Ichiro Suzuki almost ended up in a female fan’s lap during the series against Kansas City, and, as the video below shows, she was quite happy with her close encounter with Seattle’s most famous player.
Chone Figgins will bat for the Seattle Mariners next year, but a major question remains: Who will bat leadoff? Figgins, or Ichiro? The Mariners have an interesting conundrum ahead of them in deciding who should bat first. Realistically, unless Ichiro offers to bat second, it would be logical for Ichiro to go first, given his time in Seattle and the affection the fans have for him. Besides acquiring a guy who has a great on-base percentage, the Mariners scored a coup taking Figgins from their division rival (and current division champ), the Angels.
For more info, read Shannon Drayer’s very informative blog at http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=374&sid=252210
Ichiro Watch: 1,988 Hits, With 12 To Go To Reach 2,000 Hits
September 5, 2009, Ichiro had two hits in five at-bats in Seattle’s 6-3 loss in Oakland.
Ichiro Career Hits: 1, 988
Ichiro Hits This Season: 193
When Ichiro reaches 2,000 career hits, he will be the first the first (and only) player to do so in the first nine years of his Major League career.
When Ichiro reaches 200 hits for this season, he will hold the record for most consecutive 200-hit seasons in Major League Baseball at nine seasons.
Ichiro Watch: 1,986 Hits, With 14 To Go To Reach 2,000 Hits
September 4, 2009,
Ichiro Career Hits: 1, 986
Ichiro Hits This Season: 191
When Ichiro reaches 2,000 career hits, he will be the first the first (and only) player to do so in the first nine years of his Major League career.
When Ichiro reaches 200 hits for this season, he will hold the record for most consecutive 200-hit seasons in Major League Baseball at nine seasons.
Ichiro Watch: 1,983 Hits, With 17 To Go To Reach 2,000 Hits
Today, August 21, 2009, Ichiro registered one hit in five at-bats in Seattle’s 9-4 win in Cleveland.
Ichiro Career Hits: 1, 983
Ichiro Hits This Season: 188
When Ichiro reaches 2,000 career hits, he will be the first the first (and only) player to do so in the first nine years of his Major League career.
When Ichiro reaches 200 hits for this season, he will hold the record for most consecutive 200-hit seasons in Major League Baseball at nine seasons.
Ichiro Watch: 1,982 Hits, With 18 To Go To Reach 2,000 Hits
Today, August 20, 2009, Ichiro registered one hit in four at-bats in Seattle’s 7-6 loss in Detroit in a rain-delayed game.
Ichiro Career Hits: 1, 982
Ichiro Hits This Season: 182
When Ichiro reaches 2,000 career hits, he will be the first the first (and only) player to do so in the first nine years of his Major League career.
When Ichiro reaches 200 hits for this season, he will hold the record for most consecutive 200-hit seasons in Major League Baseball at nine seasons.
Ichiro Suzuki, by far the most successful and most popular Japanese player in the Major Leagues, is inching closer to a record-setting 2,000 Major League career hits. With his output in the Mariners win over Detroit ( Aug. 18, 2009), Ichiro needs only 19 more hits to become the first player Major League Baseball’s 133-year history to bat his way to nine consecutive 200-hit seasons. When he reaches 2,000 career hits, Ichiro will also be the first (and only) to do so in the first nine years of his Major League career.
In yesterday’s game against Detroit, Ichiro added two more hits, including a game-deciding two-run homer in the fifth inning. This was the Mariners’ 62nd victory of the year, ensuring the team a better season than last year’s pathetic season. The Mariners notched a 3-1 win over the Tigers in front of 33,194 at Detroit’s Comerica Park.
In Ichiro’s nine-year career in the Japanese Leagues, he acquired 1,278 hits, and holds the Japanese record for most hits in a season with 210. Japanese League statistics do not count toward Major League totals.
As of the conclusion of the August 18 game against Detroit, Ichiro had 1, 981 hits, with only 19 more needed to reach 2,000.
The consecutive 200-hit record is held by Hall of Fame outfielder “Wee” Willie Keeler (1894-1901).
Links:
Ichiro draws closer to 200 hits: Outfielder’s decisive long ball makes winner of righty Snell–MLB.com, August 18, 2009
