Tagged: Ichiro

Mr. 4,000 – Congrats to Ichiro

Ichiro_4000

Ichiro Suzuki recorded his 4,000th career hit yesterday if you combine his playing career in Japan and the US. It is quite an accomplishment, as he joins Pete Rose and Ty Cobb in the exclusive 4,000-hit club.

In his seven seasons in the Japanese Pacific League, Ichiro collected 1,278 hits. During his 13 years in the Major League, Ichiro has 2,722 hits, 2,533 of which came in a Seattle Mariners uniform (2001-2012).

Congrats to Ichiro for 4,000 career hits, and we wish you luck as you pursue 3,000 Major League hits!

Here is a statement the club distributed on Ichiro’s amazing accomplishment:

“On behalf of the entire Seattle Mariners organization and our fans across the Pacific Northwest, we offer our heartiest congratulations to Ichiro Suzuki for reaching 4,000 hits today.

We are proud that Ichiro’s remarkable career started in Seattle as American League MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2001, and that he collected 2,533 of those 4,000 hits while wearing a Mariners uniform for 11-and-a-half years.

From Japan to the Mariners and continuing with the New York Yankees, Ichiro’s historic milestone is testament to his position as one of the greatest hitters in the game of baseball.”

Thanks for the Memories Ichiro

Ichiro switched clubhouses last night after being traded from the Mariners to the Yankees. #51 had a legendary career for the Mariners, appearing in 1,844 games for the Mariners from 2001-2012. Whether it was his 10 consecutive All-Star appearances, the 200-hit seasons or multiple gold gloves, Ichiro put up some amazing numbers as a Mariner, and for that, we salute your career and wish you the best of luck with the Yankees.

 

Here is a look at some of the historical achievements during his career…

  • Recorded 10 consecutive seasons being named an All-Star, winning a Gold Glove and recording 200 hits from 2001-2010.
  • Collected 200 or more hits in each of his first 10 seasons, extending Major League record (previous record was eight by Willie Keller from 1895-01)…is tied with Pete Rose for most 200-hit seasons in a career.
  • Hit 37 leadoff home runs as a Mariner, most in club history, and 6th-most in Major League history.
  • Mariners all-time leader in hits (2,533), batting average (.322), at-bats (7,858), triples (79) and stolen bases (438).
  • Won the American League batting title in 2001 and 2004, and was named the 2001 AL MVP and Rookie of the Year.
  • Set a Major League record with 262 hits in 2004, breaking the previous record of 257 set by George Sisler in 1920.
  • Led the Major Leagues in hits 7 times (2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), joining Ty Cobb (7) and Pete Rose (7) as the only players to lead in hits seven times during a career.
  • Led the decade of the 2000s in base hits with 2,030 despite not playing the first year of the decade (2000; third-most during a decade since 1900), trailing Rogers Hornsby (2,085 in the 1920s) and Pete Rose (2,045 in the 1970s).
  • Missed only 35 games in 11 seasons with Seattle (1,844 of 1,879); started 1,828 of those games.
  • Recorded 40 single-season hitting streaks of at least 10 games.
  • Was a 10-time All-Star (2001-10 and named the 2007 ASG MVP after hitting the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star history.

– JE

Major League History – The Japanese Trifecta

The Mariners were part of Major League history tonight, as the starting lineup consisted of three Japanese-born players. Ichiro (RF), Munenori Kawasaki (2B) and Hisashi Iwakuma (P) became the first trio of Japanese players to start for the same team in a Major League game.

Hisashi Iwakuma (P), Munenori Kawasaki (2B) and Ichiro Suzuki (RF) became the first Japanese trio to start in a Major League game.

Ichiro 4th Fastest to 2,500 Hits

Ichiro singled to lead off tonight’s game vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 2,500th hit of his Major League career. He reached the milestone in his 1,817th game, making him the fourth quickest to 2,500 hits among all players whose careers began after 1900.

Ichiro records his 2,500th MLB hit tonight vs. the Diamondbacks (Getty Images)

Only Al Simmons (1924-44), Ty Cobb (1905-28) and George Sisler (1915-30), all Hall of Famers, have reached 2,500 hits faster than Ichiro. 

Here is a look at Ichiro’s milestone MLB hits:

#1 – 4/2/01 vs. OAK (1B)
#100 – 6/12/01 @COL (1B)
#500 – 5/16/03 @DET (1B)
#1000 – 6/14/05 vs. PHI (1B)
#1500 – 7/29/07 vs. OAK (1B)
#2000 – 9/6/09 @OAK (2B)
#2248 – 4/2/11 @OAK (1B) — Sets Mariners Hits Record
#2500 – 6/19/12 @ARI (1B)

Fewest Games Needed To Reach 2,500 Hits (since 1900)

Year Date Player Team Games HOF
1936 Sept. 14 Al Simmons Tigers 1,784 1953
1918 Aug. 16 Ty Cobb Tigers 1,790 1936
1929 May 18 George Sisler Braves 1,808 1939
2012 June 19 Ichiro Suzuki Mariners 1,817 TBD
1938 June 3 Paul Waner Pirates 1,825 1952
1929 May 7 Rogers Hornsby Cubs 1,846 1942

 *List courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau

Mariners Spring Training Update – Day 9

Day 9 / Monday, February 20, 2012 / 36 Days ‘til Opening Night in Tokyo / 52 Days ‘til Opening Night in Seattle

Weather: We didn’t check the forecast so we can’t give you an exact temperature for today, but it was clear that today was the nicest, sunniest day that we have had all spring.

Quote of the Day:  “It’s okay! I told him what was coming!” – Miguel Olivo to pitcher Josh Kinney after Alex Liddi hit a pitch off the very top of the 30-foot wall that is 410 feet away on Field 3.

The Day: Day 9 saw a continuation of live pitching after the regular routine of infield drills and PFP. The live pitching was by far the most interesting for fans and media alike.  Over on Field 4, the Japanese media had the perfect photo opportunity. Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma was pitching, Ichiro was batting and infielder Munenori Kawasaki was working on reading the pitcher from second base. As you can see, it was quite a scene.

Media looks on as Hisashi Iwakuma faces Ichiro

During live BP, right-hander Jarrett Grube was hit by a shot up the middle by Franklin Gutierrez. Over on Field 3, Hector Noesi thew live BP to some of the younger group that included Carlos Triunfel, Johermyn Chavez and Francisco Martinez.
 
During right-hander Josh Kinney‘s live session, Trayvon Robinson got way out in front of a ball and nearly hit Luis Rodriguez and Mike Wilson as they were waiting their turn just next to the cage. As you read in the quote of the day, Alex Liddi hit a ball off the very top of the center field wall 410-feet away. Miguel Olivo was telling the batters what most pitches were going to be.
 

Trayvon Robinson, Luis Rodriguez and Michael Saunders wait for their turn in the cage

 
Tomorrow is photo day so all players and staff in camp will have to go through several stations and sit for headshots/portraits. Some baseball card companies will also show up tomorrow.
 

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– FA

Mariners Spring Training Update – Day 8

Day 8 / Sunday, February 19, 2012 / 37 Days ‘til Opening Night in Tokyo / 53 Days ‘til Opening Night in Seattle

Weather: It was 52-degrees and windy this morning but the temperatures rose to 64-degrees by the end of the workout. There were plenty of media members who were shaking after forgetting their jackets.

Quote of the Day:  “Where’s your camera?” Felix Hernandez said to ROOT SPORTS Jen Mueller. Mueller jokingly asked why he was doing a KING 5 interview (with Chris Egan) before doing the ROOT interview. After Jen pointed across the parking lot to the auxiliary clubhouse Felix exclaimed “TOO FAR!” as he continued to walk with Egan.

Tweet of the Day:

The Day: Day 8 was the first day of live batting practice. The first group of hitters, including Franklin Gutierrez, Ichiro, Mike Carp and Justin Smoak, had to face the ace of the staff Felix Hernandez.

Franklin Gutierrez

None of the four players made contact against any of Felix’s pitches…which was probably because nobody swung at any of the pitches. While players are not under instructions not to swing (on some fields), most hitters use the first day to track pitches as they are coming in and ease back in to live pitching.

Felix got a bit of a scare earlier in the day during infield drills as Miguel Olivo fired a throw down to second base and while he didn’t see it, the ball was traveling fast enough (and close enough) for him to hear it whiz by.

One player who did swing on the first day of live batting practice was Casper Wells. With Charlie Furbush on the mound, Wells hit a screamer back to the box that went beween Charlie’s legs. While no players were harmed on that line drive, Charlie’s heart most certainly skipped a beat.

Early in the workout over on Field 6, all of the position players worked on baserunning, the infielders took grounders and the outfielders worked on tracking line drives before spreading out to various fields.

Carlos Guillen takes throws at first base

On Field 3, the catchers (and infielders) worked on first-and-third defense before the position players grabbed bats.

On Field 3 (where Felix Hernandez was) and 5, hitters were allowed to swing at the pitches. On Field 4 there was also live batting practice, but the hitters were not allowed to swing because there were also baserunning drills going on. Position players also worked on bunting in the cages and in the bullpen while over on Field 6, the coaches threw BP for the players towards the end of the workout.

The marketing group of Michael Ferguson, Nick Pope and Olav Nossum showed up in the wee hours of the day once again to get green screen footage and through three full days have now completed their work with 29 of the 67 players in camp. Tomorrow, Shawn Kelley, Chone Figgins, Felix Hernandez, Franklin Gutierrez and Mike Carp (among others) are schedule for their close-ups.

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– FA

2012 Mariners Promotions Calendar

The Mariners 2012 Special Events calendar is out (for your planning purposes). Fan favorites like bobbleheads and the Mariners Express collector train series are back.

This year, there are four bobbleheads: Ichiro, Dustin Ackley, Felix Hernandez, and a special dual Mariners Hall of Fame bobblehead with Dan Wilson and Randy Johnson.

2012 Ichiro Bobblehead

The 2012 version of the Mariners collector train car is the Justin Smoak “Smoakamotive,” the 13th car in the series.

Here’s a link to the entire promotions schedule. Single game tickets for the 2012 season go on sale to the public on Saturday, March 10 at 10am PST.

The Smoakamotive

Hot Stove League and Mariners Mondays

Big offense is the theme for this week’s Mariners Mondays (7:30pm on ROOT SPORTS™). Each week through March 5, ROOT SPORTS is highlighting big games from the 2011 season, helping to tide baseball fans over until Spring Training gets underway in earnest.

The Hot Stove League show will be hosted by  Shannon Drayer and Matt Pitman. Fans can listen locally in the Puget Sound region on 710 ESPN Seattle and over the Internet on Mariners.com. Guests for the show are scheduled to include:

Here is a teaser for the Mariners Mondays games that will be highlighted tonight on ROOT SPORTS™:

Tonight, moments of Biblical proportions (as in the old joke “In the Big Inning…”). Let’s go back to June 5, Mariners vs. Tampa Bay Rays. The Mariners have taken two out of three from the Rays, with the final game of the four-game series on tap. The big hit of the game is a tie-breaking three-run homer by Miguel Olivo in the 8th inning. But the game was notable for a couple of two-run triples, one of baseball’s most exciting hits. One by Ichiro in the 3rd inning, and in a bittersweet moment, Greg Halman’s 2011 debut with a triple in the 7th. Halman had three hits in the game.

Miguel Olivo connects on a 3-run home run June 5, 2011 vs. Tampa Bay. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The next series of highlights are from the August 24 game at Cleveland. Two games were rained out in May, so the Mariners and Indians made up one of the games on the Mariners return trip in August (the second game would be made up in September… see below). The Mariners won the first game of the series 3-2 on March 22, split the doubleheader on March 23 with a 12-7 win in the nightcap, and bashed out another 16 hits on their way to a 9-2 win in game four. The offensive star of the day was rookie Kyle Seager, who was 4-for-4 with three doubles and a single. Seager’s college teammate at the University of North Carolina, Dustin Ackley, also got in on the act going 3-for-5. And Willy Mo Peña had a good game with a two-run home run, a double and a single. Oh, and Felix Hernandez had another good outing striking out 10, the 17th time in his career he reached double digits.

For the third game of the evening, the Mariners 12-6 win over the Indians on Sept. 19 is highlighted. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s raining. (What is it with bad weather for our games in Cleveland?) Starting pitcher Charlie Furbush got plenty of run support in the 12-6 rain-shortened game for his first win in over a month. He had a career-high 8 strikeouts and was buoyed by the Mariners 9-run third inning, including Alex Liddi’s first MLB homer, and a Mike Carp grand slam. By the way, Liddi’s homer was the first by an Italian-born player since Reno Bertoia hit one in 1961.

Mike Carp connects on his first career grand slam Sept. 19, 2011 at Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

– RH / JE