[外電] Ichiro still looking for a hit
春訓期間一朗的狀況不太好
不過他本人還是很開得開
畢竟才剛開始嘛~~
Ichiro still looking for a hit
TUCSON, Ariz. — The nightmare continues.
OK, not a nightmare. More like a curiosity, eliciting
increasing levels of incredulity.
Ichiro hitless? It's like Paris Hilton going dateless,
Jon Stewart going quipless, Eliot Spitzer going escortless.
How does the greatest bat artist of our generation, a man
who could, as the old saying goes, hop out of bed on Christmas
morning and hit a line-drive single, go 21 at-bats, and counting,
without his first base knock of the new year?
How can the major-league record-holder for hits in a season (262),
the only man in history to start his career with seven straight
200-hit seasons, a nine-time batting champion in Japan and the U.S.,
be 0-for-March?
Because it's spring training, of course. Because things like this
happen in baseball. And because ... he likes the tension that's
being created?
Ichiro on his smash in the ninth that completed another 0-for-4
day on Tuesday: "Part of me said, 'Go through so it can be a hit,'
but another part of me said, 'Make this out so the streak can continue.' "
You see, his theory, and he's sticking to it, is that working through
the stress and negativity can only be beneficial. It's a new experience
for a guy who, in his seven major-league seasons, has put up spring
averages of .321, .347, .382, .429, .437, .476 and .322. Notice a trend?
"To tell you the truth, some of this is kind of fun," Ichiro said,
speaking through translator Ken Barron. "To be in a situation this
early in spring training, and have this bit of an intense environment,
it's something I couldn't experience before.
"Basically, it's a situation where I need to battle within myself mentally.
That's something I haven't experienced this time of year, and I get
to experience that right now. That is something that is great for me."
So rejoice, Mariners fans. Ichiro, as usual, is in full control of the
situation. The more outs, the merrier. All hail the weak grounder!
Power to the pop fly!
"Once I get a hit, it might actually make me sad this experience
isn't going to be there anymore," he said. "At the same time,
I understand I need results."
Joe DiMaggio once famously said he played all-out every minute of
every game, whether spring training or the dog days of September,
"because someone might be seeing me play for the first time."
And Ichiro said he cares about his spring results only in the
context of fans' expectations.
"There are people who pay money to see me play here," he said.
"Because of that, I can't say I'm going to play just for my feelings."
His feelings, despite the 0-fer, are clearly unperturbed.
Before the game, Ichiro signed autographs near the visiting
dugout, reaching through a crack in a fence door to take
baseballs, programs, whatever. Barron stood nearby as
Ichiro smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the fans.
And after the game, he was still relaxed and smiling as he
answered questions from the large media assemblage.
"I don't understand," he said, "what I need to be worried about."
Nothing, of course. The whole thing is meaningless, yet mind-
boggling. Trivial, yet tantalizing. And Ichiro is taking the
absolute perfect approach.
"I'm very thankful that people, when I'm not hitting, care so
much about this," he said. "It's something that makes me very
grateful."
So, faithful Mariners fan, don't stress because Ichiro has the
same number of hits this spring as Billy Crystal, the 59-year-old
comedian signed to a one-day contract by the Yankees.
Don't fret because he has the same number of hits as Barry Bonds,
who still hasn't found a team to play for.
Don't waste a second of angst over the fact Ichiro has one less
hit than Brent Johnson, a Mariners farmhand who banged out a
single in a cameo appearance in a lone Cactus League game.
While pitchers like Erik Bedard endure the dead-arm stage of
spring training, Ichiro is experiencing the dead-bat stage.
It, too, shall pass.
Let there be no panic in the streets of Seattle. Knowledgeable
fans understand that this odd stretch will be viewed as a
mere aberration when Ichiro puts up his usual .300-plus
batting average.
This point of view was articulated Tuesday by Mariners manager
John McLaren, who after Ichiro's hitless game against the Rockies
said: "Put him down for the batting title. Put my name over it,
please."
There's not even panic in the streets of Tokyo, though one Japanese
reporter covering Ichiro said the hitless stretch is garnering
considerable attention in his homeland.
For the record, Ichiro's last hit came Sept. 30, in the Mariners'
final game of the 2007 season against the Texas Rangers. It was
an infield single to first base off the legendary A.J. Murray in
the second inning.
Ichiro was asked, finally, when he would stop viewing his absence
of hits as a beneficial growth experience.
"I don't really have a timeline," he replied. "I guess if Mac sees
what's happening, and he starts panicking, that's the moment
it's going to be a problem.
"So more than a concern for me, it's a concern for others."
Please, let that end right now.
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