Quote:
Originally Posted by FatJack
There's an absolutely brilliant (imho) piece about Ichiro over at espn.com. Written by Wright Thompson. Check it out, if you're interested.
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Browsed the article you referred to.
I don't think Ichiro will make it to age 50 in the majors - and that comes from one of his biggest fans. Playing MLB through next year when he will be age 45 seems like a much more attainable goal.. After that he can continue playing in Japan, where Japanese teams and fans probably would like to see him play until he is 60.
He set some pinch hitting records last year:
109 games used as a Pinch Hitter and 109 Pinch Hitter Plate appearances (both new records).
100 Pinch Hitting At Bats. (New Record).
27 Pinch Hits. (Just missed the record - fell one pinch hit shy of John Vander Wal's record of 28 pinch hits in a Season (1995) - quite remarkable that Vander Wal accomplished this in a 144 games season that had been shortened by a strike)..
He hit .270 as a Pinch Hitter, hit .255 overall, as well as getting into 136 of the Marlins' games last year (84% of the team's scheduled games)..
Not at all bad stats for a 43-year-old.