With yesterday’s loss to the Minnesota Twins, the Seattle Mariners became the first team in MLB to be mathematically eliminated from the 2008 playoffs (although, truthfully, they were essentially eliminated months ago).
Now, we all know that Ichiro is all-world talent. The guy might just be the best contact hitter in the game today, and perhaps all-time. Some of his credentials include winning both the AL Rookie of the Year and AL MVP honors in 2001, breaking the single season record for hits in 2004 with 262, becoming the youngest player in history to reach 3,000 hits (albeit including the hits racked up as a pro in Japan), and having a 0.331 career batting average. Of course, there are so many other aspects of Ichiro’s game that deserve mention (like his rocket arm, and tremendous base-running ability), but you get the point.
It’s just so sad that his talent is wasted on such a dismal team. The Mariners have been to the playoffs just once since acquiring Ichiro (that was in his rookie season). Ichiro has remained quiet, but he’s turning 35 this October, and it’s time he spoke up.
I have always admired Ichiro for staying hush about his horrible situation in Seattle, but I wouldn’t blame him one bit if he wanted to be traded. He shouldn’t have to suffer in silence, and I feel that his blood is beginning to boil. Does anyone else think that Ichiro will start to hint that he wants out any time soon? It really does pain me to imagine what he’s going through right now with the Mariners. Go on, Ichiro, say something.