I think he liked that challenge and he was uniquely equipped to handle it, Stone says. 1. Happy Felix Day? Ichiro just defies what most athletes are capable of. He followed up with a steal of second base in what was his first exposure on a big national stage in America. SEATTLE King's Court will be back in session this summer. Dave Niehaus. Don't you know. The M's will . By instigating at the top of the lineup, wreaking havoc on the basepaths, and turning each game into an electric environment, he added an element to our team that really sparked us in many different ways, Bell says. Lou kissed me right here on the cheek, Ichiro said. In August 2002, MLB.com streamed the first-ever live, full length MLB game when the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees faced off at Yankee Stadium. Follow Unfollow. It just kept carrying, and youre waiting for it to bounce, and it just never did., Thats one of the greatest throws Ive ever seen in my life, Rizzs says. I love the call on that play - the fact that the announcer has the time and presence of mind to include the "look at the throw from right" as the ball's still in the air makes it so much better to me. In one of his final games ever, an exhibition against the Yomiuri Giants in the Tokyo Dome ahead of Seattles two-game 2019 season-opening series against Oakland, Ichiro uncorked one last laser of a throw from right field to keep a runner from advancing from second base to third. It was so true and so strong. Next door in the press box, Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus described the throw as being like something out of Star Wars, a call that was soon attached to the clip on every sports report that night. Years earlier, at Nobuyukis urging, Colborn had promised to take care of Ichiro in his transition to the U.S.; ever the scout, Colborn warned Ichiro about that nights Dodgers starting pitcher, and then made a prediction. It is my greatest honor to have played for you as a Seattle Mariner.. Ichiro was a big part of that.. He may never play another game in the majors. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. However, No. Ichiro is famously baseball-obsessed with the entire process of getting ready to play the sport. So when fellow Mariner great Ken Griffey Jr. had to chase down Ichiros hit off the wall in right field during the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco, there was pretty much no chance of keeping him from scoring on the play. He also thanked Mariners ownership for the opportunity to contribute as a special advisor in his post-playing days. One by one, Ichiro shared a message with each, blending in his trademark quick-wit humor with heartfelt respect. Then Ichiro clarified. I think Ichiro and Matsui broke the ice, and from the Japanese players point of view, they wanted to come over here too, and prove they could play in the highest league in the world, Hendry says. After his 2001 debut, it seemed like it would be only a matter of time until he became the new single-season hit king. Ichiro Suzuki had already made a positive impression by the time he entered into legend status. In his rookie season of 2001, he threw a frozen rope to nail Oaklands Terrence Long trying to go from first to third on a base hit. Piniella: Ive seen some pretty good arms. Visit MLB.com: http://mlb.mlb.comSubscribe to MLB.TV: mlb.tvDownload MLB.com At Bat: http://mlb.mlb.com/mobile/atbatGet tickets: http://mlb.mlb.com/ticketsOfficial MLB Merchandise: http://mlb.mlb.com/shop Join the conversation!Twitter: http://twitter.com/mlbFacebook: http://facebook.com/mlbInstagram: http://instagram.com/mlbGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/+MLBTumblr: http://drawntomlb.com/Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/MLBAM Even after Hideo Nomo broke international barriers and found success with the Dodgers in 1995, only a few MLB teams had scouts on the ground in Japan. The Japanese approach to hitting is such a cookie-cutter approachthey all hit the same, Whiting says. "Pow, he got him" combined with "pegged him". Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus passed away on Wednesday in his Bellevue, Wash., home at the age of 75. Here is the top fun points seasons since the introduction of division play and the lowering of the mound in 1969: Fun Points per PA*, 1969-2022, 502 PA per . Feb 17, 2012 - Dave Niehaus. Apr 21, 2017. The manager gave me a big wet kiss. "I want to be like a researcher or a student of the game. Ken Levine. Ken Griffey Jr., Jamie Moyer, manager Lou Piniella and broadcaster Dave Niehaus. that is the most lazer-like throw i've ever seen. But Colborn knew that the outfielder was special. 24. He forced mistakes., Bret Boone, the Mariners second baseman from 2001 to 2005, says it was 50-50 whether Ichiro beat out a run-of-the-mill grounder in the infield. Mike Trout He really didnt have time to fit into group dynamics.. Fukudome might not have had the reputation that Ichiro had, but he was a really good hitter, and I think there was more of a comfort zone that even though he wasnt going to be a big power guy, everyone thought he was going to hit for a high average and hit for average power and play great defense in right field, which he did, Hendry says. Thus, over the next few years, Colborn found it easy to court Ichiro, bringing him jerseys of Griffey Jr., his favorite player. His work has also appeared in Esquire.com, GQ.com, and The New York Times. "April 11, 2001: Ichiro throws an absolute rope from right field to gun down the A's' Terrence Long at third base. She talks . Ichiro played parts of 14 seasons for the Mariners before his dramatic retirement at age 45 in Tokyo three years ago. Ichiro Suzuki had a .244 BA after an 0-2 count, 20 points higher than any other player in our database (min. Get Social with AzQuotes. Terrance Long was over halfway from second to third when Ichiro picked up that ball. Dusty Groove is Chicago's Online Record Store -- Jazz, Soul, Funk, Hip Hop, R&B, Latin, Brazil, African, World Music, Avant, Rock, Blues & more LPs, CDs, vinyl . The first Japanese-born position player to make the majors also filled the Mariners celebrity void left by Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., and Randy Johnson, all of whom had recently departed Seattle. You knew the work ethic was there. Ichiro also showed off his power by smacking balls into the seats before moving to right field and unleashing rocket throws to the infield. Shortly after retiring, Ichiro began as a special advisor to the Mariners, essentially serving as an assistant coach during Spring Training and most home games during the regular season. You need somebody over there that knows the ins and outs of not only how the games played over there, but the culture, former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says. Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) was formed and charged with developing, building and managing the most comprehensive baseball experience available on the internet. A laser beam, barely 10 feet off the ground, reached third baseman David Bell on the fly . Scott Servais explains how to help the CF handle it. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, The subreddit for the bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players. talent - Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki - with no World Series to show for it. HERE COMES JOEY, HERE IS JUNIOR TO THIRD BASE, THEY'RE GOING TO WAVE HIM IN! His 133 hits at the break marked a club record, and his league-leading 3.4 million votes made him an All-Star starter as a rookie. Thus was there a craving for approval from overseas, for a vindication of Japan itself, that attached itself to the athletes who made their way across the Pacific., Its a sentiment Masujima explored in a 2002 magazine essay while writing about the transformative power of stars like Nomo and Ichiro. During Suzuki's first month in the majors in 2001 . Mike Trout He will join Alvin Davis, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Randy Johnson, Dan Wilson, Ken Griffey Jr., Jamie Moyer, manager Lou Piniella and broadcaster Dave Niehaus. [0:35 for exact replay]. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. "The Throw," one of Ichiro's signature moments in his Major League . He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in 1977 until his death in 2010. Subscribe to Stathead , the set of tools used by the pros, to unearth this and other interesting factoids. Dave Niehaus, Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, Randy . (AP). He charged the ball and he threw a bullet to home plate and I did a double take. With 'beautiful peg' meaning great throw and he got him meaning well, he got him. Holy shit. His first signature highlight came on April 11 in Oakland. We thought we had a leadoff hitter, we thought we had a guy that could play right field, so we just went after it, Gillick says. "You just look at the talent and say it's easy to come over and play like that, but it's not. Its what makes him a superstar, what makes him such a great player., Along with winning MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, Ichiro reimagined baseball stardom. Five highlights of Dave Niehaus' career with the Mariners. Ichiro, charging, fields a single cleanly, takes an abbreviated crow-hop and launches an absolute laser that never gets more than 10 feet off the ground, never takes a bounce and never forces third baseman David Bell to move his glove, other than to apply the tag to a stunned Long. A Celebration of Life for Dave Niehaus; Podcasts; 2013 Seattle Seahawks Online Scrapbook; Daily Archives: February 24, . Why did he run when I was going to throw him out? -- Ichiro, Dave Niehaus is a Seattle legend. I need Ichiro to take a little batting practice, Piniella told him, before turning to his future star. Ichiro, whose arm could throw lasers "like something out of 'Star Wars,'" as late Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus famously said, retires as the active leader in outfield assists (123). Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, who passes away Wednesday, poses at the old Yankee Stadium before Game 2 of the American League Championship Series in Oct. 2000. Sitting on the horizon is Seattle's season-opening series in Tokyo next season, and the possibility for Suzuki to shine again in his home country. Ichiro used an interpreter with the media, limiting potential discrepancies caused by the language barrier, but often surprised coaches, teammates, and opponents by starting conversations in English and talking smack. Before I watch: Bo Jackson throw to home from warning track? He excelled at the little things, blending new school and old school, and carved out a niche that forced the rest of MLB to catch up. New Seattle Mariner player Ichiro Suzuki answers questions from Seattle fans through team scout and translator Hide Sueyoshi while team announcer. The Japanese had been waiting their entire lives to compete against major league players, Small says. Cant wait to hear his excitement very soon! After making adjustments in spring training, he revised his stance, keeping both feet on the ground to better catch up to fastballs. It felt good for my soul.. "The throw by Ichiro, beautiful peg. While that ended up not being the case, he gave Mariners fans quite the thrill in his last at-bat of the series, drilling a home run to send the crowd into a frenzy. He was the lead play-by-play announcer for the American League's Seattle Mariners from their inaugural season in 1977 until his death in 2010. Ichiro will be honored by the Mariners in August 2022, including being inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony on Aug. 27. . They were in the middle of a nine-game road trip in which they would go 7-2 and grab a division lead they would never give up. David Arnold Niehaus was an American sportscaster. In 2004, he did just that, passing Sisler on Oct. 1. Can't stop smiling at the absurdity. I knew it was going to be special., Earlier in his courtship, Colborn had taken Ichiro to Peoria to tour the Mariners facility and visit Griffeys locker. 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