Comments on: Mariners GM expects to re-sign impending free agent Ichiro Suzuki despite declining production

By: jon623

jon623 — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 04:12:06 +0000

For the love of all that is good, Seattle, pull your head out of that dark smelly place where the sun doesn’t shine. I am a Mariners fan above all else, and I LOVE Ichiro – my first ever live baseball game was a Mariner’s vs. A’s game at Safeco Field in 2001 the day after my 11th birthday during Ichiro’s first MLB Season, and Safeco Field’s first season as well – but sometimes you have to let things go. Ichiro’s production has been terrible, and is really sad to watch. Seattle baseball has been nothing short of a farm team for the rest of the league for years. I love Ichiro, but more than Ichiro, I love the Mariners and want to see them WIN a little.

By: spudatx

spudatx — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 19:31:59 +0000

Without question the Mariners will re-sign Ichiro.

Don’t forget what sort of money this guy makes the Mariners by wearing that jersey. He is unique. He, like no one else, sells incredibly well in Japan. Sure, Darvish has probably out-sold him in the last year in Japan, but as Ichiro nears 3000 hits and Hall of Fame balloting, Darvish is doubtful continue to be the bigger seller.

The Mariners aren’t focused on making the playoffs in the near future. They’re focused on making money (and maybe building for the future).

By: thehollar

thehollar — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:49:30 +0000

Ichiro. Next easy question, please.

By: marinersnate

marinersnate — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 17:13:01 +0000

“Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik made it very clear that he has no plans to trade the outfielder”

Ichiro has 5/10 rights and would have to approve any trade.

Also, after his last few efforts, I highly question Zduriencik’s ability to make competent trades.

By: hojo20

hojo20 — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:54:18 +0000

Who is more overpaid…..Ichiro or Jeremy Lin?

By: antlerclaws

antlerclaws — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:23:59 +0000

If they could get Yu Darvish to pitch to him every time he’d be fine. For some reason, Ichiro and the Mariners own Darvish.

By: sawxalicious

sawxalicious — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:45:30 +0000

I think Ichiro is huge for Mariners marketing/merchandising, especially in Japan. Even though putting him on the field every day makes absolutely no baseball sense, it probably makes perfect business sense…and MLB is first and foremost a business.

By: APBA Guy

APBA Guy — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:42:49 +0000

The Mariners derive a lot of revenue from the Japanese market, in large part because of Ichiro’s continued popularity there. Since the owner is Japanese, it’s no surprise that Ichiro will be offered a new deal. The terms of the deal are important of course. The Mariners are terrible unless the King is pitching. About 20 of their players are roughly replacement level, and Ichiro is one of them.

By: sdpaulson

sdpaulson — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:19:57 +0000

Well of course Jack will resign him. Jack’s bosses, Lincoln and Armstrong (the two most inept baseball minds ever), will see he does or they’ll fire him. The fact is Seattle, we will NEVER be relevant in baseball untill new ownership fires those two. Till then we will continue to field a triple A development camp…… and I won’t buy a ticket!

By: yahmule

yahmule — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:19:33 +0000

I always hear about how management in baseball is coldhearted and ruthless, but then I see guys like Todd Helton and Ichiro getting rewarded with huge sentiment based contracts.

By: hushbrother

hushbrother — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:05:28 +0000

My God that would be stupid. Haven’t the Mariners learned that having an anemic offense leads to losing lots of games, and that at this point Ichiro does nothing to make an offense un-anemic?

By: shawnuel

shawnuel — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:51:14 +0000

Today, in the local rag, Zduriencik backs off that statement a bit.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2018697164_marinersnotes16.html

By: number42is1

number42is1 — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:49:22 +0000

Otherwise known as Derek Jeter syndrome.