The trade of Ichiro Monday came as a surprise to many, mostly because it was believed that there was no market for his declining, 38-year-old skills, and that he didn’t want to leave a franchise where he could dictate terms and conditions.
But apparently after reflecting over the All-Star break, he asked to be traded. As a player with 10-and-5 rights and in his final contract year with the Mariners, he could select the teams to which he would accept a trade. But he probably could not have asked for a better situation than the Yankees, the American League leaders with a long history of taking other teams’ veterans and pulling the last of their quality games out of them.
The question for Mariners fans is whether this was the right deal at the right time. Fans have seen several stars come and go, but Ichiro was different. His career electrified all of baseball in 2001 when when he became not only the first Japanese position player in MLB, but the American League’s Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year.
But as his production and the team’s production declined in the past couple of seasons while his $18 million salary did not, fans began to look at Ichiro less fondly. His game bore the brunt of fan criticism, but so many other things were wrong as well. Some fans believed he should stay, others wanted him out years ago?
What do you think?
[polldaddy poll=6413970]
36 Comments
I think chro truly felt he could help the Mariners by leaving. Watch him get his world series ring and then retire after this season.
I doubt charity was foremost in his mind, more like despair/disgust with franchise decay. But he’s certainly entitled to the shot he’ll not get in Seattle.
I think chro truly felt he could help the Mariners by leaving. Watch him get his world series ring and then retire after this season.
I doubt charity was foremost in his mind, more like despair/disgust with franchise decay. But he’s certainly entitled to the shot he’ll not get in Seattle.
I heard that Smoak was sent down to Tacoma.
Keep scrolling in our timeline for the story.
I heard that Smoak was sent down to Tacoma.
Keep scrolling in our timeline for the story.
I’m disappointed that the M’s could only get some average pitching when they could really use some average hitting. Surely there’s some Jay Buhner wanna-be deep in the Yankees farm somewhere that Frank Constanza can later rip on the Yankee brass for trading away.
I can’t help but wonder if Mariner management had bothered to field the kind of teams that the Angels have in the past ten years just what kind of career Ichiro would have had.
They received nearly nothing for Ichiro, and probably are happy NY picked up half his remaining salary. Average hitting in MLB these days is a premium product.
I’m disappointed that the M’s could only get some average pitching when they could really use some average hitting. Surely there’s some Jay Buhner wanna-be deep in the Yankees farm somewhere that Frank Constanza can later rip on the Yankee brass for trading away.
I can’t help but wonder if Mariner management had bothered to field the kind of teams that the Angels have in the past ten years just what kind of career Ichiro would have had.
They received nearly nothing for Ichiro, and probably are happy NY picked up half his remaining salary. Average hitting in MLB these days is a premium product.
Oh, Sportspress Northwest, not an instant poll. I was thinking of you just a few days ago when the Seattle Times ran a poll about the best homegrown major leaguer and Earl Averill trailed the list with only 10 percent. Anyone who has read the Wayback Machine would know that the Earl of Snohomish was easily the best major leaguer to come from our state, but who reads anymore when you can communicate by instant polls.
C’mon, guest. We’re not attempting to solve Syria here. Some people enjoy polls, some enjoy Wayback, some enjoy hecklers like you. We open our arms at SPNW to the big embrace.
Oh, Sportspress Northwest, not an instant poll. I was thinking of you just a few days ago when the Seattle Times ran a poll about the best homegrown major leaguer and Earl Averill trailed the list with only 10 percent. Anyone who has read the Wayback Machine would know that the Earl of Snohomish was easily the best major leaguer to come from our state, but who reads anymore when you can communicate by instant polls.
C’mon, guest. We’re not attempting to solve Syria here. Some people enjoy polls, some enjoy Wayback, some enjoy hecklers like you. We open our arms at SPNW to the big embrace.
Its beyond time for the local media to start putting the pressure on CA & HL to remove themselves from the equation. Even if they are planning to restructure the organization and mercifully step away, I don’t care. Hearing of their resignation one hour from now is nine years and one hour too late for me. They should no longer be allowed to rationalize the thought that they are anything more than feeble, pathetic, and incompetent at operating a baseball franchise. The quotes from them the last two days have me up to that rarely attained Wally Walker level of rage and hatred. Breathe deep, effzee, breeeathe deep… You shouldn’t care this much…. But… its been… so bad… for soooo long……. WOOHOO! :D
Effzee, they own the club, and the media calls have been made, to no avail. Yankees fans wanted Steinbrenner out from 1981 to 1995, when they never made the playoffs. Understand your feelings, but more media sniping just sends them deeper into the bunker.
Its beyond time for the local media to start putting the pressure on CA & HL to remove themselves from the equation. Even if they are planning to restructure the organization and mercifully step away, I don’t care. Hearing of their resignation one hour from now is nine years and one hour too late for me. They should no longer be allowed to rationalize the thought that they are anything more than feeble, pathetic, and incompetent at operating a baseball franchise. The quotes from them the last two days have me up to that rarely attained Wally Walker level of rage and hatred. Breathe deep, effzee, breeeathe deep… I really shouldn’t care this much…. but… its been… so bad… for soooo long……. Aargh! :D
Effzee, they own the club, and the media calls have been made, to no avail. Yankees fans wanted Steinbrenner out from 1981 to 1995, when they never made the playoffs. Understand your feelings, but more media sniping just sends them deeper into the bunker.
Interesting to note that Ichiro thanked by name three Japanese Nintendo executives in the press conference yesterday but did not thank Lincoln and Armstrong, sitting at the table with him.
As others have said, these guys have made one dreadful personnel and management decision after another but still keep pretending professionalism. The Hansen group should forget the NBA/NHL and buy the Mariners.
Lou, your observation did not go unnoticed, although he did shake hands with Chuck and Howard.
Don’t think Hansen has the same feelings for Richie Zisk as he does for Tom Burleson.
Interesting to note that Ichiro thanked by name three Japanese Nintendo executives in the press conference yesterday but did not thank Lincoln and Armstrong, sitting at the table with him.
As others have said, these guys have made one dreadful personnel and management decision after another but still keep pretending professionalism. The Hansen group should forget the NBA/NHL and buy the Mariners.
Lou, your observation did not go unnoticed, although he did shake hands with Chuck and Howard.
Don’t think Hansen has the same feelings for Richie Zisk as he does for Tom Burleson.
Here is my one thought: When will Seattle develop some self-respect and get local ownership for the Mariners for the first time in Mariners’ history, thus also not allowing Seattle to become a plaything for out-of-market owners, or in the current case, an out-of-hemisphere owner. Unbelievable that Seattle was going to be bent over and forced to have Ichiro back again next year, with the only question being at what cost.
Michael, 20 years ago Slade Gorton had to go to Kyoto to find Yamauchi because no locals stepped up to be the 51 percenter. Looked good at the time. But times, man, have they changed.
Here is my one thought: When will Seattle develop some self-respect and get local ownership for the Mariners for the first time in Mariners’ history, thus also not allowing Seattle to become a plaything for out-of-market owners, or in the current case, an out-of-hemisphere owner. Unbelievable that Seattle was going to be bent over and forced to have Ichiro back again next year, with the only question being at what cost.
Michael, 20 years ago Slade Gorton had to go to Kyoto to find Yamauchi because no locals stepped up to be the 51 percenter. Looked good at the time. But times, man, have they changed.
The more I thought about the fact the Ms were prepared to extend Ichiro for pretty substantial money, the more outrageous it seemed. It was a decision from senior management and ownership, not the real baseball people, and was all about cute TV commercials and bobblehead giveaways. The fact that Ichiro was the clearheaded one who saw that it would have been a bad situation for all involved really enhanced my opinion of him and probably revealed real team leadership that he was always accused of not providing. As for the Ms organization, it just seems more depressing to consider the clear view this provides as to their dysfunctional management structure and incompetent senior leadership which will muck up whatever Jackie Z and Wedgie are trying to build.
As to the poll questions, what do you think a 38 year old player batting .261 is going to bring us? But it did provide an opportunity for all involved to be able to ‘save face’. Thank you Yankees and thank you Ichiro! (But the rest of us are stuck here with this group of clowns).
Jamo, the extension option was real and Ichiro did Seattle and himself a solid by forcing everyone to their senses.
The Brock and Salk show were reporting it to be around $12-$13 million per which triggered the Buhner vomit quote. Does that seem to be a reasonable estimate Art?
In any event, my previous view that Z is in charge on the personnel/baseball side really took a hit. He wasn’t even a factor at the press conference.
And I thank Ichiro for his leadership role in all this.
IMO (and this is a guess on my part) the M’s offered Ichiro an extension but was probably a hefty cut from what he’s used to. And that’s why he asked for a trade.
The more I thought about the fact the Ms were prepared to extend Ichiro for pretty substantial money, the more outrageous it seemed. It was a decision from senior management and ownership, not the real baseball people, and was all about cute TV commercials and bobblehead giveaways. The fact that Ichiro was the clearheaded one who saw that it would have been a bad situation for all involved really enhanced my opinion of him and probably revealed real team leadership that he was always accused of not providing. As for the Ms organization, it just seems more depressing to consider the clear view this provides as to their dysfunctional management structure and incompetent senior leadership which will muck up whatever Jackie Z and Wedgie are trying to build.
As to the poll questions, what do you think a 38 year old player batting .261 is going to bring us? But it did provide an opportunity for all involved to be able to ‘save face’. Thank you Yankees and thank you Ichiro! (But the rest of us are stuck here with this group of clowns).
Jamo, the extension option was real and Ichiro did Seattle and himself a solid by forcing everyone to their senses.
The Brock and Salk show were reporting it to be around $12-$13 million per which triggered the Buhner vomit quote. Does that seem to be a reasonable estimate Art?
In any event, my previous view that Z is in charge on the personnel/baseball side really took a hit. He wasn’t even a factor at the press conference.
And I thank Ichiro for his leadership role in all this.
IMO (and this is a guess on my part) the M’s offered Ichiro an extension but was probably a hefty cut from what he’s used to. And that’s why he asked for a trade.