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Joltin' Ichiro
The hits keep coming for Japanese sensation
Posted: Tuesday May 15, 2001 7:23 AM
Updated: Tuesday May 22, 2001 5:52 AM
By Lonny Krasnow, CNNSI.com
Sixty years ago this week, Joe DiMaggio ripped a single up the middle to drive in Phil Rizzuto with the Yankees' only run in a 13-1 loss. It was the start of something big.
From May 15 through July 16, DiMaggio hit safely in a 56 consecutive games -- a record that has never been seriously threatened.
In 1978, Pete Rose had a 44-game streak that matched Wee Willie Keeler's streak in 1897. Since Paul Molitor's 39-game streak in 1987, no one has put together a hitting streak longer than 31 games.
Enter Ichiro. If anyone can get a hit every day for two months, it's Japanese sensation Ichiro Suzuki.
Just six weeks into his first season in the majors, the Mariners' leadoff hitter has established himself as one of the toughest outs in baseball.
Ichiro enters the week with a .360 average and a 19-game hitting streak in tact, the longest this season. He also had a 15-game streak in April. Ichiro leads the majors in hits (62) and has struck out just 10 times in 179 plate appearances. Over the weekend, he was a homer shy of the cycle -- twice.
While adjusting to a new league, Ichiro has hit safely in 35 of 37 games, a pace that would give him hits in 153 games. The major league record is 135, shared by Chuck Klein (1930), Rogers Hornsby (1922) and Wade Boggs (1985). He's also on pace for 271 hits. The major league mark belongs to George Sisler, who had 257 in 1920.
It may be premature to bring up the Yankee Clipper, considering only three rookies have made it even halfway to DiMaggio -- Benito Santiago (34 games in 1987), Jerome Walton (30 in 1989) and Nomar Garciaparra (30 in 1997).
But Ichiro, 27, is no ordinary rookie. He's a seven-time batting champ with a career .353 average in Japan.
Go get 'em, Ichiro, two nations turn their lonely eyes to you.
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Mired in mediocrity
Have you taken a good look at the National League standings? Entering Tuesday, 13 teams had between 16 and 22 victories. Now that's parity.
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Vinny sighting
It looks like Chris Truby's 15 minutes of fame are up. Word out of Houston is that the Astros are on the verge of signing third baseman Vinny Castilla.
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Welcome back, Cy
The Braves and Red Sox will get a shot in the arm this week. Both John Smoltz and David Cone have completed their rehab assignments and are schedule to start Thursday.
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The hot seat
Two managers have been axed already this season. Who's next? Montreal's Felipe Alou, Oakland's Art Howe, and Kansas City's Tony Muser appear to be the leading candidates.
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Graceful return
First baseman Mark Grace, who played 13 seasons for the Cubs, returns to Wrigley Field this week with the Diamondbacks. Who could have predicted the Cubbies would own the better record?
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Yer out, er, safe!
Nine of 22 umpires fired two years ago after a mass resignation ploy failed were given their jobs back Friday by an arbitrator. When they return is unknown. Stay tuned.
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Boston at Minnesota, May 15-17
It's Manny (.407) vs. Mientkiewicz (.410). It's two first-place teams getting it on in the Metrodome. The Twins dodge Pedro but will draw David Cone in his season debut Thursday. Radke tries again for win No. 6
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Houston at Chicago Cubs, May 15-17
Remember when hitting 400 home runs was a big deal? Sammy Sosa is sitting on 398 homers as the Cubs welcome gopher-ball specialist Jose Lima and the Astros to Wrigley Field for a three-game set.
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St. Louis at Philadelphia, May 18-20
With Rick Ankiel safely stashed in the minors, the Cardinals embark on a 12-game roadtrip. First stop Pittsburgh, second stop Philly. Are the Phillies ready to fade? The Cards won seven of nine meetings last season.
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N.Y. Yankees at Seattle, May 18-20
Three weeks after the Mariners' impressive sweep in the Bronx, we are treated to another ALCS rematch -- this time at Safeco Field.
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Hero: Todd Helton
Nobody is hotter than Helton, who is coming off a monster homestand, going 13-for-24 (.542) with four homers and 16 RBIs. |
Bum: Esteban Loaiza
The Blue Jays' No. 1 starter is 0-3 with a 10.80 ERA in his last three starts, allowing 20 earned runs in his last 16 2/3 innings. |
Hero: Kevin Brown
Move over Pedro? The Dodgers' ace threw 16 scoreless innings last week with 19 K and 3 BB, lowering his microscopic ERA to 1.09. |
Bums: Atlanta Braves
Dead last in the majors with 136 runs scored. The anemic Braves have been shut out four times and are 2-6 when they score one run. |
Hero: J.D. Drew
Is this the year? It certainly was the week: 11-for-28, five homers, 11 RBIs. |
Bum: Tim Salmon
Arguably the best player never to make an All-Star, Salmon went 2-for-18 last week, dropping his average to .214. Wait 'till next year, Timmy. |
Hero: Roberto Alomar
Just one reason the Tribe is back in business. Alomar is hitting .425 in his past 19 games with 20 runs scored. |
Bum: Danny Graves
It was a rough week for the Reds closer, who blew two save chances and saw his ERA rise from 0.52 to 3.32.
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Lost in the hoopla surrounding A.J. Burnett's unlikely no-hitter Saturday night was the impressive debut of Padres right-hander Wascar Serrano (one earned run in seven innings). Grab him if you need a fresh arm. ... Center fielder Alex Escobar made his major league debut for the Mets last week. He's a five-tool prospect and would be a great addition for owners already planning for 2002. ... Speaking of blue-chippers, Vernon Wells is up with the Blue Jays while Jose Cruz Jr. nurses his sore back. Like Escobar, Wells is a 22-year-old stud with 30-30 potential. Snatch him up and hope Toronto deals Cruz for pitching this summer. ... With Frank Thomas out for the season, the White Sox will give plenty of at-bats to Jeff Liefer, who qualifies in the outfield and as a corner infielder in most leagues. He's no Big Hurt, but Liefer has demonstrated decent power in the minors.
Check out Fantasy Central for more insight and analysis. |
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| Billy Koch has failed to retire the first batter in each of his last six outings. |
| Randy Johnson has struck out at least 10 batters in a game 156 times, including 15 or more on 21 occasions. |
| Pedro Martinez and Eric Milton are the only pitchers to notch a quality start (at least 6 IP, 3 ER or less) in every start this season. |
| Barry Bonds holds the record for most home runs by an opponent at Veterans Stadium (26), Riverfront (29), Qualcomm (28) and Olympic (28). |
| Carlos Delgado became the Blue Jays' career home run leader with his 204th bomb in 864 games. Joe Carter needed 1,039 games to reach 203. |
| The Dodgers ate $7.5 million when they released Carlos Perez last week; the Rays had to digest $7 million when they pulled the rip cord on Vinny Castilla. |
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Vladimir Guerreo can and will hit anything. At 25, the sky is the limit for Vlad, and we're expecting nothing short of a .350-50-150 season -- last accomplished by Babe Ruth in 1927. Check in here each week to follow the exploits of baseball's most underexposed superstar. |
| Season Stats: .299 Avg. (40-for-134), 7 HR, 21 RBIs, 5 SB |
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It's official. Vlad is back in business. After a sluggish April, our slugger is hitting .327 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 13 games this month. Last week Guerrero went 10-for-27 with three bombs and four multihit games. Nothing like a weekend at Coors Field to restore your confidence. This week Les Expos return to Montreal for a nine-game homestand against the Dodgers, Padres and Mets.
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Our tribute to the banal banter of baseball
"He's a guy, really, when it's his day to pitch, if you want to say hello you wait until the next day and say it twice."
-- Los Angeles manager Jim Tracy, on staff ace Kevin Brown |
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Last week we acknowledged the 20th anniversary of Terry Cashman's famous anthem "Willie, Mickey and The Duke (Talkin' Baseball)" by asking you to submit your favorite baseball songs. A sampling of the responses:
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John Fogerty's "Centerfield" ... No other song so fully encapsulates the experience of baseball. Besides that, the song rocks!
Joseph J. Finn, Chicago
The closing theme for This Week in Baseball hosted by Mel Allen -- an instrumental titled "Gathering Crowds" -- still gives me goosebumps.
Michael Conner, Danbury, Conn.
It's gotta be "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen
The Boss, the Doc (in the video) ... a great anthem.
Todd Conard, East Meadow, N.Y.
"Right Field" by Peter, Paul & Mary
Listen to it and tell me it doesn't bring back memories for anyone who was picked last when teams were chosen. It captures the feeling perfectly.
Harvey Kaplowitz, Bellflower, Calif.
"Talkin' Softball" from The Simpsons episode when Homer gets beaned to win the game. Pure genius.
Chuck Ingram, Potomac, Md.
Steve Goodman's "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request"
Mellow, light-hearted and funny, yet bitingly true.
John Redding, Dallas
"Paradise by the Dashboard Light"
Phil Rizzuto and Meatloaf ... Now that's entertainment!
Chris Grivas, New York
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| Question of the week: Other than Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, which single-season baseball record will never be broken? |
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