Ichiro is great....

CDsNuts · June 22, 2007 3:08AM

"If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying."

Who knew he was so funny?

Stingray · June 22, 2007 3:11AM

shagrotn77 · June 22, 2007 3:19AM

That's awesome. When did he say this?

CDsNuts · June 22, 2007 3:21AM

I read it in the new issue of ESPN The Magazine. I just can't picture him saying this which makes it so damn funny.

Lee

julen23 · June 22, 2007 3:26AM

your icon prevents me from taking anything you say seriously, lee.

i think you made it up and are trying to spread false rumors about Cleveland.

yf
julen
tgif
blah blah blah

BobaFett72 · June 22, 2007 3:29AM

that sounds way to coherent for Ichiro.

Usually he sounds like this

rap dance? 5 dorrah! me ruv u long time!

julen23 · June 22, 2007 3:33AM

true story from this past week: i went to a korean bbq and their menu spelled available as "avairable". lmao

i am half vietnamese, so i am not being racist.

well yes i am.

julen
tgif

CDsNuts · June 22, 2007 3:37AM

I have eaten my weight in kalbi and bulgogi many many times.

ROCKDJRW · June 22, 2007 3:42AM

I also love Ichiro. I can't wait to see him play RF for the White Sox next year!

kcballboy · June 22, 2007 3:43AM

<< your icon prevents me from taking anything you say seriously, lee.

i think you made it up and are trying to spread false rumors about Cleveland.

yf
julen
tgif
blah blah blah >>

SI quoted it too. I was totally LOL'ing when I read it.

nam812 · June 22, 2007 3:55AM

You said bulgogi......

Ichiro51fan · June 22, 2007 3:56AM

Yeah, I saw that a couple of weeks back... freakin hillarious! Of course, this was the English translation through his interpreter, but I suspect it couldn't have been that far off from what he actually said. For a guy that comes across as all business, he actually does have a comical side, although I'm not entirely sure that it's intentional, lol.

Last night I was listening to the game on the radio and Dave Niehaus told a story about asking Ichiro if he had a goal on his mind of breaking his own hit record of 262 this season. Ichiro's response was something like... "if I had it on my mind all the time, then the goal would be unattainable"... something very zen like that. I just wish he would do public interviews in English. I know he speaks it well enough... probably better that the majoity of Americans, lol. I have a feeling we're missin a lot of zany stuff coming from him.

Ichiro-to-date highlights in the 2007 season:
BA: .358 (2nd in AL, 3rd in MLB)
Hits: 105 (1st in AL, 2nd in MLB... 1 behind Holliday)
SB: 22 (2nd in AL, 4th in MLB)
Runs: 52 (6th in AL, 9th in MLB)
BA w/RISP: .431!
BA late inning of close games: .455!
On pace for 247 hits
On pace for 87 RBI (a career high by 18)
25-game hitting streak...
Followed by 2 games without a hit...
Followed by a 16 game hitting streak (currently active)
Defense (CF): RF of 3.16, 4 assists, 0 errors in 206 total chances

OK... I'll get off my soap box now

stitzen · June 22, 2007 4:07AM

I saw this too and, while funny, I think was taken out of context. The mariners and indians had an early season series (4 games, I think?) that was wiped out to snow. They've had to travel to Cleveland on what should be 'off' days the past month or so to make them up, thereby not giving the team many off days. I have to think that his reply about going to Cleveland is in response to that...but who knows, he may despise Cleveland.

julen23 · June 22, 2007 4:08AM

killjoy

julen

Ichiro51fan · June 22, 2007 4:23AM

<< I saw this too and, while funny, I think was taken out of context. The mariners and indians had an early season series (4 games, I think?) that was wiped out to snow. They've had to travel to Cleveland on what should be 'off' days the past month or so to make them up, thereby not giving the team many off days. I have to think that his reply about going to Cleveland is in response to that...but who knows, he may despise Cleveland. >>

No, I actually think he hates it there, lol! If you look at some of the footage of when they played the half game there in the snow in April, dude does not look very happy standing there freezing his ass off in CF. I think that experience pretty much eliminated Cleveland from the list of teams he would ever go to.

stitzen · June 22, 2007 5:15AM

<< 
No, I actually think he hates it there, lol! If you look at some of the footage of when they played the half game there in the snow in April, dude does not look very happy standing there freezing his ass off in CF. I think that experience pretty much eliminated Cleveland from the list of teams he would ever go to. >>

Well especially after his comments, he definitely won't be going to Cleveland.

MooseDog · June 22, 2007 5:20AM

Quote is in Sports Illustrated this week as well.

Ruthfan · June 22, 2007 5:29AM

CD, is your icon the kid from the Karate Kid movie?

CDsNuts · June 22, 2007 5:33AM

Yes, thanks for noticing.

stown · June 22, 2007 5:34AM

There was nothing taken out of context

You can mark CLE off his free-agency tour.

gregmo32 · June 22, 2007 9:24AM

I knew I recognized (and was very annoyed by) the kid in that picture! Doesn't he say something about putting him "in a body bag " when he makes that face? Oh, the memories are rushing back!

JackWESQ · June 22, 2007 9:36AM

It's many years down the road, but I can't wait for Ichiro to give his HOF speech through a translator! But then again, that might not happen ... if he can really speak English proficiently.

The funny thing is at after a mere approximately 1000 MLB game, he already has borderline HOF "numbers" per Baseball Reference.

Black Ink: Batting - 27 (66) (Average HOFer ¡Ö 27)
Gray Ink: Batting - 94 (238) (Average HOFer ¡Ö 144)
HOF Standards: Batting - 30.0 (260) (Average HOFer ¡Ö 50)
HOF Monitor: Batting - 147.0 (81) (Likely HOFer > 100)

/s/ JackWESQ

hofautos · June 22, 2007 2:59PM

<< It's many years down the road, but I can't wait for Ichiro to give his HOF speech through a translator! But then again, that might not happen ... if he can really speak English proficiently.

The funny thing is at after a mere approximately 1000 MLB game, he already has borderline HOF "numbers" per Baseball Reference.

Black Ink: Batting - 27 (66) (Average HOFer ¡Ö 27)
Gray Ink: Batting - 94 (238) (Average HOFer ¡Ö 144)
HOF Standards: Batting - 30.0 (260) (Average HOFer ¡Ö 50)
HOF Monitor: Batting - 147.0 (81) (Likely HOFer > 100)

/s/ JackWESQ >>

hope you are right...I Just picked up his rookie auto -

JackWESQ · June 22, 2007 4:11PM

Dear hofautos,

I assume you negotiated a deal off of ebay for the card? Because I see that it was up for auction here:

2001 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ichiro Suzuki BGS 9

but the seller ended the auction early because of an "error in the listing."

I'm curious to see what a BGS 9.5 of this card will go for. A BGS 9.5 (with the old BGS label) sold for $7,885.00 on January 28, 2007 here:

2001 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ichiro Suzuki BGS 9.5

The buyer was "cicollect" out of Yonkers, N.Y. This same card is now up for auction here:

2001 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ichiro Suzuki BGS 9.5

and the seller is "red-zone." Maybe cicollect and red-zone are alter-egos for a buying/selling account?

I checked my records and saw that a BGS 9 of the card sold for $3,051.00 here on January 14, 2007:

2001 Upper Deck Ultimate Collection Ichiro Suzuki BGS 9

I think the interesting thing is that Ichiro has literally thousands of cards graded by PSA and BGS, but at any given time, very, very few of them are available on ebay. My search of PSA, BGS and SGC cards shows that there are only 43 PSA and BGS cards on ebay right now. I guess this shows that a lot of collectors out there holding on to their Ichiro cards.

/s/ JackWESQ

hofautos · June 22, 2007 4:37PM

Thanks for the info..
Sounds like you have been following them...I haven't followed them closely but I know they are tough to find...

stitzen · June 22, 2007 5:04PM

<< It's many years down the road, but I can't wait for Ichiro to give his HOF speech through a translator! But then again, that might not happen ... if he can really speak English proficiently. >>

I think that given the opportunity to give a speech he would do so in English...unlike a Q&A where its easier for him to field a quicker answer in his native language.

<< The funny thing is at after a mere approximately 1000 MLB game, he already has borderline HOF "numbers" per Baseball Reference. >>

He has an outside chance at 3000 hits, which would make him an automatic HoFer (only Palmiero will be the only 3000 hit club member without HoF status). Even if he gets to 2500 or so, he'll be a lock.

pandrews · June 22, 2007 6:21PM

<< I knew I recognized (and was very annoyed by) the kid in that picture! Doesn't he say something about putting him "in a body bag " when he makes that face? Oh, the memories are rushing back! >>

enjoy.. hours of entertainment right here.

pandrews · June 23, 2007 4:06AM

ttt for the body bag.

Ichiro51fan · June 23, 2007 8:18AM

<< It's many years down the road, but I can't wait for Ichiro to give his HOF speech through a translator! But then again, that might not happen ... if he can really speak English proficiently.

The funny thing is at after a mere approximately 1000 MLB game, he already has borderline HOF "numbers" per Baseball Reference.

Black Ink: Batting - 27 (66) (Average HOFer ¡Ö 27)
Gray Ink: Batting - 94 (238) (Average HOFer ¡Ö 144)
HOF Standards: Batting - 30.0 (260) (Average HOFer ¡Ö 50)
HOF Monitor: Batting - 147.0 (81) (Likely HOFer > 100)

/s/ JackWESQ >>

Yes, I noticed that as well while browsing through that site the other day. As a huge Ichiro fan, I try to keep an eye on that sort of thing. Things do look promissing for him to make the HOF in my opinion. I feel that if he continues what he's doing this year and has maybe 2 more years like it, he'll be in. It looks like 2,000 hits in 9 years is totally possibly (and highly likely barring injury, imo). I know a lot of people say he will become way less affective as he ages and slows down a bit, but I just don't see it. The guy keeps himself in immaculate physical condition, and while age may reduce his speed towards his later 30's, and can't see that making a huge difference. Even if you cut his IF hits in half, he's still likely to break 200 hits a year. Granted, you never know when I guy is just going to "lose it" due to age or injury, but I think this is likely likely with a guy like Ichiro.

Anyway, it's crazy to think that he could very easily be looking at 10+ straight 200 hit seasons. He's already set so many team, league and MLB records in such a short time. Given a few more years the records will just continue to fall. I would really like to see him make a run at a really long hitting streak. If he just could have slapped a hit each in those 2 games vs Texas earlier this month, we'd be possibly looking at a run on Dimaggio as he'd have 44 straight. Of course, the pressure of that may have had an influence, but it's still fun to think about. I would really like to see him get up to at least 25 on his current streak (now at 17). Not sure if anyone has ever done two 25-gamers in the same season.

Well, personally I'd like to see him stay a Mariner as that's how I get to see him the most on TV and in person. Part of me does want to see how he'd do on another squad though. Imagine... all of the amazing things that he's done over the past 7 years have been accomplished while playing in the worst hitters park in the AL. I think he's see increased productivity in maybe every other ballpark but Petco (almost as bad as Safeco for hitters) and Fenway (I think that short LF would hurt him as he slaps dozens of hits out there every year).

julen23 · June 23, 2007 9:16AM

wow.

lost for words, get me a body bag!

julen

JackWESQ · June 25, 2007 11:35AM

Wow. The Ichiro RC Ultimate Collection BGS 9.5 sold for $6,200.00. That's almost $1,700.00 less than what is previously sold for ... or at least what it sold for back in January 2007.

/s/ JackWESQ

MooseDog · June 25, 2007 11:38AM

<< It's many years down the road, but I can't wait for Ichiro to give his HOF speech through a translator! But then again, that might not happen ... if he can really speak English proficiently. >>

Ichiro speaks passable English (learning Japanese-English and vice versa is one of the most difficult of all languages) but prefers to use translators. Ichiro enjoys being mysterious, an enigma, if you will. No doubt a huge ego but can can walk the walk.

Ichiro is great....

Comments