Well that summer-long festival of performance enhanced excess we like to call baseball is finally here and guess who has decided to step up to the plate as the best player in this league, huh?
Ichiro Suzuki of the new-look Seattle Mariners. But, come now Wil, aren't they all new-look teams nowadays? By the way is there any team left in the MLB who hasn't carried Benito Santiago on their roster? Can we let the poor guy just retire now?
Sorry folks, back to Ichiro. By far the most consistent player on the field day in and day out (Sorry, Mr. Helton, no offense) is that sneaky little right-fielder who just can't seem to find a bad pitch. He sprays the field with balls that even leave the pitchers sratching their noggins. I honestly don't believe there is a better study of the game right now. He understands and recognizes every opportunity that each game encounters, and he responds to these with mob-hit precision. This man will make a hell of a coach someday.
Since it has become finally apparent to the World that yes, baseball players and athletes in general and using performance enhancers to gain an edge, this becomes an amazing paradox, that a 150 lb. foreigner who seems to still have trouble growing facial air can be on top a league full of doped-up beefcakes who can barely clap their hands in front of their chests. I really don't care how far a homerun can go, save that for the All-Star Derby. Show me a guy who will do everything necessary for his team to win. And if you think Ichiro would have his weakness exploited in a longball competition, think again. he can put them out with the best of them, you just better stand real close to the fence if you want to catch one.
It should be obvious that it is too soon to tell if Ichiro can break the .400 mark this year for batting average, but you got to like his chances( He's hitting .531 through spring). So watch out Teddy Baseball, those guys you were trying to kill in WWII, well one of them is back and he wants to join your club. Not where your currently residing mind you...
