This is a debate me and my friends have. Please give reasons and/or stats why or why not.
2007-07-04 03:10:51 · 15 answers · asked by Murda Mook 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
no
Henderson is the greatest ever. If Ichiro ran REMOTELY as much as Henderson then a discussion might develope but he doesn't so it is a moot point.
2007-07-04 03:16:58 · answer #1 · answered by Who cares 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not.
Suzuki hardly walks, which was a big offensive tool for Henderson. Suzuki doesn't really use his speed. He should be stealing 60-70 bases a year. Henderson would steal 30-40 when he was 40.
When Henderson was on base, the batters average would go up because Henderson was the distraction.
Until Ichiro makes a better effort to utlilize his speed, he will never be the same distraction.
The other thing that is missing (from a distraction point of view) is Henderson's *********. Ichiro grew up in a culture that it's not accepted, but again, it was a tool for Henderson.
2007-07-04 10:16:19 · answer #2 · answered by brettj666 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not in a million years.
Henderson finished his career with a .401 OBP and that includes the last 3 years of his career which lowered his OBP considerably. Henderson hit for more power and his speed turned a walk/single into a triple.
You want your leadoff hitter to get on base and score. Henderson's stats clearly indicate that he is better than Ichiro in doing that.
Ichiro OBP: .381
Rickey OBP: .401
2007-07-04 12:02:17 · answer #3 · answered by dob367 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Certainly not yet - Henderson has all the great records and is on-base percentage (not his batting average) was superior to Ichiro's at this point in both players careers. However, give Ichiro another 10 career years and he may be able to because better than Henderson, but today Henderson is still the best all time.
Good Luck!!!
2007-07-04 10:20:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No Ichiro played to long in Japan. He came to the MLB far to late so his stats will never compare to Rickey's because Rickey played for so long. I think he would have had a chance if he played his whole career in America. So Rickey will still be the greatest leadoff hitter ever for a long time.
2007-07-04 21:25:42 · answer #5 · answered by kcchief4l 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If we count offensive and defensive skills, Henderson was an avg. OF, while Ichiro has one of the best arms and has won the Gold Glove each season since he came to Seattle.
Stolen bases is not the only factor to determine how good is a leadoff hitter.
If Ichiro had started 5 years younger, he would have a shot to Pete Rose record.
Henderson's career avg is .279 while Ichiro is now .333. At worst Ichiro's career avg will be .300, 21 points higher.
Finally, it's true that Henderson leads in BB, but Ichiro has received more Intentional Walks, and Henderson never had 200 hits, while Ichiro has done it every single season. So if we are going to talk about aggresivity, Ichiro is much more agressive on the plate than Henderson was on the bases.
2007-07-04 11:53:44 · answer #6 · answered by M. Diego 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
This is NOT the era of the stolen base. Most teams are preoccupied with the big inning to encourage individuals to steal bases. So, the stolen base doesn't mean nearly as much now, as it did in the 80's and early 90's when Ricky was great. Ichiro is flat one of the best hitters in baseball history, Rick y wasn't. Ichiro is a great outfielder with a cannon for an arm, Ricky wasn't. Do Ricky's stolen base records make up for a signicantly lower batting average, and less prowess in the field? NO, NO, and NO. In 5 years, Ichiro will be considered one of the all-time greats, period. Is Ricky really in that category?
2007-07-04 12:11:39 · answer #7 · answered by jack a 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I like Ichiro. Rickey Henderson just needs to go away.
2007-07-04 11:56:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
When he retired, Henderson held the career records for stolen bases (still has it), walks (now second), and runs scored (still has it; Bonds has a tiny chance at catching him). Plus over 3000 hits and a .401 career OBP.
Ichiro's got mad skillz, no doubt, but he doesn't take many walks, so if his hitting ever falls off he won't be nearly so valuable. And there's essentially no way for him to match Rickey's entire resume. But he's his own great self, and that's still gonna, someday (I do think), get him a bronze plaque in that cute li'l warehouse in New York's upstate wilderness.
2007-07-04 10:24:14 · answer #9 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no way. henderson had everything, ichiro is missing the little bit of power henderson had.
2007-07-04 12:00:30 · answer #10 · answered by Futuristic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋