マリナーズのイチローの活躍が野球の試合そのものを面白くしている。投げて良し、打って良し、走って良しと三拍子揃った選手にはちょっとやそっとではお目にかかれない。そのため年棒がヤンキーズの松井よりかなり低いのは気になる。
2003 Salary Ichiro: $4,697,000/Matsui: $6,000,000
＊＊＊＊＊＊
ESPN2: SEA@OAK Sep20Sun., 4:05 PM ET
By Tony Gwynn
Special to ESPN Insider
When August began, Ichiro Suzuki was leading the American League in hitting, but now he isn't even in the top 10. He was a leading candidate for the MVP, but not anymore.
In August, Ichiro batted .242, and his slump has deepened in September, when he's hit .212. Not surprisingly, Ichiro's troubles at the plate have corresponded with the troubles of the Seattle Mariners in the standings. Seattle once had a comfortable lead in the AL West, but that lead evaporated long ago. The Mariners now find themselves looking up at both the torrid Oakland Athletics (in the division) and the Boston Red Sox (in the wild-card race).
Ichiro makes the Mariners go. When he struggles, it's far more difficult for other guys in the lineup -- like Bret Boone, John Olerud and Edgar Martinez -- to produce. When Ichiro gets on base from his leadoff spot, he disrupts the opponent's focus with his speed on the basepaths. When he doesn't get on base, well ... you can see the results.
