Ichiro or Godzilla, which Japanese player is Better?

Journeyman · Apr 5, 2005

I would imagine most would say Ichiro Suzuki is the greatest Japanese player without thinking to hard about it.....

Not a great defensive player Matsui is wearing out AL pitchers with his bat and getting better!

If you had to take one which would it be?

blueedwards · Apr 5, 2005

no question...ichiro.

he goes 2 for 5 every day. can steal bases...has a cannon for an arm.

sherman · Apr 5, 2005

Godzilla is solid!

He was my long shot prediction for AL MVP this year.....good start.....

A friend and I each pick one person each year for MVP and one long shot...

I picked AROD for MVP and Godzilla as my long shot choice.....

sherman · Apr 5, 2005

blue edwards said:
no question...ichiro.

he goes 2 for 5 every day. can steal bases...has a cannon for an arm.

2 for 5 everday = .400 my friend....but i do know your point....

aceduecetrey · Apr 5, 2005

I would take Ichiro also, but Matsui is doing much better than I thought he would do.

Journeyman · Apr 5, 2005

Godzilla is making a case for himself, I would still have to take Ichiro because he does it all....

As a run producer RBI and Runs Scored, Matsui in two years has produced 405 runs

As a run producer RBI and Runs Scored, Ichiro if four years has produced 790 runs

aceduecetrey · Apr 5, 2005

sherman said:
2 for 5 everday = .400 my friend....but i do know your point....

Sherman- He was not that far off last year from .400 and alot of posters here think he has a legit shot at it this year. I for one dont, but many do.

Journeyman · Apr 5, 2005

He wants no part of either of the Asian Imports :icon_conf

blueedwards · Apr 5, 2005

aceduecetrey said:
Sherman- He was not that far off last year from .400 and alot of posters here think he has a legit shot at it this year. I for one dont, but many do.

.400 may be a stretch but .380 is not. he's rod carew with a cannon for an arm. no one on tv talks about the importance of a right fielders arm but it can change a game. the major league scouts know how important it is. just about every team would kill to have ichiro.

Journeyman · Apr 5, 2005

I would set the over under on Ichiro's BA this year at .370 ...he has a shot, no doubt...anyone that can turn routine grounders to short into base hits like he only can, has to be considered.

blueedwards · Apr 5, 2005

Journeyman said:
I would set the over under on Ichiro's BA this year at .370 ...he has a shot, no doubt...anyone that can turn routine grounders to short into base hits like he only can, has to be considered.

the thing that would prevent him from hitting .400 is that he won't take a walk. he swings at too many pitches and gets himself out too often.

look at the guys who did it in the past...they all walked a lot. even the guys who most recently put an assault on the magic number had great eyes...boggs, brett, even bonds.

blueedwards · Apr 5, 2005

Journeyman said:
Godzilla is making a case for himself, I would still have to take Ichiro because he does it all....

As a run producer RBI and Runs Scored, Matsui in two years has produced 405 runs

As a run producer RBI and Runs Scored, Ichiro if four years has produced 790 runs

you have to subtract homeruns to get a true count on the run production. if you don't, you are double counting.

pokerpills · Apr 5, 2005

Without any doubt, hands down, ICHIRO. Matsui is a very good player with a chance for a great year but Ichiro is about to become THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND.

Ego74 · Apr 5, 2005

Ichiro definately. He's already broken a record that stood for like 80 years.

Journeyman · Apr 5, 2005

I agree Ichiro is the man...Matsui is no slouch though..

Ichiro is "Clemente like' though...a player for the ages.

SteveMcGarrett · Apr 5, 2005

2 years ago in my fantasy league people laughed when i drafted Ichiro early. Same thing last year. This year they beat me to him and the guy who got him wont even think about trading him. The guy also has Matsui but hes a Yankee fan. But even he says ichiro is better.

BTW, he's the only player with his first name on the back of his jersey.

blueedwards · Apr 5, 2005

Steve McGarrett said:
2 years ago in my fantasy league people laughed when i drafted Ichiro early. Same thing last year. This year they beat me to him and the guy who got him wont even think about trading him. The guy also has Matsui but hes a Yankee fan. But even he says ichiro is better.

BTW, he's the only player with his first name on the back of his jersey.

remember vida?

pokerpills · Apr 5, 2005

Ichiro is bat wizard. He makes the game so much more exciting either by hitting the ball or running down the line. He is also a valuable commodity to MLB. Baseball in America was never a prime sport for Japanese or Asian people in general to watch. Ever since Ichiro, you see more Asian fans at baseball games. And the kids absolutely love him. I'm an Astros fan and I remember attending in Interleague game once between the Stros and Mariners in Houston and before the game, everyone rushed to the corner of where Ichiro was to get an autograph. It was a straight up mob as if trying to get an autograph at the Academy Awards. Kids of all races was just mobbing him for an autograph and he was the visiting team. He looks young and hip, and maybe that's why all the kids love him. I don't think Matsui can command that much attention outside of Yankee stadium(besides Japan of course). Ichiro is like an icon everywhere across the nation.

SteveMcGarrett · Apr 5, 2005

Hey Blue,

Did Vida Blue wear Vida on his back? Dont remember that. But this could be interesting. How many other players actually did wear their first name instead of their last on their jersey? Cool.
:suomi:

blueedwards · Apr 5, 2005

Steve McGarrett said:
Hey Blue,

Did Vida Blue wear Vida on his back? Dont remember that. But this could be interesting. How many other players actually did wear their first name instead of their last on their jersey? Cool.

the only ones i know are ichiro, vida and yao.

i bet if sting was an athlete instead of a singer, he'd be another one.