Comments on: Mini All-Star Thread

By: joser

joser — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:41:24 +0000

I believe Ichiroâ€™s shoes were silver.

"Not silver. Platinum."

By: DMZ

DMZ — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:21:37 +0000

Yes, we’ve linked to it like 1m times already.

By: ayoon

ayoon — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:13:24 +0000

Anyone read the ESPN article on Ichiro visiting Sisler’s grave? Ichiro also wanted to say “what’s up” to the President…

By: msb

msb — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:33:13 +0000

I think it was Big Papi who always insisted Ichiro give his speech.

Could it be a red squirrel that has attached itself to Franklin’s chin?

By: harry

harry — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:26:16 +0000

From fangraphs:

F Gutierrez WAR 2009: 3.1

A Jones WAR 2009: 1.5

That takes some of the sting out for me…

By: joser

joser — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:47:48 +0000

Though (on further review) it looks like he didn't do the speech this year after all:

After the game, Ichiro said he was thankful that the Junior Circuit prevailed despite the fact that he wasn't able to do what has become a hilarious pregame motivational talk in which he demonstratively delivers some choice English slang words to his teammates. "For the pregame, they always had me say a few words, but this time I didn't say anything and we still won, so I put a period on history," Ichiro said. "I'm kind of glad to get that over with."

Meanwhile, Obama talks about meeting Ichiro ("He's an impressive guy") in the video on this page ("Obama answers players questions" -- note to DMZ: they left out the apostrophe, not me)

By: Nik Aitken

Nik Aitken — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:14:06 +0000

Love this part:

Which leaves the NL hoping for some kind of a miracle. Ichiro was asked how much he believes the speech has contributed to the AL dominance that has stretched more than a decade now.

â€œIâ€™ve got to say over 90 percent,â€ he said.

By: joser

joser — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:58:59 +0000

And by “Thornton? Really?” I meant “You really care that much about a guy who throws ~60 innings a year, mostly in low leverage situations?” Thornton may have improved since he left the M’s, but he hardly matters.

By: joser

joser — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:53:42 +0000

which just goes to show you the best players play in the AL!

No, it has nothing to do with that, and everything to do with Ichiro's annual pre-game speech.

By: NBarnes

NBarnes — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:48:24 +0000

(and Thornton? Really?)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thornma01.shtml