When the Gold Glove Awards were announced last night, Ichiro Suzuki’s 2011 season produced another slight for the Seattle Mariners right fielder.
He didn’t win one after 10 consecutive Gold Glove seasons, and the men who vote for those awards - American League managers and coaches – didn’t even have him among the top three right fielders.
No one denies last year was the worst of his 11-year career, a season in which he batted .271 and collected 184 hits. For a man who began the year with a .331 career batting average and had never had fewer than 206 hits in a season, it was a stunning offensive drop off.
The Gold Glove voting may have validated what many of us following the team wrote in ’11 – Ichiro’s defense fell off, as well. There were times he seemed almost uninterested in right field, tentative one night, conservative the next.
What the Mariners and their fans must ponder isn’t whether Ichiro can rebound from 2011, but how much better he can be if he does, and how manager Eric Wedge and his staff can engage Ichiro next spring.
As he enters the final year of a contract that will pay him $17 million, Ichiro will find not only his leadoff spot open to competition but his right field job a question mark, too.
Ichiro batted .341 last season in 41 at-bats as the designated hitter, and his career average as a DH – in 166 at-bats - is .361. No, the Mariners don’t consider him a full time DH, but if Jack Zduriencik lands a corner outfielder instead of an every day DH, it’s not hard to see Ichiro spending far less time in right field.
Ichiro is now 38, and his legs have always been his game. Keeping him off of them more frequently might be a way to help him in 2012 and not having a streak of Gold Glove awards now might make that transition a bit more palatable for him.
No one is writing Ichiro off as an offensive force, but the Mariners would be foolish not to approach 2012 with options. It’s not at all unlikely that on opening day next year – especially since it will come in Japan for the Mariners – Ichiro will bat first and play right field.
It won’t be a surprise, though, if Wedge uses other players in those spots throughout the year. The Mariners will do whatever they can to help Ichiro return to form in 2012. That doesn’t mean they won’t be prepared to adjust should that not happen.
This team would be more crazy and dysfunctional than I ever considered if they elect to keep Ichiro around any longer than what is absolutely required.
At this point, the Mariners can get the same type of offensive production and better defense from a much younger player that will improve over time rather than decline. Chiang is doing well in the Arizona Fall League and actually reminds me a little bit of Ichiro…Asian, same build, sprays line drives all over the field (also has a history of hitting for power), great speed and good defense. Halman needs a chance to play regularly. Peguero might figure it out (his defense has already improved dramatically) soon with regular playing time. Wells might have to move over to RF if Carp is forced to play LF (with Smoak at 1B and if the team signs a free agent bat).
Ichiro is an $18 million dollar, below average player who is clogging the farm system and the overall good of the organization at this juncture. Thank him for the memories, wish him well and tell him to pack well for the trip to Japan this April. 25 players fly to Tokyo, 24 make it back to Sea-Tac.
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Ichiro nees to go. If they sign him to an extension it again say alot about what this franchise is all about. (and its not about winning).
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Guys, Ichiro is overpaid based on his 2011 performance. But he is still a good player. The Mariners have to pay him in 2012 anyway. They might as well see if he rebounds. I doubt he will be re-signed in 2013 unless he is willing to make a lot less. But to send him packing when they have to pay him anyway makes no sense at all. Larry is right. The Mariners have options and they may use him in different ways next year like DH. But he needs to remain a Mariner at least in 2012.
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If we move Ichiro to DH, what happens to Carp (much more important tot he M’s future)? Does he become the everyday LF? The everyday 1B? Or do we mess him up by using him as a part time utility player (worst possible outcome)?
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If Ichiro rebounds to become the offensive and defensive force we know he can be, then it would be a no-brainer to resign him. To toss him aside, like some people here want, only suggests how they’ve never appreciated the guy even though he’s been one of the most consistent Mariners of all time. The guy didn’t have to stay all these years, but he did and he helped the team in the good and the bad years. Larue wanted him gone years ago, which is beyond belief. If the team had given him a decent 2 hitter and others to hit behind him, he would never be the subject of all this derision.
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Geez. I’m a regular reader of Larry’s, and a fan of Ichiro’s style of play–so sue me–but I don’t remember Larry “wanting him gone”. There’s a rational argument to be made against his last contract, and his style of play isn’t for everyone–Larry’s probably in there, especially on the first point. But I don’t remember him being among the “slap hitter, never dives, won’t hit third, he’s Japaneeeese” crowd. I agree that hitting behind a decent hitter makes a good hitter better; I’ll cite Berkman hitting behind Pujols this year as just one of many examples.
As for what Ichiro’s going to do in 2012, danged if I know; I’m just interested to see if he’s resigned over the winter. I hope not; I don’t want wb67′s head to explode.
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At 38, Ichiro is not going to rebound to hit .330 like the old days. He may rebound to hit .285 or .290 which would not be bad. It just depends on the kind of production he generates, which is a function of where he hits in the order, and who is hitting behind him and in front of him. The M’s need to hit better than .230 as a team.
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