Ichiro Suzuki News: Pro Sports Daily

Ichiro keeps enlarging his place in Mariners' history

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September 20

Tacoma News Tribune

"Not much went on in the Seattle Mariners clubhouse until Washington beat USC with its final-seconds field goal Saturday - a kick about half the team roster was watching on a handful of television sets. Ichiro Suzuki beamed as the crowd spilled onto the football field afterward, and was asked if there were any sporting event in Japan in which that might occur. "No," he said. Someone asked Ichiro if, after his game-winning home run a night earlier, he would have enjoyed the crowd at Safeco Field swarming home plate."

Ichiro's homer beats Yanks in ninth

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September 19

New York Daily News

"Mariano Rivera's consecutive saves streak finally ended Friday night in shocking fashion. Ichiro Suzuki drilled a two-run home run off Rivera with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Mariners to a stunning 3-2 victory over the Yankees. Rivera, who had converted his last 36 save opportunities, had not blown one since April 24 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, when Jason Bay crushed a game-tying homer off him in the ninth. "It just shows you that he's human," Joe Girardi said of Rivera blowing a save. "When it happens you are surprised." Rivera said he was trying to throw his trademark cutter inside to Ichiro. "It didn't go where it was supposed to go," Rivera said. ..."

Ichiro's hit lifts Mariners to 4-3 win in 14 innings

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September 18

Seattle Times

"This wasn't exactly what the Mariners had in mind when they talked of wanting newly-promoted catcher Adam Moore to learn their pitching staff. But Moore got to work with just about the entire bullpen in his major-league debut, given how this 4-3 win by the Mariners took 14 innings to play. The Chicago White Sox had dominated most of Thursday afternoon's contest until Jose Lopez and Bill Hall hit home runs off closer Bobby Jenks to tie it in the bottom of the ninth. And from there, Moore capped a day that saw him work with seven different Seattle relievers to keep Chicago off the scoreboard the final 8-1/3 innings, until a single by Ichiro won it in the 14th. "I've caught every one of those ..."

Ichiro's greatness not lost on Wak

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September 16

Tacoma News Tribune

"Perhaps it wasn't a sold-out standing ovation that he might have received had he broken the record at Safeco Field, but Ichiro Suzuki received plenty of appreciation from the small Seattle crowd before Tuesday's game with the Chicago White Sox. Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and general manager Jack Zduriencik presented Ichiro with two commemorative plaques before the game. One was a celebration of achieving his 2,000 major league hit, the other was in honor of his most recent accomplishment of nine consecutive 200-hit seasons, breaking the record of eight in a row set by "Wee" Willie Keeler more than a century ago. That plaque featured pictures of Ichiro recording the 200th hit in ..."

Ichiro honors past with his records

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September 15

Tacoma News Tribune

"His Hall-of-Fame plaque won't mention this, but Ichiro Suzuki has done more to revive the legacies of forgotten baseball greats than anybody this side of Ken Burns. Once upon a time, few Mariners fans recognized the name of George Sisler. Today, thanks to the 262 times Ichiro hit safely in 2004, Sisler is known in the Pacific Northwest as the great St. Louis Browns first baseman who held the single-season hits record for more than 80 years. This summer, during his attempt to reach the 200-hit milestone for an unprecedented ninth consecutive season, Ichiro introduced Seattle fans to "Wee" Willie Keeler, who put together some crazy offensive numbers during the '90s. The, uh, 1890s. When ..."

Ichiro's record is only the beginning

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September 14

Seattle Times

columnist Larry Stone

"The names now tell the story, the baseball immortals that Ichiro is toppling with each new milestone. Names like Wee Willie Keeler, the latest legend to go down, are making his nation of Japan swell with pride. Names, like George Sisler, whose single-season hits record Ichiro shot past in 2004, and Pete Rose, next victim on his list, are giving Ichiro the historical context that is defining his greatness. First, he was a curiosity. Then, a sensation. Now, a fixture, practically an institution. A major-league institution, fast becoming a legend. On Sunday, with a second-inning infield single, Ichiro reached 200 hits for the ninth straight season, surpassing the major-league record of eight ..."

Ichiro records ninth straight 200-hit season

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September 14

Seattle Times

"That the suds stinging Ichiro's eyes came from beer instead of soap mattered little. Rarely had a postgame shower felt so cleansing for the record-setting Mariners leadoff hitter. More to his mind than the aching body he'd pushed through a ninth consecutive 200-hit season, capped here Sunday night in his team's 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers. Ichiro had carried the hopes and expectations of his Japanese homeland on his shoulders, and he admitted the weight never leaves him satisfied with any accomplishment. But once this epic milestone was reached, teammate Ken Griffey Jr. hoisted Ichiro like a flour sack over his shoulder and delivered him to the showers for a team-wide dousing like few ..."

Ichiro record getting little attention in the U.S.

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September 13

Seattle Times

"About two dozen members of a youth league baseball from a nearby suburb stood in the pouring rain in the stands next to the visitors' dugout hoping for an autograph before Saturday's game. Asked they'd ever heard of Mariners leadoff man Ichiro, they shouted "Yeah!" in unison. They repeated the "Yeah!" when asked whether they think he's a great player and once again when asked if they know he's trying to break a record. But ask them to identify what that record is, and everyone stops cold. "Two thousand hits!" one of them finally proclaimed, to a general nodding of heads. Told that Ichiro had reached that milestone last week, another shouted out "Three thousand!" and then another, "Four ..."

Ichiro goes hitless in quest for ninth straight 200-hit season

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September 11

Seattle Times

"There were positive things said after this game about the Mariners staying competitive and getting a good outing from their starter in a series they treated with utmost importance. This made the end result, a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels and series sweep Thursday night, all the more distressing. The Mariners did get seven strong innings out of Ryan Rowland-Smith and did play the Angels fairly tough in all three games. But in the end, it wasn't nearly enough for a team now facing the very real possibility of a sub-.500 season. "When you don't have your biggest bat in that lineup, you need other guys to pick up the slack," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. And that's just not ..."

It's Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer vs. Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki for AL batting crown

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September 9

St. Paul Pioneer Press

columnist Charley Walters

"The Twins probably are out of the playoff race, but Joe Mauer's quest for a record third batting championship for a catcher — he's tied with Ernie Lombardi at two — should keep fans interested through the rest of the season. The Twins have 24 games remaining, the Seattle Mariners 23. Entering Tuesday night's games, Mauer was hitting .369, Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki .362. Let's say Mauer and Ichiro each get 100 at-bats the rest of the season. If Ichiro gets 35 hits, the Mariners' star would finish at .3599 (230 hits in 639 at-bats). Mauer, who missed the first 22 games of the season with a sore back, would need 33 hits to finish at .3614 (193 hits in 534 at-bats). For Mauer, 32 ..."

Ichiro is still doing it his way, 2,000 hits later

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September 9

Seattle Times

"On the day of his 2,000th major league hit, Ichiro could not help but revisit some additional history that had been less than kind. Asked about the significance of the milestone, he replied: "For me personally, it's not a big surprise. But looking back to when I was first signed by the Mariners and went to spring training my very first year, and I was kind of criticized by the media, when I look back to that moment, there is meaning now." Rather than change a style so contrary to the baseball vogue in 2001, Ichiro plowed ahead and fought back an urge to lash out at his critics. So, when FSN television host Brad Adam, standing by Ichiro's locker on Sunday, jokingly asked whether the newest ..."

Ichiro gets 2,000th hit in Mariners' loss

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September 7

Seattle Times

"The player Ichiro was second-fastest to in amassing 2,000 career hits once said he wished he'd taken better care of himself during his playing days. Ichiro didn't wind up catching Al Simmons of the Philadelphia Athletics, who took a dozen fewer games (1,390) to notch his record milestone back in 1934. But the impeccable health and fitness displayed by the Mariners' leadoff man, who notched major-league hit No. 2,000 with a first-inning double Sunday in a 5-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics, could help him topple barriers Simmons failed to reach. Simmons, a right-handed terror known as "Bucketfoot Al" for his tendency to step away from the strike zone as he prepared to swing, wound up 73 hits ..."

Ichiro becomes second-fastest to 2,000 hits

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September 6

MLB.com

"Don Wakamatsu has no problem saying Ichiro Suzuki may be the best to ever play the game. If he's not yet, the Mariners skipper believes he's well on his way. The non-believers may argue he's too small in stature, but others will say he exudes a larger-than-life presence unique to today's game. The non-believers may mock his 170-pound body, but others will remind them that the real weight he carries is a much heavier legacy that will be remembered for generations to come. Nearing age 36, Ichiro still plays the game like a wide-eyed rookie with nothing to lose and everything to gain. He's a Japanese phenom turned American idol, and despite the neverending list of differences between him and ..."

Even without his numbers from Japan, Ichiro will be in the Hall of Fame

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August 30

Seattle Times

columnist Larry Stone

"The question with Ichiro is no longer whether he's going to make the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The question is how many milestones he can reach before he gets there, and how high he can push his hit total. Once he gets over this pesky calf injury that has slowed him down the past week, Ichiro will soon rack up two more significant accomplishments: 200 hits for the ninth consecutive season (he needed 16 before being sidelined on Monday) and 2,000 hits for his career (he was 11 shy). Factor in all his other gaudy numbers and records - the season hits record, the most valuable player and rookie of the year awards in 2001, the nine All-Star appearances, the eight (and likely to be nine) ..."

No date yet for Ichiro's return to lineup

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August 29

Seattle Times

"Despite the Mariners' hopes that Ichiro would be back in the lineup soon, it doesn't seem likely he will get into a game this weekend. The right fielder, battling a sore calf, can throw and hit without any pain. It's the running part he doesn't have down pat yet. He did some jogging before batting practice Friday, at a bit heavier pace than Thursday, but still not to the point where he'll be ready to play. When asked whether he expected Ichiro to play this weekend, manager Don Wakamatsu said: "It's hard to say. My guess is, he'll take batting practice [Friday] and we'll check [today]. I don't have a date yet." Look who's back With Jack Wilson coming off his lingering hamstring injury, Josh ..."

Ichiro wants to play, but Mariners saying not quite yet

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August 27

Seattle Times

"The Mariners decided to hold back on having Ichiro take batting practice Wednesday. They're being extra cautious with his tight left calf, which has now caused him to miss three games. "We haven't thought about the DL," Mariner manager Don Wakamatsu said. "We don't think it's that serious, but we want to make sure he's 100 percent when he gets back in there." Ichiro is lobbying to play, Wakamatsu said. "I think the dialogue going on right now is he wants to play, I want him to play, but we both want to be able to accomplish the same thing, and be able to play as many games this season as possible and not risk anything," Wakamatsu said."

Ichiro unlikely to play Wednesday

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August 26

Seattle Times

"The Mariners are being very cautious with Ichiro, which means that it's unlikely he'll play today, manager Don Wakamatsu said. Wakamatsu had originally said he thought today was a likely day for Ichiro's return. Ichiro is missing his second game tonight with a tight left calf. He took some swings in the cage today, and worked out, but he still hasn't done any serious running. He might take batting practice on today. "I just talked to him in the training room," Wakamatsu said. "He feels better today. It's just going to be day to day. We talked about tomorrow [Wednesday]. I don't think that's going to be a reality. But he does feel better and he's improving. I don't have a timetable yet. The ..."

Tight calf sidelines Ichiro

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August 25

Seattle Times

"Ichiro wasn't in the Mariners' lineup Monday night because of tightness in his left calf that forced him out of Sunday's game in Cleveland. Manager Don Wakamatsu said the right fielder has been dealing with it for about a week, and he's listed as day-to-day. "He's been getting massages on it and trying to stretch it out, and it finally grabbed on him a little bit [Sunday] in that last at-bat," Wakamatsu said. The manager said he doesn't foresee Ichiro playing tonight, but perhaps Wednesday. Wakamatsu said it probably wouldn't help to limit Ichiro to designated-hitter duties. Injured Beltre back on field Third baseman Adrian Beltre, on the disabled list with a severely bruised testicle, ..."

Mariners' Suzuki on a First-Name Basis With Records

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August 23

New York Times

"The Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki is closing in on a major-league-record ninth straight season of 200 hits. Wee Willie Keeler, the only other player to do it eight seasons in a row, finished his run in 1901, a century before Suzuki came to the United States and began his streak. Pete Rose had 10 200-hit seasons, the most for a career. Suzuki, who has 183 hits this season, will have 10, too, if his years in Japan are counted. He achieved the milestone in 1994, his first of seven full seasons with the Orix Blue Wave. That feat received no fanfare in the United States, but it captivated Japan because it was the first 200-hit season in the history of professional baseball there. What is ..."

Ichiro flashes golden bat, glove in Mariners win

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August 6

Seattle Times

"Few could argue with the bookends Ichiro put around a night otherwise the stuff of trash novels. It was a game that started with Ichiro launching the 30th leadoff home run of his career, a ball that just stayed fair in right field. Then a 7-6 win for the Mariners over the Kansas City Royals ended on a bases-loaded fly ball down the same right-field line, this time in foul territory behind the rolled-up tarpaulin near the stands. Ichiro charged in and made a foot-first slide, catching the ball without wrecking himself against the tarp, then had the presence of mind to hold his glove up so the umpire would know he'd caught it. "All that was in my mind was I knew that as soon as I caught the ..."

Mauer, Suzuki jockey for position in AL batting race

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July 16

USA Today

"Catcher Joe Mauer and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who have won four of the last eight American League batting titles, are set to go head-to-head for another crown in what could be one of the best races of the second half.Suzuki, of the Seattle Mariners, is batting .362 and takes an 11-game hitting streak into tonight's game at the Cleveland Indians. But Mauer leads the league at .373 for the Minnesota Twins, who open a three-game series Friday at the Texas Rangers. They share the ability to confuse and confound pitchers. Both bat left-handed, both are tough to strikeout, and both hit to all fields. Suzuki has the advantage of speed, but Mauer, with a career-high 15 homers, has added power ..."

Ichiro chats about the Mariners' first half and much more

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July 16

Seattle Times

columnist Larry Stone

"Ichiro has traditionally used the Monday before the All-Star Game to bare his soul. At least, as much as one can bare one's soul when the soul-baring is being translated. I came to St. Louis on Monday with high hopes for another candid glimpse into perhaps the most fascinating psyche in baseball. However, when the American League held its annual media availability hour on Monday, Ichiro's time was dominated by the Japanese media. The English-speaking press had about 10 minutes, scant time to delve into anything of substance. Ichiro agreed to rectify that Tuesday, granting me a one-on-one interview - a rare occurrence during the hectic media rush that precedes the All-Star Game. As I talked ..."

Ichiro tries for payback homer on first pitch

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July 15

Seattle Times

"Ichiro led off the All-Star Game on Tuesday and took a lusty hack at Tim Lincecum's first pitch, resulting in a hard-hit foul into the right-field corner. Turns out there's a story behind Ichiro's aggressive rip. Ichiro was out to dinner on Monday night and happened to be at the same restaurant as American League manager Joe Maddon. The AL skipper sent over a bottle of wine to Ichiro's party. As Maddon tells it, "He promised to get a hit. I said, 'Make it a home run.' He almost did it. He just hooked that ball a little bit." Here's how Ichiro tells the tale: "Manager Maddon bought me a bottle of wine and said I had to hit a home run the first pitch, so I had to try." Ichiro wound up ..."

Ichiro Suzuki backs Daisuke Matsuzaka, WBC

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July 15

Boston Herald

"Ichiro Suzuki wishes he knew exactly what ailed countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka. But of this much he's certain: The World Baseball Classic is not to blame. The Mariners superstar outfielder passionately defended his Japanese teammate before last night's All-Star Game, expressing confidence that Matsuzaka will regain his form. "This might be the toughest time he's ever had to deal with, but he has always overcome them in the past," Suzuki said through a translator. "He has the mental ability to conquer this and take the next step. He's very tough on himself, but that's part of the reason why I think he'll definitely work through this." What Suzuki doesn't want to hear is anyone say the WBC ..."

Ichiro headed for his ninth All-Star game, Felix his first

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July 6

Tacoma News Tribune

"The Seattle Mariners will have two players - Ichiro Suzuki and Felix Hernandez - in the 2009 All-Star game next week. For Ichiro, the selection seemed automatic; he's been an American League All-Star each of his ninth seasons in the big leagues. For Hernandez, this is his first appearance - and he's as excited as you'd expect a 23-year-old to be. "It's always been a goal, and I feel like it's one step forward for me," Hernandez said. "When Don (Wakamasu) told us, he said we ought to thank our teammates for their support. Well, I thanked everybody." Ichiro's numbers couldn't be ignored. Before Seattle's 81st game Sunday, he led the major leagues in batting average (.365) and hits (116). ..."

Felix Hernandez joins Ichiro on AL All-Star team

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July 6

Seattle Times

"Felix Hernandez dreamed of being a major-league All-Star from the time he grew up in a modest bungalow owned by his truck-driver father in Venezuela. And now, after the Mariners' ace achieved his goal on Sunday, getting named to the American League squad along with right fielder Ichiro, he'll bring his parents along to the contest in St. Louis next week. "Oh yeah, my mother will be there, my father too," said Hernandez, the 23-year-old who was still living at his parents' home just a few offseasons ago. Hernandez (8-3) was named to the All-Star team for the first time, capping a spectacular stretch of games that saw him capture AL Pitcher of the Month honors for June. The right-hander went ..."

Another year, another All-Star nod for Ichiro

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July 5

MLB.com

"Make it nine-for-nine for Ichiro Suzuki. The Mariners' right fielder will be spending the All-Star break this year exactly the same way as the previous eight seasons -- playing in the Midsummer Classic. The 35-year-old hit machine, who started the season on the 15-day disabled list and missed the first eight games, more than made up for lost time and was named on Sunday as one of the American League's starting outfielders for the July 14 All-Star Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The rosters for both leagues were announced on Sunday during the MLB All-Star Selection Show presented by Pepsi. Joining Ichiro on the AL team is ace right-hander Felix Hernandez. This will be the eighth time ..."

Ichiro helps Mariners get started in 9-3 victory over Padres

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June 26

Seattle Times

"The Mariners polished off another of baseball's worst teams Thursday afternoon behind a leadoff home run from their best hitter, Ichiro; a game-breaking double from one of their most frustrated hitters, Rob Johnson; and the first win in two months from their hardest-luck starter, Jarrod Washburn. The Mariners left Safeco Field with a 9-3 victory over San Diego that finished a 5-1 homestand against teams in baseball's basement - the Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. But where the Mariners (37-35) are headed could be largely determined by the next nine games, all on the road against three of the best teams in baseball. "We'll see how we stack up," manager Don Wakamatsu said. On a 10-day, ..."

Ichiro breaks Japanese hits record

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April 17

MLB.com

"A record that perhaps only one person in Japan thought would ever be broken was toppled at Safeco Field on Thursday night. A little more than 27 years after Isao Harimoto delivered his 3,085th career hit, Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki went one better, getting his 3,086th with a single to right field in the fourth inning of Seattle's series finale against the Angels. The 18,528 fans gave Ichiro a prolonged ovation. He removed his helmet and waved it to the crowd. After the game, which the Mariners lost, 5-1, Ichiro reflected on his latest hits record, recalling a conversation he had in 1995 with the now former all-time hits leader in Japan. "Mr. Harimoto told me, 'The only guy who ..."

Ichiro remains hot in rehab stint

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April 11

MLB.com

"Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki had another busy offensive day in Peoria, Ariz., on Friday afternoon, going 5-for-10 in a five-inning Minor League intrasquad game, and running the bases for the first time. His workload could increase a little more on Saturday. "We're going to see how he feels in the morning," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said prior to Seattle's game against Oakland, "and he might play some outfield tomorrow. We expect him to be on a plane on Sunday going to Seattle and he would join the team for Monday's workout." The Mariners are scheduled to work out at Safeco Field on Monday afternoon in preparation for Tuesday afternoon's home opener against the Angels. Ichiro won't play ..."

Mariners' Ichiro will see action in Peoria

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April 9

Seattle Times

"Ichiro's blood test results are back, and the team says he's improving from the bleeding ulcer that landed him on the disabled list. The plan is to use him as a designated hitter in an extended spring game today in Peoria, Ariz. Ichiro could get as many as 10 at-bats. A rehabbing player can often lead off every inning or be used more than once in a frame. After that, he'll be re-evaluated. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said he'd like to get Ichiro into at least three games before he returns to the team. "We'll take each day and see how it progresses," Wakamatsu said. "We're going to start him off slow, give him some at-bats [today], re-evaluate him. But his energy level seems to be coming ..."

Ichiro set for blood test on Wednesday

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April 7

MLB.com

"A blood test that Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki will have on Wednesday morning in Arizona will determine the next step on his road to recovery from a bleeding ulcer that put him on the disabled list for the first time in his career. "He's doing real well and will have a blood test at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said on Monday prior to the Mariners' regular-season opener against the Twins here. "We'll know something by the middle of the day and make some decisions on what we're going to do." The test results would be an indicator of how the medication is working and allow the organization to accelerate his daily activities. The Mariners remain ..."

Ichiro on track to rejoin team Friday

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April 5

MLB.com

"Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said Saturday that "everything is going good" with outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, and he indicated that there is a good chance the right fielder will join the team in Oakland on Friday. Ichiro, who will begin his ninth Major League season on the 15-day disabled list, is in Arizona rebuilding strength he lost while battling the effects of a bleeding ulcer. He is eligible to come off the DL on April 15. Wakamatsu gave Seattle-area media an update on Ichiro prior to Saturday afternoon's game against the Rockies. "He's increasing his workload down there [in Arizona]," Wakamatsu said, "and if everything goes as planned and he keeps progressing, he'll probably meet us ..."

Ichiro had bleeding ulcer, will start season on disabled list

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April 4

Seattle Times

"Ichiro went on the disabled list Friday for the first time in his Mariners career, but not without a fight. The 35-year-old outfielder, diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer that has caused extreme fatigue in recent days, pleaded with team officials to remain on the active roster for Monday's season opener against the Twins in Minneapolis. "He wanted to negotiate," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "We said, 'Ichiro, we have to do what's right for you. We have to do what's right for the ballclub.' "He's such a competitor. In sitting across from him and discussing this with him, it was so evident he did not want to do this." But the Mariners decided to shut down their leadoff hitter ..."

Ichiro had bleeding ulcer, will start season on disabled list

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April 3

Seattle Times

"The Mariners won't have Ichiro when they open the season Monday in Minneapolis against the Twins. Ichiro, diagnosed as having had a bleeding ulcer, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday, retroactive to March 31. It marks the first career DL appearance for Ichiro, who had played in 197 consecutive games, and 807 of the Mariners' past 810 games over the past five seasons. The ulcer is no longer bleeding, but doctors have ordered restricted activity for Ichiro. He is eligible to come off the disabled list on April 15 — one day after the Mariners' home opener against the Angels — and the club hopes he will be ready to play by then. "It was a very difficult decision to place Ichiro on ..."

Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to be placed on 15-day DL

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April 3

MLB.com

"Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today that All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki will be placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 31, and will miss the first week of the regular season. Ichiro had been suffering from severe fatigue, causing him to miss the Mariners' last three Cactus League games (March 30-April 1). He was examined by doctors in Arizona who determined that he had suffered a bleeding ulcer. The ulcer is not bleeding now, but in the interim, doctors have ordered restricted activity. "It was a very difficult decision to place Ichiro on the disabled list," Zduriencik said, "especially ..."

Ichiro exam results expected Friday

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April 3

MLB.com

"Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was examined by doctors on Thursday to determine the cause of the fatigue that has kept him out of Seattle's past three exhibition games. Mariners executive vice president and general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement Thursday night that the club expected to learn the results of the exam on Friday, and that an update would be released at that time. Mariners team physician Dr. Mitch Storey was among the doctors who examined the eight-time All-Star. Suzuki experienced a light-headed feeling on Monday. He went 1-for-2 in a game against the Braves that day, but did not go to the Mariners' Spring Training camp in Peoria, Ariz., on Tuesday, and has not ..."

Light-headed Ichiro given day off

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March 31

MLB.com

"The light-headed feeling that right fielder Ichiro Suzuki experienced on Monday kept him away from the Mariners' Spring Training facility on Tuesday. "I think it has something to do with all the travel during the World Baseball Classic," manager Don Wakamatsu said during his pre-practice media session. "We're going to give him today off and then re-evaluate on whether or not to put him in the lineup tomorrow." Ichiro, who helped Team Japan capture its second straight Classic championship, said when he reported to camp last week that the tournament was much more difficult this time because the expectations in his homeland were so high. The three-week tournament apparently wore him out. "I ..."

And the biggest baseball star in the U.S. is ... Ichiro?

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March 23

L.A. Daily News

columnist Jon Gold

"The most popular player at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night was not from New York City or Chicago or Miami or even Kalamazoo, Mich. Wasn't Ryan Braun of Granada Hills or Evan Longoria of Downey. Wasn't even an American. Walking into the stadium before the game, there's a Derek Jeter jersey here and a Jake Peavy jersey there. And there are Ichiro Suzuki jerseys everywhere. Ichiro is the key ingredient in the melting pot that is baseball in the melting pot that is Los Angeles in the melting pot that is the United States. He is a national icon not just in Japan, but over here, as well. On Sunday, he was on display. His pre-game introduction elicited a roar, louder than any U.S. player and far ..."

Ichiro, Dice-K on Japan roster

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February 23

Toronto Sun

"Japan set its roster yesterday for the 2009 World Baseball Classic with Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka among five major league players on the 28-man squad. Suzuki and Matsuzaka were key members of the team that won the inaugural WBC in 2006. Other major league players selected to the 2009 team were catcher Kenji Johjima of the Mariners, infielder Akinori Iwamura of the Tampa Bay Rays and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome of the Chicago Cubs. Japan, led by Yomiuri Giants manager Tatsunori Hara, will begin the defence of its title when the tourney begins on March 5 at the Tokyo Dome."

Ichiro, Beltre win Gold Gloves

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November 6

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"The Mariners had much go wrong from start to finish in 2008, but they got a couple of postseason honors when third baseman Adrian Beltre and outfielder Ichiro Suzuki were honored with Gold Gloves, tokens of defensive excellence. It was the second consecutive Gold Glove for Beltre, who spent the season battling thumb and shoulder pain and who ended his season early to have two surgeries. For Ichiro, it is the eighth time in eight years he has earned a Gold Glove. And it was the second time in three years that he'd won after changing positions midseason. He began the season in center field, then moved to right field about 10 weeks into the season. "I take it to heart that this award is given ..."

Hunter, Ichiro among AL Gold Glovers

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November 6

MLB.com

"Torii Hunter and Ichiro Suzuki began collecting Gold Gloves in 2001 and they're still going strong. Some of the names and faces change, but Hunter and Suzuki remain constants among American League Gold Glovers. When the AL Rawlings Gold Glove squad was announced on Thursday, Hunter and Suzuki were recognized for the eighth consecutive year. Whether it's Suzuki racking up an outfield assist for Seattle with his laser-like right arm or Hunter leaping at the wall for a highlight reel catch to help the Angels, the pattern of defensive excellence among those AL West outfielders is well established. The remainder of the 2008 AL Gold Gloves squad includes pitcher Mike Mussina of the Yankees, ..."

Ichiro to play for Team Japan in WBC

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October 20

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Don't plan on seeing much of Ichiro Suzuki at spring training next year. Ichiro told the Kyodo News Service on Sunday that he plans on playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic next spring. "I will try to win the WBC in earnest again," Ichiro told Kyodo. Three years ago, when Japan won the inaugural WBC, Ichiro started the year in Japan and not in Peoria, Ariz., with the Mariners. With Japan advancing to the finals, the right fielder didn't join the Mariners until the last two weeks of March. This year, Major League Baseball is handling the World Baseball Classic differently, starting spring training earlier and having Cactus League games stretch into the first week of April ..."

Ichiro a problem? Put him in charge

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September 26

Tacoma News Tribune

columnist John McGrath

"What are the Mariners to do with Ichiro Suzuki? He's reached the end of his eighth season in the States - there's a strong chance he'll become the team's first Hall of Famer to have spent his entire career in Seattle - yet he remains more a lightning rod than a fulcrum. His studious pregame rituals are the stuff of legend, yet at least one of his teammates - as reported in a Seattle Times story on Thursday - became so agitated at Ichiro's self-absorbed approach to baseball that it nearly led to a physical confrontation. His managers, for the most part, have always been Ichiro's most public defenders, but it's impossible not to note a trend that recalls the gradual dearth of customers at ..."

Ichiro paving his way to the Cooperstown shrine

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September 21

Seattle Times

columnist Larry Stone

"Edgar Martinez faces an uphill battle in his quest to get voted into the Hall of Fame when he makes his first appearance on the ballot after the 2009 season. But Edgar's former teammate, Ichiro, is looking increasingly like a Cooperstown lock. For a while, the big debate was whether Ichiro's Japanese accomplishments should be used by voters to bolster his credentials. But as Ichiro keeps adding to his résumé, as he did Wednesday by reaching 200 hits for the eighth consecutive season, his deeds in Japan are becoming a moot point. Ichiro is very close to establishing himself as a Hall of Famer purely on his Mariners body of work - if he's not already there. It's hard to deny that Ichiro has ..."

Ichiro collects 200th hit, ties MLB record in 5-2 loss to Royals

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September 18

Seattle Times

"Ichiro's 200th hit this season came in fitting fashion Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium. He beat out a ground ball to Royals shortstop Mike Aviles in the top of the eighth inning. It takes a few infield hits to reach 200 hits eight straight seasons. Ichiro is the master of infield hits and there's a reason for it. "I was talking with our interpreter on what's Ichiro's general plan for the offseason and he said last year Ichiro took about five or six days off and then reported down to the stadium and started working out," Seattle manager Jim Riggleman said. "He was hitting, running in the outfield at the stadium. It was a year-round preparation to play. "When you are talking about Ichiro ..."

Ichiro's feat tainted by loss

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September 18

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"The Mariners were gifted with two tremendously satisfying performances Wednesday night. That they lost the game, anyway, says everything about their season. Ryan Rowland-Smith turned in his sixth consecutive quality start, and Ichiro Suzuki went where only one man had gone before by getting 200 hits for the eighth consecutive year. It added up to another Mariners loss, 5-2 to the Royals. It's the Mariners' seventh consecutive loss on the final road trip of the year. It would have been nice for Ichiro, Rowland-Smith and their teammates to pull this one out and enjoy a sense of shared accomplishment for one night. It didn't happen. Rowland-Smith's six innings of one-run ball gave the ..."

Ichiro ties Keeler's record with 8th straight 200-hit season

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September 18

ESPN.com

"Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki matched Willie Keeler's major league record of eight straight 200-hit seasons Wednesday night, beating out on infield single in the eighth inning for his third hit against Kansas City. The Japanese star came into the game three hits short of the record set by Keeler from 1894-1901. After walking to lead off the game, he hit a double just inside first base in the third and had a bloop single over third in the fifth. Suzuki matched Keeler in the eighth when he hit a ground ball up the middle then beat shortstop Mike Aviles' throw by a half-step. "It has been roughly 100 years since Wee Willie Keeler -- in normal circumstances, there's no way I would associate with ..."

Ibanez pushing Ichiro to limit for club batting title

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September 15

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"Ichiro Suzuki doesn't have a closer friend on the Mariners than Raul Ibanez. Their lockers are adjacent in the Safeco Field clubhouse. Ichiro has taught Ibanez some Japanese. Ibanez has taught Ichiro some Spanish. And as the 2008 season runs into its final two weeks, Ichiro doesn't have a closer competitor on the roster, either. Ichiro has finished each of his first seven seasons as the Mariners' leader in batting average. The discrepancy between Ichiro and whoever was in second was seldom close. This year, however, Ibanez enters the final two weeks with a .312 batting average after going 1-for-5 on Sunday. Ichiro, also 1-for-5 on Sunday, is at .311. And while Ichiro is almost certain to ..."

Ichiro more selective about stealing bases

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August 8

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"In the past month, Ichiro Suzuki has stolen exactly one base, hardly what you expect from someone who at one point was on pace to steal 60-plus bases. The Seattle right fielder makes a joke of it, saying "I've put on weight" since picking up his 34th stolen base on July 5. It's clear that the American League doesn't joke around when Ichiro is on first base. Pitchers are quickening their deliveries to the plate and using a slidestep motion to try to deter him from running. "It's almost like a memo went out to all the other clubs," manager Jim Riggleman said. "They're all doing the same, pitching quick and slidestepping." Ichiro, who has been caught just three times in 38 attempts, prides ..."