Ichito had a seven year career batting average in Japan of .353 and a total of 1,278 hits. This is his seventh year in MLB and he has an additional 1,539 hits here and will finish this season with around 2,900 in his baseball career to date. At his current pace he would smash the career hit record of Pete Rose and finish his career with around 4,500 hits. In his seven years in MLB he has never had less than 200 hits in a season, never hit less than .300, never scored less than 100, and has averaged more than 40 stolen bases per season. In addition to all of this he just might have the strongest and most accurate throwing arm in the game today, he is a great teammate, a total team player, great in the dugout, runs out every groundball at full speed, never argues with the umpires, and has never been tossed from a game in his entire career. Can anyone tell me why he should not be considered the best all-around player in the game today?
2007-08-24 08:51:15 · 23 answers · asked by Frizzer 7 in Sports ➔ Baseball
I love Ichiro, so this is not a bash, but I'm afraid he can't be considered the very best. You do make a good argument, and I think he's in the top 5, but I believe there's at least one player who could be considered a better player.
If you look at Albert Pujols- last year, he played Gold Glove defense, was a great teammate, led his team to the World championship, hit .314+, hit 30+ home runs, drove in 100+ runs, scored 100+ runs.. for the 6th year in a row. No one in history has done that for more than 4 consecutively to start a career. He's on track to do it for an seventh straight year, which is an amazing accomplishment. Added to that is the fact that he strikes out only about 50-60 times a year, draws a lot of walks, and is deadly in the clutch, it's hard to look elsewhere for the best overall player.
2007-08-24 09:03:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The only reason he could not be considered the best player is because you cannot include his numbers from Japan in the argument. It's a different league the competition is not equal to that of MLB. I am not taking anything away from him he is definitely top 10 of active MLB players if not top 5. Arod and Pujols are 2 guys that are definitely superior and it's not easy to find other players that are better. All that being said, I can't find a team that would have offered him a contract for that kind of money if not more right now.
2007-08-24 16:24:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
All-around player? He's not even in the top 20. An all-around player has speed, hits for average AND power and excels defensively.
Ichiro is missing a major component. Ichiro hits for VERY LITTLE power. It's not just home runs. He doesn't get many extra base hits. He is a SINGLES hitter, plain & simple. Plus he doesn't walk much and swings at too many first pitches.
Do you really think he's a better player than Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Chase Utley, Vladimir Guerrero, Jose Reyes, Jimmy Rollins, Hanley Ramirez, Grady Sizemore, Matt Holliday, Bobby Abreu, Magglio Ordonez, etc.? And those are the players just off the top of my head.
2007-08-24 19:52:34 · answer #3 · answered by ihateeverybodyexceptyou 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
While Ichiro is a sure-thing Hall of Famer, he cannot be considered the best player in baseball today. The pure logic of the matter is run-production, he does not drive in runs. While his batting average is the highest for an active player and he is driven in quite often he does not have the power to force himself into that elite group of the top 5 players in the game today. He does mean a lot to his team and he is one of the best talents in the game but I would rather have clutch players who drive in runs in a pivotal moment of a big game. I realize that his spot in the order prevents him from doing so but he doesn't have the entangibles to hit in those key positions, otherwise he would.
I'm sorry, but he just doesn't make the grade.
If you need a rundown of the best players in the game I would say that these players qualify:
1) Albert Pujols
2) Magglio Ordonez
3) Alex Rodriguez
4) Vladimir Guerrero
5) Prince Fielder
Also, players like Jeff Franceour would be just as good an all-around player today because his high average (.308) and timely hitting coencide with his ability to drive in the winning run. His average with two outs and men in scoring position is higher than any other player in the league (he also leads in RBIs for the same situation). Add his league-leading 15 assist from the outfield and you have a proven all-around player.
2007-08-24 16:20:57 · answer #4 · answered by Chris 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
First 7 years of 30+ HRs, 100+ Runs, 100+ RBIs, 1 MVP, 3 runner-ups, Gold Glove for 1B, World Series Ring, 2 WS appearences, playoffs 5 of those first 6 years.
Brains, brawn and defense, I'll take Winnie-the-Pujols
2007-08-24 23:49:03 · answer #5 · answered by pricehillsaint 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would go as far as to say he is the best pure hitter (not for power) in the game. He is definitely top ten all around. You have to remember there are some other guys who maybe are not as consistent with AVE but do have a ton more HR's and still hit above .300. He is an excellent fielder to but again there are some pretty damm good outfielders around to. He is as I stated top 10 in the league though!
2007-08-24 16:05:18 · answer #6 · answered by mrjamfy 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunatlly he is up there in age (33) and just signed a contract (not the highest). The way to answer this question is by asking yourself if there was a fantasy draft would Ichiro be taken first over all and the answer is no, he is not even top five maybe top ten. Albert Pujols (age 27) would be a lock to go #1 over all. Yes you can make an argument the Ichiro is the best but you would be wrong.
2007-08-24 16:02:02 · answer #7 · answered by Ryan B 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
To be the best *all-around* player, one can't have glaring, important, weaknesses. Such as his bad power numbers.
And his OBP, by far the most important stat for a leadoff hitter,
is nowhere near the best (although it is above average).
He ranked in MLB :
2006 46th
2005 70th
2004 9th
2003 70th
2002 28th
2001 36th
2007-08-25 01:00:40 · answer #8 · answered by DaM 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he is definitely among the best to ever play the game. He doesn't get as much recognition because he hits very few home runs. But just be aware that the MLB will not recognize any of his stats from Japan, so unless he plays longer than most players, he will have a tough time catching up in any of the career record categories such as total hits.
2007-08-24 15:57:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
It would be tough to argue because his only drawbacks are minimal, but he does not hit HRs and he's 33 yrs old. Like I said, minimal, but if someone were to start a team right now and would keep the 1st pick for over 5 yrs, very few would take Ichiro as the1st pick. (Not even including pitchers.)
2007-08-24 17:16:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋