Game 15: 2-for-4 in 2-0 Win vs. Chicago Cubs

Elsa / Getty Images

At Bats: 4
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 2/10
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 1
Left on Base: 2
Average: .435
Box
Notes: Played right, batted sixth… Singled to center, struck out on a foul tip, popped out to short, singled to center… Wore #42 (as did all players on both teams) in honor of Jackie Robinson… Despite his limited playing time, has the team’s highest batting average and slugging percentage, and second-highest OPS.
Next: Game 16 at Tampa Bay, 7:10 Thursday.

Game 14: 0-for-0 in 3-0 Win vs. Chicago Cubs

Elsa / Getty Images

At Bats: 0
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/8
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .421
Box
Notes: Ninth-inning defensive substitution in right, batting second… Did not bat.
Next: Game 15 vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:05 tonight.

Game 14: Rained Out

Today’s rained out Yankees/Cubs game will be made up at 1:05 p.m. Tuesday, followed by tomorrow’s regularly scheduled 7:05 p.m. game between the same two teams.

Game 13: 0-for-1 in 3-2 Win vs. Boston

Kathy Willens / AP Photo

At Bats: 1
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/8
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 1
Average: .421
Box
Notes: Entered game as a pinch-runner in the fourth, remained in game as right fielder, batted eighth… Grounded to second… Robbed David Ortiz of a game-tying homer (above).
Next: Game 14 vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:05 Tuesday.

Game 12: 0-for-0 in 7-4 Win vs. Boston

Frank Franklin II / AP Photo

At Bats: 0
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/8
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .444
Box
Notes: Ninth-inning defensive substitution in right, batting sixth… Did not bat.
Next: Game 13 vs. Boston, 8:00 Sunday.

Game 11: 2-for-4 in 4-2 Loss vs. Boston

Al Bello / Getty Images

At Bats: 4
Runs: 1
Hits, Game/Season: 2/8
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .444
Box
Notes: Played left, batted seventh… Grounded to third, singled to second, singled to center, flied to center.
Next: Game 12 vs. Boston, 1:05 Saturday.

Game 10: Did Not Play in 4-1 Win vs. Boston

At Bats: 0
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/6
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .429
Box
Notes: None.
Next: Game 11 vs. Boston, 7:05 Friday.

Game 9: 0-for-0 in 5-4 Loss vs. Baltimore

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

At Bats: 0
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/6
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .429
Box
Notes: Ninth-inning pinch-runner, did not bat.
Next: Game 10 vs. Boston, 7:05 Thursday.

Game 8: 0-for-1 in 14-5 Loss vs. Baltimore

Kathy Willens / AP Photo

At Bats: 1
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/6
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .429
Box
Notes: Played center as a ninth-inning defensive substitution, batted third… Grounded to second (above).
Next: Game 9 vs. Baltimore, 7:05 Wednesday.

Game 7: 0-for-0 in 4-2 Win vs. Baltimore

Seth Wenig / AP Photo

At Bats: 0
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/6
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .462
Box
Notes: Played right as a ninth-inning defensive substitution, did not bat.
Next: Game 8 vs. Baltimore, 1:05 Tuesday.

Game 6: 1-for-4 in 6-4 Win at Toronto

At Bats: 4
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 1/6
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 3
Left on Base: 1
Average: .462
Box
Notes: Played right, batted eighth… Struck out swinging, struck out swinging, singled to right, struck out swinging.
Next: Game 7 vs. Baltimore, 1:05 Monday.

Game 5: Did Not Play in 4-0 Loss at Toronto

At Bats: 0
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/5
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .566
Box
Notes: None.
Next: Game 6 at Toronto, 1:07 Sunday.

Game 4: 3-for-5 in 7-3 Win at Toronto

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

At Bats: 5
Runs: 2
Hits, Game/Season: 3/5
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 1
Left on Base: 4
Average: .566
Box
Notes: Played right, batted seventh… Struck out swinging, singled to second, singled to left, grounded to second, singled to pitcher.
Next: Game 5 at Toronto, 1:07 Saturday.

Game 3: 2-for-4 in 4-2 Win at Houston

Bob Levey / Getty Images

At Bats: 4
Runs: 2
Hits, Game/Season: 2/2
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 1
Left on Base: 1
Average: .500
Box
Notes: Played right, batted eighth… Singled to left, grounded to first, doubled to left, struck out looking.
Next: Game 4 at Toronto, 7:07 Friday.

Ichiro Jerseys at Steinbrenner Field

Right now I’m in Florida; this afternoon I snapped this photo in the team shop at the Yankees’ spring training home. Of course, the Yankees don’t put player names on the back of their actual game jerseys, but whatever.

Game 2: Did Not Play in 3-1 Loss at Houston

At Bats: 0
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/0
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base: 0
Average: .000
Box
Notes: None.
Next: Game 3 at Houston, 8:10 Thursday.

Game 1: Did Not Play in 6-2 Loss at Houston

At Bats: 0
Runs: 0
Hits, Game/Season: 0/0
Runs Batted In: 0
Walks: 0
Strikeouts: 0
Left on Base:
Average: .000
Box
Notes: None.
Next: Game 2 at Houston, 8:10 Tuesday.

New Season, New Header

Today marks the third anniversary of this here blog, so I thought I’d freshen it up a bit with this new header. The old one only showed Ichiro’s Mariner cards, but this new one also includes the other teams he’s played for during his pro career — Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix BlueWave, Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees, and his World Baseball Classic squad, Team Japan.

Below is the old header, shown here for posterity.

Thanks Eliza!

Spring Training Wrap

Our man has now completed his second Grapefruit League season, with lackluster stats. Going 12 for 50 with seven runs, two doubles, no triples, no home runs, seven RBI, and three stolen bases, he compiled a line of .240/.339/.364.

The 40-year-old’s numbers have been in decline for a few years now, but he has no plans to quit: “Retirement from baseball is something I haven’t even thought about.” Instead, he intends to play for “many” more seasons: “Not just a few. Many. For me, I feel there’s no reason for me to retire right now.”

I hate to say it, but there’s plenty of reasons for him to retire.

With one year left on his Yankees contract, he’s been the subject of trade rumors all spring. Wherever he plays, let’s hope he either turns it around, or has the good sense to hang it up.

Photo found here.

And Now, a Message from Ichiro

Unfortunately, I’m not sure what exactly that message is, other than an endorsement of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone. His photos are all over the NTT site, featuring questionable fashion…

Awkward poses…

And this…