"The Mariners' season is in the books, and Ichiro's worst professional season is over. He finished at .272, with 184 hits. It's Ichiro's first season with fewer than 200 hits since he joined the Mariners in 2001, and his first season under .300 since he hit .188 for Orix in 43 games in 1993, as a 19-year-old. The next year he hit .385 and set the Japanese hit record with 210 in 130 games. Here are his averages, in order, since the .300 streak started in 1994: .385, .342, .356, .345, .358, .343, .387, .350 (first year in Seattle), .321, .312, .372, .303, .322, .351, .310, .352, .315, and.....272.

It's pretty striking when you list it like that, isn't it? Which might explain why Ichiro, when asked after the game if it's good that it's over, replied, "I can't say it's good. All I can say is it's finished.''

Ichiro hasn't been doing many interviews lately, but he talked a bit after the game. I wouldn't say he was expansive, but he did give some telling comments. For instance, when I asked him about the possibility of changing his style next season and trying to hit for more power, as has been much discussed of late, he said, "I don't understand why you think about that. I've been myself, this style, for 20 years. So it's hard to imagine doing that now."

Doesn't sound like an Ichiro re-invention is in order, does it?"