Jenkins: Ichiro In a Land of Mortals

Jenkins In a Land of Mortsahls

The A’s would like to believe the Seattle Mariners are safely removed from the “threat” category in the American League West, and that would seem to be the case, but the addition of Ken Griffey Jr. bears watching. He could be the one to restore a winning atmosphere in that miserable clubhouse.

The incomparable Ichiro deserved a hero’s welcome when he arrived at the Mariners’ camp, having clinched Japan’s victory in the recent World Baseball Classic with a clutch two-run single against South Korea. Instead, he was met by a wave of media skepicism. Several teammates reportedly were upset with Ichiro’s attitude last year, reliever J.J. Putz (now with the Mets) going as far as to say that Ichiro isn’t a “team guy,” that he thinks only of himself and his statistics.

This is a mind-boggling claim, but typical of a team that defines LOSER in every way. Ichiro is a singular presence in any clubhouse, a quiet man with his own set of training methods and a track record—both in performance and fitness—to justify his ways. He’s also one of the greatest singles hitters in the history of baseball, racking up an astounding eight straight 200-hit seasons since he arrived from Japan (he broke in with 242 for the ‘01 Mariners and never looked back). He also has extra-base power, can crank the long ball on occasion, runs the bases expertly and plays a superior brand of outfield.