Baseball traditionalists may attempt to dismiss Ichiro’s hit record because of the context in which he achieved it—playing for a losing team, eschewing walks, and concentrating on singles instead of longer hits. It might be worth reminding his detractors that Sisler faced identical criticism. In an era when first basemen were beginning to blast balls out of the park, Sisler stubbornly continued spraying singles.

Perhaps the only inescapable conclusion that can be drawn from Ichiro’s record-shattering 2004 season is that he has digested everything he can on this level of baseball and has found a way to do what he likes best: outhit everyone and win batting titles. A unique player when he arrived in 2001, he has evolved even further and discovered a remarkable path to success.

It is a success that raises an interesting question for American baseball—the same one, in fact, that it did in Japan: Has the traditional way of teaching and playing baseball brought out the best in its most talented players? It may take a while before the sport can answer that question, and longer still until it acknowledges the existence of a new paradigm. But at the very least, Ichiro has opened baseball’s eyes to the talent pool on the other side of the sunset, and opened its mind to an ocean of intriguing new possibilities.

ICHIRO THE PLAYER

Ichiro’s quirky hitting style enables him to time and adjust to almost any pitcher, get good hard swings, and spray hits from line to line. An excellent situational hitter, Ichiro has the power turn on a pitch and drive it into the seats. More often, he picks a hole and laces the ball through it. His bunting ability forces infielders to play closer, which means he can dump hits into shallow left.

While other top hitters adjust from game to game, he adjusts from pitch to pitch. Depending on the pitcher, the pitch, and the game situation, Ichiro can employ one of five distinct swings. In 2004, he became particularly adept at banging fastballs into the turf with a swing that has him leaning toward first. On these strokes, he can make it down the line in 3.7 seconds, forcing infielders to make perfect plays.

Ichiro’s baserunning is as potent a weapon as his hitting. In fact, it often seems he is taking his first step toward first base as he swings. This leads to a ton of infield hits and creates a lot of bobbles and hurried throws. On the basepaths, Ichiro is quick and daring. He almost always has the green light, and will steal on any pitch. This puts catchers under intense pressure, which sometimes leads to their calling for fastballs when off-speed pitches are in order. Obviously this benefits the Mariners hitting behind Ichiro in the lineup.

Ichiro’s defense is absolutely sensational. The only reason he plays right field for Seattle is because Randy Winn is in center. Both have plus arms, but Ichiro’s is stronger and more accurate, and thus better suited for right. He made a couple of highlight-reel throws to third early in the 2001 season, and after that enemy runners stopped challenging his arm. Ichiro gets as good a jump on fly balls as anyone in the league, and never seems to take a bad angle. On short hits he charges the ball aggressively and always comes up ready to throw.

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