The OFFICIAL 2012 MLB Regular Season Thread

[browna]

As impact player as he still may be or not, a pretty big deal given he's been the face of the Mariners and for his cultural impact on MLB and Seattle over the past decade.

And NY plays Seattle later tonight.

[Machiavelli]

Bad news for Mariners fans.

[Azure]

Really, why is it bad news? He requested a trade so the team can let the younger players develop. The team is completely going in a different direction. The majority of the players are 25 and younger.

[GirlySports]

Ichiro just got a single and stole a base.

His bat and speed might not be what it used to be but that's a nice bat to have hitting 8th in the lineup. Also I think being back in the playoffs will rejuvenate his career. The only meaningful games he's played in the last 7-8 years were those he played for Japan.

[Montana Moe]

As a Mariners fan, I'm happy for both sides of the deal. I love Ichiro, and I'm looking forward to seeing competitive baseball again. I think he'll find that spark he needs.

As for the Mariners, it's good to see them acknowledge that it's time to let the talisman move to greener pastures, and look to the future. Some sports organizations just can't accept that reality.

I didn't realize it at the time, but I attended Ichiro's final home game as a Mariner. Good seats, too...

[troutman]

Gregg Zaun was quite critical of Ichiro on Prime Time Sports last night. He says Ichiro has the swing to hit 40 home runs easily, but he is selfishly focused on getting 200 hits and a high average. He also suggested Ichiro won't steal second base.

I haven't heard these criticisms before.

[Montana Moe]

Well, he does have that power. His BP sessions are well known homer fests. I'm not sure he's ever been asked to be a HR hitter.

Ichiro stole 2nd last night. He averages about 40 a season, and he's usually in the top 5 in the league. Perhaps those are mostly 3rd base? I couldn't tell you.

I'm admittedly a big fan, but to me the criticisms seem a bit odd, to be honest.

[socalwingfan]

The only reason Greg Zaun never saw Ichiro steal second, was that he was probably on third after that scrub sailed the throw into CF

[Azure]

Originally Posted by troutman

Gregg Zaun was quite critical of Ichiro on Prime Time Sports last night. He says Ichiro has the swing to hit 40 home runs easily, but he is selfishly focused on getting 200 hits and a high average. He also suggested Ichiro won't steal second base.

I haven't heard these criticisms before.

Yeah, well Gregg Zaun is a moron.

Ichiro is 38 years old. For the past 12 years he's been a run-scoring machine that has average close to .350, with 200+ hits every single year. He has averaged 40+ stolen bases over that time as well.

Yes, he can hit homeruns at will during BP, but that hasn't EVER been his role. Not everyone on the team is your cleanup guy.

Ichiro has played his role on the Mariners to perfection for the past 12 years, and he deserves a chance to go to a contender. Me thinks Zaun should STFU.

[d_phaneuf]

I have seen the criticism before, I think in Safeco it makes sense to not try and hit for power

with the short porch in Yankee Stadium I think we see him use his power more

[Sylvanfan]

I think Zaun says all this stuff hoping that someone in the US media will take notice of him, so he can get a better job by raising his noteriety as an antogonistc analyst. He's a baseball analyst in Canada...he might as well be annonymous.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Azure

Ichiro isn't even near to how good he used to be. Wasn't worth keeping around with that salary. Mariners are obviously going in a different direction. Some pretty amazing talent in the system. Should be a great team in a few years.

Replace Ichiro with Smyth and Mariners with Oilers = What I've heard about the team up north for a while.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I think Zaun says all this stuff hoping that someone in the US media will take notice of him, so he can get a better job by raising his noteriety as an antogonistc analyst. He's a baseball analyst in Canada...he might as well be annonymous.

I don't think he was being especially antagonistic. He was saying Ichiro is a hall-of-famer, who has the talent to do more for his team.

The Jays on Sportsnet should have a larger TV market than most regional US networks. I wouldn't say that is a bad gig.

http://canadiansportsfan.wordpress.c...up-17-in-2011/

Toronto Blue Jays audiences reached new heights this season on Rogers Sportsnet with an average television audience of 507,000 [2011]

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/J.../MLB-RSNs.aspx

[Finny61]

I hate the Yankees, so the trade sucks. Maybe Ichiro could do one of those one day signings before retiring and end the career as a Mariner.

[trumpethead]

Unbelievable 8-6-3 double play by the Giants in the 8th inning tonight. Then the Giants walk off in the 9th. Good times.

[Drake]

Cole Hamels is going nowhere close to signing a 6 year extension more than $137.5M. http://t.co/zVdZ6tn2

[Drake]

LA Dodgers acquire Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Drake

LA Dodgers acquire Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins.

For a pair of cleats and a rosin bag (aka Nathan Eovaldi).

What a horrible deal for Miami.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

For a pair of cleats and a rosin bag (aka Nathan Eovaldi).

What a horrible deal for Miami.

What did you expect? Did you really think a new stadium would change the way they do business?

[Flickered Flame]

Not sure what happened with the Marlins and Jays but I can tell you the A's were in the mix as well. The reason why the A's didn't get Ramirez is because the Dodgers ate the entire contract and Oakland wasn't going to do it and maybe couldn't do it.

The A's are looking for a shortstop and the Jays just happen to have a good one, who is likely available.