Does he have any weaknesses? Is there something he should be doing different,in your opinion? Or is he fine just the way he is?
2007-07-29 01:13:34 · 14 answers · asked by nofear_intrepid40 1 in Sports ➔ Baseball
He is what he is.
A singles hitter who scores runs, steals bases and plays an excellent center/right field with an accurate strong throw arm. He's pretty much the new millennium's version of Richie Ashburn (without the walks).
He hits for VERY LITTLE power. And I'm not just talking home runs. He doesn't hit a ton of doubles. And for someone who runs like he does, he should be in double figures in triples every season. (See Jose Reyes or Jimmy Rollins)
As a lead-off hitter, he doesn't take enough pitches, particularly in his first at-bat. One thing a great lead-off hitter does is take pitches in his first at-bat to allow his teammates to see what the starter is throwing. In this age of pitch counts, getting a starter to throw 5-6 an at-bat gets you into the bullpen just that much faster. (See Rickey Henderson)
This is just my opinion, but he would be a much more dynamic offensive player if he hit about 20 to 30 points less and tried to drive the ball more often.
2007-07-29 01:36:51 · answer #1 · answered by ihateeverybodyexceptyou 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ichiro is as solid a player as anyone playing today and his skill level has to rank right up there with the best of all time, he is that good. He can do everything exceptionally well and I believe he is underrated because he doesn't hit 50 homeruns every year, which is what the casual fan wants to see. When is the last time you ever saw him argue with an umpire, not run out a ground ball, or show his temper in any way? He is a great teammate, great in the clubhouse, great for the game, and a class act. MLB fans are the benefactor with his decision to come to America and remind us all how the game should be played.
2007-07-29 09:27:00 · answer #2 · answered by Frizzer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally i think people just hate on Ichiro, cuz he don't hit homeruns like the rest of the superstars. but ichiro does everything else better than anybody. He makes good contact, he has speed, he has a surprisingly strong arm, and several coaches have commented on his power in BP. so in my opinion hes just fine the way he is, but a couple more home runs wouldn't hurt.
2007-07-29 08:19:08 · answer #3 · answered by Football all day 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LOL, his biggest fault is that he plays in Seattle... so most of the country never gets to see him... he needs to go to New York, Boston, Atlanta or Chicago, so that he'll be on TV more often... I love watching the guy play, on those few occasions that I can. But his TV appearances are too rare.
But yeah, the comments about his lack of power (not just HR power, but extra base power), and his refusal to take a walk are right on... he's a near-perfect outfielder, with the best throwing arm since Roberto Clemente.
2007-07-29 11:33:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only weakness one could pin on Ichiro is that he doesn't walk very much. Those who subscribe to the "Moneyball" theory of player evaluation (the formula Billy Beane uses to keep the A's competive on a small payroll) would tell you that on base percentage is crucial.
Ichiro, like several great hitters before him (most recently Gwynn and Boggs), flat out hates to walk. That keeps his on base percentage well below where it should be given his batting average. The result is that Ichiro doesn't make pitchers work as hard as they could since one struggling with control wouldn't have to worry about giving him a free pass.
This, of course, is a very minor criticism, but you asked what weakness he could possibly have and that arguably is one.
2007-07-29 09:27:19 · answer #5 · answered by h_charles 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
He's a terrific player, but he has weaknesses. He doesn't hit for power and doesn't draw walks. It's not just that he doesn't hit homeruns. He also doesn't hit many doubles. As a result, his on base percentage and slugging percentage depend almost entirely on his having a high batting average. If he hit "only" .300, he wouldn't be very valuable. He really needs to be in that .320-.340 range to be a good player.
2007-07-29 08:36:32 · answer #6 · answered by Thomas M 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As long as he is still in the line-up on a major league team, (and that is the highest you'll get in professional baseball) why look for faults in a player when he's too good to be true?
I CAN GUESS WITH CONFIDENCE THAT THE ONLY REASON I WAS GIVEN A THUMBS DOWN IS DUE TO THE HEARTACHES AND FRUSTRATIONS INFLICTED UPON YOU EVERY TIME ICHIRO SINGLE HANDEDLY OUT-PERFORMS EVERY PLAYER ON YOUR TEAM.
YOUR TEAM MAY NOT ALWAYS BEAT THE MARINERS, BUT YOU LACK THE CAPABILITY AND PROFESSIONALISM TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE ITS DUE. YOU'D MAKE A LOUSY SPORTS COMMENTATOR. IN CLOSING, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO LOSE BEFORE YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO WIN...
I WON'T GIVE YOU MY ACTUAL NAME, BUT IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT I AM A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES... SORRY
2007-07-29 08:18:23 · answer #7 · answered by Jack 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dude can't pitch.
It would be nice to see him exert his power -- he can hit doubles and homers -- a bit more. But the Mariners know what they have, and if the team is content to have him poking scores of singles, well, fine.
2007-07-29 09:27:47 · answer #8 · answered by Chipmaker Authentic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah that he said "I'd rather punch myself in the face before coming to cleveland." Thats fine bc we dont need him sizemore is a million times better
2007-07-29 17:35:03 · answer #9 · answered by mcards09 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I kinda wish he'd shave those eight or nine hairs he has growing on his chin. Other then that, he's a great ballplayer.
2007-07-29 08:26:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋