBC tournament a few years back. On the other hand, Matsui declined the offer to be a part of the WBC, which I thought he made the right decision.
Ichiro has been the most popular sports athlete in Japan. Polls conducted by the Japanese media indicates so. Ichiro has earned this. Matsui has been a good Yankee, and has always been productive and clutch, but what Ichiro has accomplished in the MLB and the JPB is beyond comparison. ?
If the Ped Sox could have traded Manny for Ichiro straight up…they would have done so in a heart beat.
Does Joba think he is a homeboy with that hat brim?
Flipping back and forth from Yanks to PGA, Tiger seems to be so off his game the last two days.
OH My………..I want you post more Ichiro . Don’t care what people say. thank you. Ichiro is my favorite player too.