if anybodt does i think Ichiro
2007-03-02 22:56:35 · 22 answers · asked by robert l 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Sure they could. Even though on the surface it may not seem like it, the game of baseball changes all the time. Who knows what changes will occur which will increase the likelihood of a .400 hitter. May not be this year, may not be for 20 years, but it'll happen again.
2007-03-04 02:55:54 · answer #1 · answered by blueyeznj 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe a few years ago but I think it's even too late for Ichiro. I doubt that anyone in our life time will break .400. The game has become too specialized. The five man pitching rotation has a lot to do with it. The is middle relief, and the closer who only pitches one, maybe two innings. There is the travel which will wear down a ball player more than anything else.
Every so often someone will hit in the high .300's but four hits in every 10 at bats is pretty tough! I'm not saying never but I am saying probably not.
2007-03-02 23:12:17 · answer #2 · answered by Yankee Dude 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Somebody will, but I doubt it will be Ichiro.
Ichiro will have a togher time than other players. He gets too few walks meaning that he has many more official at bats than some other players. The more official at bats, the more hits that are needed to reach .400.
Ted Williams was the last major leaguer to hit .400 for a complete season in 1941. That season he drew 145 walks. He had only 456 official at bats, requiring "only" 185 hits to reach .406.
The most walks Ichiro Suzuki ever drew was 68; he has not even reached 50 in the past foour seasons. In 2004 he set the major league record for most hits in a season; his batting average was still more than 30 points short of Ted Williams. He would have needed an additional 20 hits in the same number of at bats to reach .400.
2007-03-02 23:45:05 · answer #3 · answered by jpbofohio 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
They will, and the only current player whom I think has a chance is Ichiro and its slim at best....you have to have more of a decerning eye to get walks to eat up ABs instead of trying to hit everything. Carew batted .388, Brett .390 and Gwynn batted .394 in the shortened strike season. It will take an incredible talent, a career year, and a fair share of luck, and when it does it will come out of the blue. We will see another Gwynn, Carew or Boggs in the next 20 yrs and someone will put up a run for it....it will boil down to if they get the lucky six to 10 hits over 162 games that willput them over the .400 mark. something to remember...Ted Williams came within 6 hits fo batting .400 when he was 39 yrs old. I only hope I live to see it
2007-03-02 23:26:15 · answer #4 · answered by allenmontana 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would love to think so, but as long as we celebtate the long ball, I doubt it will happen. A guy like Ichiro coould, but then if he gets close, you will see alot more walks and therefore he will not get 400. If most everyone else is hitting for power, you can not give a guy like Ichiro the protection he needs.
2007-03-03 05:32:09 · answer #5 · answered by A J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing is impossible but this one is becoming increasingly hard.Changes in pitching starting pitchers not go over 6 innings on average. Closers and set men coming in fresh . Also there are more types of pitches to look for than in the past. More athletic outfielders able to cover more ground. Shrinking ballparks that make for small alleys and less ground for fielders to cover. Also there is the constant no stop hounding of the press adding to the players pressure.
So it will take a magical season with plenty of walks. A contact hitter playing in a large southern park. Since hitting is harder in nothern parks in april and may in the cold. However the more you think about it the less likely it seams.
2007-03-03 00:56:36 · answer #6 · answered by cary r 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well right now I dont think there's a player that can hit .400. Ichiro has been the best hitter since he got to the ML. But he wont get there, to many good new pitchers. He will hit .350- .370. Then maybe Pujols and Jeter are second and third for me of guys that can go for it, but still very doubtful.
2007-03-03 00:00:45 · answer #7 · answered by shr3k1982 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Personally, I think that Albert Pujols has the best chance out of everyone in baseball today. He is a very patient hitter and has great control over his bat.
Ichiro would be my second choice, but he is getting older and his swing isn't what it was three years ago.
I agree that power has replaced average as the primary focus on hitters, most baseball fans can tell you who hit the most homers last year, but few can tell you who had the highest average or best on base percentage. Until you get a player that focuses solely on getting on base and not getting famous from the long ball, I doubt if anyone will hit .400 again.
2007-03-02 23:16:26 · answer #8 · answered by Steve T. 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ichiro could, a few others could. Even if it happens, too many players take steroids for it to matter anymore. Even an honest player would be questioned because so many others are on steroids.
American baseball is too intent on homeruns for it to matter anyway. Too much sensationalism, not enough skill. It's why football (soccer) never caught on here, and why me-first personalities in American football and basketball are so popular.
Still, yeah, it'd be nice to see Ichiro match Ted Williams there. Maybe then America might recognize that Japanese players love baseball more than America does, it's why they won the World Baseball Classic.
2007-03-02 23:08:33 · answer #9 · answered by BDOLE 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I don't think so. I just remember when Brett was going for it and the media wore him down. That was at a time when media coverage was not close to what it is now. All the extra coverage will keep a player from resting and getting away from the game for a break when needed.
2007-03-03 01:05:17 · answer #10 · answered by cwspill 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋