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Saturday, January 20, 2018

A Newly Discovered Wasp Is Named After the True Hit King Ichiro

The newly crowned Diolcogaster ichiroi had been sitting in relative anonymity in the Canadian National Collection of Insects, which contains over 17 million specimens. The specimen was collected about 30 miles from Lake Okeechobee and 145 miles from Marlins Park where last Ichiro played.

From entomologist Jose Fernandez-Triana’s scientific paper officially naming the wasp: “At the time the research for this paper was being conducted, Ichiro was still playing for a Florida team and thus naming a species endemic from Florida after him made complete sense. Unfortunately, the new owners of the Miami Marlins did not keep Ichiro, an unpopular decision not liked by many Marlins fans.”

Fernandez-Triana said there are 3,000 undescribed species of wasps in the family he studies at the Canadian National Collection of Insects alone (though it should be noted this is smaller than Ichiro’s 4,358 hits playing professional baseball).

Ichiro could use his ovipositor to lay eggs on or in host arthropods that ultimately provide nutrition for his larvae if he wanted to.

Gonfalon Bubble Posted: January 20, 2018 at 01:47 PM | 22 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: ichiro suzuki

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1. Howie Menckel Posted: January 21, 2018 at 11:14 AM (#5610378)

Ichiro could have stung 3,000 people if he wanted to

2. What did Billy Ripken have against ElRoy Face? Posted: January 21, 2018 at 11:21 AM (#5610379)

Isn't it kinda racist to assume Ichiro would want to be a wasp?

3. puck Posted: January 21, 2018 at 11:46 AM (#5610385)

Maybe Ichiro just likes nondescript 80's metal.

4. eric Posted: January 21, 2018 at 11:56 AM (#5610390)

Does Oh get the "true HR-king" label? I'm kind of curious to see to what degree this "true hit king" stuff takes off.

I wonder if it would be as big a deal if Pete Rose, instead of being reviled, was revered?

5. puck Posted: January 21, 2018 at 12:09 PM (#5610392)

Holy cow, W.A.S.P. has 16 studio albums.

6. 6 - 4 - 3 Posted: January 21, 2018 at 12:13 PM (#5610393)

Can someone name a tapeworm after Pete Rose?

7. Adam M

Posted: January 21, 2018 at 12:23 PM (#5610396)

What did tapeworms do to deserve that?

8. The Yankee Clapper Posted: January 21, 2018 at 12:38 PM (#5610406)

I'm kind of curious to see to what degree this "true hit king" stuff takes off.

Should be popular among those amused by trolling Pete Rose, who appears to be a bit sensitive about such matters. Going to take some effort - I don't think Pete reads much entomology news - but I'm in!

9. Leroy Kincaid Posted: January 21, 2018 at 01:45 PM (#5610416)

Maybe Ichiro just likes nondescript 80's metal.

I bunt like the Beast(?)

10. SoSH U at work Posted: January 21, 2018 at 02:02 PM (#5610418)

Maybe Ichiro just likes nondescript 80's metal.

Blackie Lawless could strike out Ichiro if he wanted.

Ryne Duren's nephew has long claimed he had a minor league stint with the Reds, but BBRef doesn't agree.

11. Nasty Nate Posted: January 21, 2018 at 03:06 PM (#5610424)

Jeffrey Loria was eaten by wasps.

12. Walt Davis Posted: January 21, 2018 at 04:09 PM (#5610445)

Isn't it still the case that if we count Rose's minor-league hits that he's still ahead? Or has Ichiro passed him there too?

13. 6 - 4 - 3 Posted: January 21, 2018 at 04:25 PM (#5610456)

Rose had 427 minor league hits.

14. vortex of dissipation Posted: January 21, 2018 at 07:49 PM (#5610627)

I'd note that Ichiro has 156 hits in the Japanese minor leagues. And if we're counting postseason hits, he's got 37; ten in the Japan Series and 27 in MLB. And 24 in the WBC if you want to include those. And one hit by Supersnazz.

15. Walt Davis Posted: January 21, 2018 at 08:21 PM (#5610665)

FWIW, Rose had 86 postseason hits. He was pretty crappy in AS games though, just 7 for 33. Ichiro was better by rate but just 8 for 26.

Did anybody ever pay Pete enough to play in a celeb/charity softball game?

16. You Know Nothing JT Snow (YR) Posted: January 21, 2018 at 08:45 PM (#5610689)

Michael Jordan had an ant named after him.

17. Rennie's Tenet Posted: January 21, 2018 at 09:30 PM (#5610703)

Anyone know how many hits Ichiro had in Hawaii? Looks like he batted .311 in 48 games, so I'm guessing maybe 60?

18. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: January 21, 2018 at 09:30 PM (#5610704)

Michael Jordan had an ant named after him.

So did Carlos May. Ant May.

19. John Northey Posted: January 21, 2018 at 10:36 PM (#5610728)

Always fun to compare Rose to Ichiro...
MLB Hits: Rose: 4256 Ichiro: 3080
Japanese: Rose: 0 Ichiro: 1278
Minor league: Rose: 301 Ichiro: 0
ML Playoffs: Rose: 86 Ichiro: 27
---------------------------------
Totals: Rose: 4643 Ichiro: 4385

So by that measure - pro hits plus playoffs - Ichiro is still nearly 300 hits shy. If he goes back to Japan for 2 or 3 years he will probably reach Rose for most pro hits.

20. The Yankee Clapper Posted: January 21, 2018 at 11:15 PM (#5610738)

Ichiro should have some WBC hits, too, with more to come, if he wants to.

21. vortex of dissipation Posted: January 21, 2018 at 11:59 PM (#5610742)

Always fun to compare Rose to Ichiro...
MLB Hits: Rose: 4256 Ichiro: 3080
Japanese: Rose: 0 Ichiro: 1278
Minor league: Rose: 301 Ichiro: 0
ML Playoffs: Rose: 86 Ichiro: 27
---------------------------------
Totals: Rose: 4643 Ichiro: 4385

As noted above, Ichiro also has -

Japanese minor league hits - 156
Japanese postseason hits - 10
WBC hits - 24

22. Rennie's Tenet Posted: January 22, 2018 at 01:11 AM (#5610750)

I think the 301 for Rose, above, is runs scored. It should be 427, also as above. Rose played for Caracas in 1964-65, and apparently went 65 for 185 in 44 games.

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Saturday, January 20, 2018

A Newly Discovered Wasp Is Named After the True Hit King Ichiro

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