Am I the only one that wants to throw a rock at the tv everytime I see Ichiro swing at pitches out of the strikezone? When he's going good, he's amazing. But when he's not, he really drags the team down. If the guy could just learn to take a few walks, his higher on base % would score 1 - 2 more runs a game. But he seems to me to be almost uncoachable and is going to do it his way come hell or high water.....

1st year I have not seen a Mariners game nor do I read about them. I am officially through with pro sports. 14 years clean of NFL and 10 on NBA. All college all the time.

I sure don't let pro sports get in the way of fishing, but I will always be a Mariner, Seahawk, Sonics and Husky fan. Now that I'm coaching little league, baseball is big at our house......

With a battng average like Ichiro's, he doesn't have to be consistent to be an asset to the team. Of course, he'd be a greater asset if he was more consistent, but that's not the point.

But my comment's of little value. I dont' watch pro sports - very often anyway. And I haven't really been a baseball fan since I had to quit playing in high school due to a car accident. I used to live to play, but that was a long, long time ago, before I learned how to fly cast.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

I think Ichiro is great. He will get it back.

I don't really care to much anyway as it is always Happy Hour at The Mustard Seed when the M's are on! Extra Innings - WhooHoo!

Ok, let's talk stats for a minute. Ichiro is currently ranked 243rd among all major league hitters this season for On Base Percentage @ .336. That is terrible for a leadoff hitter. Richie Sexson actually has a higher OBP at .339......

As a team, the Mariners are dead last in runs scored and next to last for OBP. When you aren't winning, you need to focus on what's not working as opposed to what the team does ok at. Yes, Ichiro will end the year above .300 for batting average. But if he changed his approach just a little bit to be more patient, he would be on base more, the team would score more runs and hopefully win more games.

What I'm talking about should be achievable. He has the talent, he would just rather get hits and sacrifice walks at the expense of the OBP.