2011: Simply An Off Year For Ichiro Or the start of his Career's Decline?

[philliesfiend55]

I know it's hard to say that having an 184 hit-season is an off year for a player, but how many of your think that this will be a "bounce back " year where Ichiro returns to his form of his first 10 MLB sasons, and how many think that due to aging, 2011 represented a turning point in his career and that Ichiro will continue to decline in 2012?

[rsuriyop]

I believe that 2012 will actually turn out to be a bounce back year for Ichiro seeing as how he was clearly upset as to how he performed last year. Not much of a bounce back, but an improvement nonetheless. But, after this season's over I do think that he will begin to naturally decline afterwards.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I simply say this: let 2012 pan out before we start making any judgements. For all we know, he could return to a "normal" .300 batting average this season.

[brett]

Was there any acute physical issue related to his drop off? His fielding metrics fell off a cliff last year.

[Imgran]

Beginning of the end. Not that I love the idea, but come on, he's a 38 year old who lives on speed, it's not before time.

[brett]

Not only is his hitting "better" but his defensive range factor has recovered this year. I am sure he had a specific physical issue last year.

[Bigfoot 88]

Ichiro is on pace for over 200 hits again this year.

[Rich the Giants fan]

At his age, it's not hard to believe that last year wasn't a complete abberation, but I'm not ready to stick a fork in him either. Of course, he's one of my all-time favs so it's hard not to be a bit biased as well. I certainly hope he's going to have another 200 hit season this year. I'd also like to see him tie and/or break the record for most career hit streaks of 20-games or more. He is currently one off the record of 8, held by Pete Rose, Ty Cobb and Wee Willie Keeler.

[Joltin' Joe]

I think he was unlucky last year seeing how low his BABIP was compared to prior years. Thus I believe he will bounce back to his patented .300+/200+ year.

[bluesky5]

Who is the last three hitter on the short side of 20 HR's? Someone in the 80's, I assume.

[dominik]

Who is the last three hitter on the short side of 20 HR's? Someone in the 80's, I assume.

who was seattles 3 hitter in the last 3 seasons. I guess they are all in that range.

[Rich the Giants fan]

who was seattles 3 hitter in the last 3 seasons. I guess they are all in that range.

Dustin Ackley hit 3rd most often (71 gms) and ended up with 6 HR. Justin Smoak (35 gms) had 15, but only 7 from the 3-hole. Altogether Seattle's 3-hole hitters in 2011 clubbed 16 home runs.

[Rich the Giants fan]

Dustin Ackley hit 3rd most often (71 gms) and ended up with 6 HR. Justin Smoak (35 gms) had 15, but only 7 from the 3-hole. Altogether Seattle's 3-hole hitters in 2011 clubbed 16 home runs.

The clean-up hitters also managed just 16 while the 5th and 6th hitters in the M's lineups belted a whopping 18.

[Joltin' Joe]

Who is the last three hitter on the short side of 20 HR's? Someone in the 80's, I assume.

Excluding players that played on bad teams and only thinking of top contending teams, the last one I can think of is Paul O'Neil in 2000 with 18 dongs.

[bluesky5]

Excluding players that played on bad teams and only thinking of top contending teams, the last one I can think of is Paul O'Neil in 2000 with 18 dongs.

I was thinking along those lines.