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Ichiro ties record with 10th 200-hit season

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MistaNova:


TORONTO -- Ichiro Suzuki stroked a fifth-inning single to center to collect his 200th hit Thursday, extending his own record with his 10th straight season reaching the milestone. He set the record last year, passing Wee Willie Keeler. Ichiro also tied the record for 200-hit seasons in a career, with 10, which he now shares with Pete Rose.

The milestone hit came against Blue Jays starter Shawn Hill. The Blue Jays went on to win the game, 1-0, over the Mariners.

"I think you can imagine how happy I am," Ichiro said through a translator. "I know how tough it is to accomplish 200 hits every season, and it's been another tough one this year, so that's how happy I am inside."
The Mariners dugout, along with the fans at Rogers Centre, gave the Japanese native a standing ovation. Following roughly 30 seconds of applause, Ichiro removed his cap and acknowledged the crowd. The ball, fielded by center fielder Vernon Wells, was promptly retrieved by a Mariners staff member.

Ichiro entered the game with 198 hits. He picked up No. 199 with a third-inning double down the left-field line.

"Today, after I accomplished 200 hits, when I looked to the dugout everyone was celebrating, everyone was pretty happy," Ichiro said. "They were showing that [celebratory] feeling. That's when I finally felt like I could express my feelings in a good way, where I could say I'm happy for what I've achieved."

Ichiro felt a sense of relief after reaching the mark, considering the high standard he's set for himself from the very beginning of his career.

"When you look at my rookie year, no one expected me to have 200-plus hits," Ichiro said. "I think if I [had been] at .260 or .270 with 180 hits, [everyone] would have said, 'Good job.' Now being in my shoes, I have to accomplish this. Because if I don't, people will say, 'How come you're not hitting anymore?'"

The record for most seasons with 200 hits had been in Rose's sole possession since Sept. 25, 1979, when he hit a first-inning single against Cardinals rookie right-hander John Fulgham at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

Read the rest here: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100923&content_id=14994916&vkey=news_sea&c_id=sea

theremedy360:
The most amazing part about this is that Pete did it in a 24 year career, Ichiro did it in his first 10 MLB seasons and is showing no signs of slowing down  8)

Chamillitary Click:
GOAT! 8)

The Come Up Shuffle:

--- Quote from: Chamillitary Click on September 24, 2010, 09:49:07 AM ---GOAT! 8)

--- End quote ---

His OPS+ ranks 44th amongst active players.  He is far from the GOAT.  He is a 1st ballot HOF'er but he isn't even the best ball player out there today. 

What amazing is the fact he may very well reach 3000 hits in America and 4000 total for his career.

theremedy360:

--- Quote from: The Come Up Shuffle on September 24, 2010, 11:03:58 AM ---
--- Quote from: Chamillitary Click on September 24, 2010, 09:49:07 AM ---GOAT! 8)

--- End quote ---

His OPS+ ranks 44th amongst active players.  He is far from the GOAT.  He is a 1st ballot HOF'er but he isn't even the best ball player out there today. 

What amazing is the fact he may very well reach 3000 hits in America and 4000 total for his career.

--- End quote ---

I can agree with that, Ichiro is the type of guy that's so talented that he could excell at any playing style. When I went to the homerun derby in 01 Ichiro took BP before hand and hit about 20 balls into the stands effortlesly. But for whatever reason he chose to be a leadoff hitter, and it's hard to consider a guy who gets a lot of singles as the best in the game. He's definitely the most consistent though.

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