A Riddle Wrapped in a Mystery Inside an Enigma

Ichiro Suzuki is certainly the embodiment of Churchill's "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma", at least to the Occidental fans of his game.

He has recently been criticized by some in the Seattle area, labeling him as selfish and "not a team player," and calling for his trade to another team "while his trade value is still high."
As he appears above, he is often quiet and brooding. He rarely speaks English anywhere that anyone but his peers can hear him (even though we all know that he speaks English, and Spanish, much better than he lets on). He embodies the qualities that many see as the traditional Japanese work ethic--total dedication to his craft, intense preparation on a daily basis, and a burning desire to excel and meet his own stringent goals for each season.
As he considers his duty, he returned to Japan in the offseason to report on affairs in Seattle to Hiroshi Yamauchi, who was the majority owner of the team through Nintendo Japan until he sold his shares to Nintendo America, but who remains active in team affairs. He also spoke with local Mariners management, informing them of some areas where he felt the team could improve. It is these meetings that have brought about the label of selfishness.

He has also been criticized by some for his failure to be an outspoken team leader, either in the dugout or in the clubhouse, during the recent three years of declining team performance. Critics point to the fact that he was very verbal and demonstrative during the recent World Baseball Classic, encouraging his teammates and pushing them to the performance that eventually led to Team Japan's winning the inaugural WBC; but has not carried those characteristics over to a 2006 Mariners team that is badly in need of leadership in the clubhouse.

Since arriving to join the Mariners during the 2001 season, Ichiro's accomplishments are the stuff of which legends are made. In 2004, he set the single season hits record at 262, breaking an 84 year old record held by George Sisler. He has 200 hits in all five of his MLB seasons. He has won five gold gloves. He has played in the All-Star game all five of his MLB seasons (although not as a starter in 2005). As of the end of the 2005 season, Ichiro had a .332 average with 52 HR's and 310 RBI and 1,130 hits in the majors. It has been suggested that, if his Japanese statistics are added to his US statistics at the end of his major league career, he is a candidate for admission to the Baseball Hall of Fame. All of this with his somewhat unorthodox ritual of stretching before each bat, and extending his bat like the traditional katana, or Samurai sword, before touching his sleeve and then slipping into his batting stance.
He has been typically close mouthed about what baseball goals he has set for this season, preferring not to mention them in public, rather just to pursue them single-mindedly until he reaches them.

As anyone who has watched him play up close and personal can testify, Ichiro is possessed of skills that are often nothing short of amazing, and mesmerizing. A perfect example of this was his catch in deep right field Friday night of a fly ball hit by Marcus Giles and immediately unleashing a laser beam throw to home plate, in an effort to throw Josh Barfield out. His throw, and countryman and teammate Kenji Johjima's catch and successful tag at the plate for the out, despite being hit by the speeding freight train that was Barfield, were simply spectacular. (Unlike Ichiro, however, Johjima is rather more ebullient and a totally different type of hitter--having evidenced quite a bit of power already this season).

I, personally, do not think that any talks for a trade of Ichiro to another team should be entertained at this time, unless he himself requests them. And this is something he is not likely to do before the time his contract runs out next year, for the sake of honor and duty. The riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma belongs right where he is, roaming Area 51 in Safeco Field for the Seattle Mariners. (And playing a murderer in a Japanese television show during the offseason, as he did this past year, if that is what he wants to do..........)

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