Ichiro depressed by another lost Mariners season

Seattle is looking pathetic and has been last place for years now. Ichiro will be nearly 40 years old when his contract is up. Sadly, even Shinjo made it to a world series. It's just not in the cards for Ichiro.

Well he chose to play in this armpit. What does he expect? Had his chance to escape to a team with hope but chose comfort and mediocrity. Great playing who won't really ever know what it's like to be on the best team in the world. Kinda like John Stockton minus the post season play.

So loyalty to your fans doesn't mean anything these days?

Now's not the time for Ichiro to be so "Japanese" - remain loyal to the team, be risk averse and choose comfort over a new setting.

He's already done what he can there, no one will blame him if he requests (not demand, of course) to be moved to team that can complete.

Too bad if Seattle loses all the Japanese tourists but as a MLB fan, want to see meaningful games broadcast over here.

The problem is the city. Too much rain even depresses the players.

Sounds just like the AZ Diamond Backs.... Regarding Ichiro, he is in Seattle because of the Japanese/Nintendo ownership tie-up there.

I watched a couple of matches and it does not seem to be so much of a "team" there. Ichiro is the only star that team has and I admire not only his dedication but his loyalty.

Japanese star Ichiro under depression? no way, he has sunk the team and enjoying advertisement business in Japan and issuing statements like a politician !

Ichiro has sunk the team ???theres no bigger japan basher for bashings sake than some14some..

Regarding Ichiro, he is in Seattle because of the Japanese/Nintendo ownership tie-up there.

True until he renewed his contract. Not so true when you remember the Yomiuri Giants Baltimore Orioles link up. Matsui said , No!

theres no bigger japan basher for bashings sake than some14some..

some14some said the truth. it hurts.

When Ichiro joined Seattle in 2001, they were a pretty good team good. In fact that year Seattle won 116 games. This was not a case of big fish in a little pond. It's just since 2001, Seattle has basically sucked. And yes there is a big Japan connection in Seattle. I'd love to see Ichiro go to a team where he can win a WS.

LoveUSA, how do you know that Ichiro doesn't care about the Mariners and that his core business is advertisements in Japan? If you say that a dubious poster here tells the truth then at least explain us WHY!!

stormqueen: "theres no bigger japan basher for bashings sake than some14some.."

The best comment in ages!

Ichiro has sunk the team ???

This is what the article says. Seattle started sinking only after Ichiro joined them. Now he might have a guilty feeling that all he could in nine years was to collect hits, steal bases, and asking 'others' to help him reach home plate. Whereas failed to help others in scoring position/left them stranded...this is what his RBI record shows.

theres no bigger japan basher for bashings sake than some14some

well i have clarified my stand with stats and logic. What is Japan bashing? no, it's not my hobby !

True, Seattle has sucked after Ichiro's first year, but we can't blame him for that. You can't say that getting 200 hits for 10 years in a row helps "sink" a team. As for RBIs, do you even know baseball? Ichiro is a lead-off hitter. It's his job to get on base and steal bases. It's up to the clean-up to get him home. Since when is a lead-off man expected to get a ton of RBIs? By the way, some14some, you didn't back up your opinion with stats, so allow me. Ichiro's career BA (batting average) with the bases loaded is .434 and his RISP (runners in scoring position) with 2 outs is .350, both above his career average of .332.

Thanks bicultural, from your above post it appears to me that You are hard working sincere and true fan of Ichiro. Hope your posts will encourage and help him overcome depressive feelings. As for Seattle Mariners no change, same gloomy outlook, at the mercy of God !

Ichiro should be traded to the LA Dodgers. Great Japanese connection with Nomo, Saito, Ishii, Nakamura (though he flopped as a power hitting 3B in the Bigs) and currently Kuroda. Big J-community. We have one of the only J-towns in the U.S., Little Tokyo.

We'll trade Manny and his 1 year $20 some mil. contract plus a decent minor leager or 2 with some possible potential in return for Ichiro waiving his remaining 9 1/2 years left on his contract (I mean really, 10 years is ludicrous. For a star in his early 20's maybe, and they have to be Babe Ruth/Sandy Koufax good but who can tell that young?), and re-negotiating for a 5 year deal max. Ichiro is amazing, don't get me wrong. HOF'er for sure. 10 years is just too much of a commitment for a player already in his 30's.

That would leave SEA with a feared hitter (he might not have the power numbers this year but pitchers still respect him) for the remainder of the season and a possible DH next year if they want to keep him plus a prospect or two.

And Ichiro can go to a contender where he will be comfortable.

Ichiro/Furcal 1 and 2 in the line up would be scary. Especially the way Furky is playing this year. Both All-Stars. Dodgers have 4 this year.

<You can't say that getting 200 hits for 10 years in a row helps "sink" a team. Ichiro is a lead-off hitter. It's his job to get on base and steal bases.>

Is he a leadoff hitter? I'd beg to differ... a leadoff hitter's job is to also see pitches; to give the hitters behind him something to see... you want to get at a pitcher early in the game; get his pitch count up... Ichiro does not do those things... and you can't be hesitant on the basepath... Ichiro may have a good steal rate, but he's hardly a threat to pitchers...

Does 200 hits sink a team? think about that again... who really wants that, Ichiro or the Japanese management? Of course, we don't know for sure... but we do know how big Japan is on numbers and stats... it's a great selling point...

That said, I don't blame him for being the leadoff hitter... I blame management for that... I think Lou Piniella knew clearly that he wasn't a real leadoff man, which is why he was tried as a third hitter... I think management was against that move, which was probably part of the differences Piniella had with management... if Ichiro was batting third, Figgins batting leadoff like the true leadoff man he is, I guarentee the M's will score more runs, and earlier in the game... and there won't be any more Figgins-Ichiro DPs...

The Nintendo bosses may have to do the unthinkable to Japanese --trade Ichiro to a contender for prospects-- since the Mariners are in rebuilding mode yet again while Ichiro is getting older and less time to win a ring.

As a M's fan since the early 90's, I can't think of a more depressing time in following the team. It's hopeless. The "prospects" aren't going to help anytime soon, and Ichiro will probably never see the playoffs without moving to another team (or rather, being moved).

Seattle ownership doesn't care about pennants (0 in team history).

mrmiyagi- A leadoff hitter's sole responsibility is to get on base for the rbi producers in the 2-5 slots. At 200 hits a season, that means he is on base a minimum of 200 times (not counting walks). Batters can watch the pitcher warming up and while they're on deck.

A leadoff hitter's sole responsibility is to get on base for the rbi producers in the 2-5 slots. At 200 hits a season, that means he is on base a minimum of 200 times (not counting walks). Batters can watch the pitcher warming up and while they're on deck　<

sorry, but no, you're quite wrong... just ask Ricky Henderson...

"The Mariners have gone from a popular pick for the postseason and winners of baseball’s offseason to losers during the real season. Again."

Go ahead and look it up... I told you at the start of the season that as long as Ichiro was batting lead-off- the Mariners had no chance ! Face the facts- "small ball" doesn't cut it in the majors. Seattle has neither power hitters nor a deep bullpen... a recipe for disaster ! Wakamatsu needs to shake things up- bat Ichiro second or third. Imagine how many of his hits would have driven in runners by now.

This story was from July 15th- here we are weeks later and not a single story about Ichiro or the Mariners... what's up with that ? Just because his team is about to complete another losing season and Ichiro personally is having an off year is no reason to shut down information about the club in general. You see that's the deal with sports- you gotta support your team and it's players through both good times and bad. One only has to question the motives here for the lack of coverage.