Ichiro's comments on his fake flip at Yankee Stadium
by Sumio on Jul 5, 2009 2:11 AM PDT
63 comments
Hello all. I've been following LL since the start of this season, and for the first time I thought I came across something that might be worth contributing, so I thought I'd give a FanPost a shot. I live in Japan, but am a fan of the Mariners, and so I get something of a different angle than most of you get on their play. I came across these comments from Ichiro regarding his fake flip of the ball to the fans at Yankee Stadium in the Japanese sports news, and from what I can tell, he hasn't made the same comments to any American reporters, so I thought I'd translate them and share them in case anyone else is interested in getting another little insight into Ichiro's head.
When asked why he did it, Ichiro replied, "Well, it just seemed like the fans here [at the new Yankee Stadium] have become too well-behaved, so I figured I should do something to get them going. If you don't provoke them like that, they don't seem to get on your back much." He was, of course, booed for the act, but when he led off the next inning, he was expecting to be booed again, but was surprised to receive a less than hostile reception. "It was pretty disappointing," he said, "I wanted them to boo me." The tone of the whole article suggested that Ichiro felt that the fans at the new Yankee Stadium had become too "precious" and weren't the rude, heckling fans he'd come to expect in New York.
Ichiro also commented on the new stadium, saying how disappointing it was for him as a right-fielder. "With a field this small, you have no leeway to alter your positioning. It's a little boring, frankly, because you have no choice but to field in the same position for each batter. With the fence that close, anything over your head is a home run. So it becomes difficult in right field in this ballpark to use the knowledge you have about the batters, or any gut-feeling you might have, to your advantage." I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that the Yankees would be happy to pump up the home-run numbers as well as take away the element of outfield defense.
Sorry if these comments are common knowledge. I found them kind of interesting, so I just thought I'd share.
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If when you say weird, you mean fucking hilarious.
2009 Safeco Field Record: 4-0 ; Overall Safeco Field Record: 8-4
by Fin on Jul 5, 2009 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is really, really awesome.
...and now I'm here
by Librocrat on Jul 5, 2009 2:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
"It's a little boring..."
And completely stupid as a major league ballpark.
WELCOME TO THE ZONE.
by HHZ on Jul 5, 2009 2:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That is hilarious
I wonder what else he has said to Japanese reporters that we don’t know about here in the US…
by MYhopeMETERisPEGGED on Jul 5, 2009 6:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It strikes me that the whole avenue of the Japenese reporters goes untapped in our reporting. Our beat writers seem to mention them often in passing, but never give us an insight into them or their reporting.
I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.
by EnglishMariner on Jul 5, 2009 6:36 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
It might be the language barrier that causes this. You're right it is a shame that we don't
get some of the great stories like this fanpost. He didn’t say that to either Drayer or Mentick.
by Sinking Away on Jul 5, 2009 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was at the game
and it was pretty funny, but he is right. Whether it was mostly older fans, or just people getting more relaxed, there was really no booing. They booed Ichiro a couple times and that was it. I was wearing my Felix jersey and didn’t get a single comment.
by Z0827 on Jul 5, 2009 7:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ridiculous!
I got heckled everytime I went to get food/take a piss at Dodger stadium and I just wore a Mariners cap.
WELCOME TO THE ZONE.
by HHZ on Jul 6, 2009 12:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I used to get it
real bad when the Mariners were making the playoffs consistently. Now it’s like no one cares. Boston fans get a little ridiculous.
by Z0827 on Jul 7, 2009 6:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He said some of the same tohughts to Shannon Drayer
“Speaking of fun…I spoke briefly with Ichiro in the dugout during batting practice and asked about his Yankee Stadium fake out.
“After the error,” he told me with a smile. “The crowd was cheering and yelling, Hey Ichiro, you suck! Then more cheering. So after the third out I (mimicked fake out) and there was BOOOOOOO! I like that.”"
by msb on Jul 5, 2009 10:22 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Perhaps the fans who used to boo him can't afford to go to the games anymore.
by Teej on Jul 5, 2009 1:47 PM PDT reply actions 9 recs
I really like this.
The perspective of ichiro from his Japanese fan’s perspective is interesting. Anything like this that you would like to post in the future is welcome.
Thug Life
by Slow Country on Jul 5, 2009 4:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm glad to see you enjoyed this.
If I find any more insights from the Japanese side of the pond, I’ll be sure to post again. The story I got this from is part of a series in which the journalist accompanied the Mariners on this recently completed road trip, posting a short article every day. The reporter also noted that he’s never seen Ichiro this relaxed in a Mariners uniform. Amazing what a bit of tickling does.
by Sumio on Jul 5, 2009 9:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The soul of baseball is dying
The same thing is happening in boxing. The old-timers are passing and with them the spirit and culture of the sport. No one is coming up to take their place. Baseball is becoming a more passive sport to follow, the average fan doesn’t have the same fire that fans used to have.
One of the things I loved about baseball growing up was the culture of it. Heckling was a rite of passage playing and watching baseball, and we idolized guys like Griffey and Johnson. We loved eating peanuts and sitting in the nosebleeds, and heckling the Yankees. Now it seems you get a lot of 20-something professionals who take on baseball as a hobby. Baseball culture was such a huge part of American culture, and in my opinion a highly attractive aspect of it. It’s a shame to see it diluted. Ichiro clearly appreciated that aspect of the game.
by spittle8 on Jul 5, 2009 11:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't really think that's true.
Are we the twenty-something professionals you’re referring to? Because I’m pretty sure as a whole this group of twenty-somethings heckles in ways that would make the old-timers blush. Just because we apply a little more reason and logic to the sport than people did in the past doesn’t mean we don’t have the same emotional investment in the game as people used to.
From my experiences at ballgames, it’s the middle aged, affluent, baby-boomers bringing their kids to the park who tend to tell you to sit down and shut up, to try make the game more tame and reserved (for their kids, most likely). Of course that’s a generalization and it’s certainly not a fair one to every person in that situation because I’m sure there are many notable exceptions, but I think it’s more accurate than saying that kids these days just don’t get into the game like they used to.
by OlSalty on Jul 6, 2009 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think I have to agree with you on this.
I do get frustrated about how placid the crowd can be sometimes, but I think you are more spot on about which demographics tend to be the party poopers.
2009 Safeco Field Record: 4-0 ; Overall Safeco Field Record: 8-4
by Fin on Jul 6, 2009 12:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ken Burns? That you?
Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.
by pdb on Jul 6, 2009 6:48 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
Clearly 20 something professionals should be hunting human prey with a battle rifle in hand while laying down the law on the mean streets of Detroit
by Graham on Jul 6, 2009 7:18 AM PDT up reply actions 13 recs
Kids these days amirite
Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.
by pdb on Jul 6, 2009 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
From you constantly being bellicose and nobody here liking you because of it.
by Matthew on Jul 6, 2009 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
Well obviously
Where did the human prey thing come from?
by spittle8 on Jul 7, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You don't know anything about real life man
Don’t judge him, he’s been through a lot of shit and has a real high IQ.
by Graham on Jul 8, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
People used to wear suits to the games, so while I appreciate the frustration with placid baseball crowds
I’m not totally convinced it is a new trend.
by Sec 108 on Jul 6, 2009 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"One of the things I loved about baseball growing up was the culture of it."
Aren’t you 19? How much has changed since you were a kid?
by Teej on Jul 6, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And how many times did your 9-year-old self sit at a ball game and heckle the Yankees?
Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.
by pdb on Jul 6, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A lot
It was a completely different atmosphere when I was a child.
by spittle8 on Jul 6, 2009 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you're 19 you're still a child
Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.
by pdb on Jul 6, 2009 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you're being a bit dramatic and overly pretend-nostalgic.
Things are always a little more awesome when you’re 8 years old.
by Teej on Jul 6, 2009 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know I was a better heckler at age 8.
by NOLAmarinergirl on Jul 7, 2009 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember when I was 8.
There was no war, everyone had millions of dollars, cancer didn’t exist . . . the good old days.
by Teej on Jul 7, 2009 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Mr. Rogers was still wearing cardigans
by abender20 on Jul 7, 2009 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And breathing
Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.
by pdb on Jul 7, 2009 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
I think I did my best heckling around that age
Me: “Hey Russ!”
Me: “RUSS DAVIS HEY!”
Me: “Russ…..Russ…..Hey Russ”
Russ Davis Looks Up
Me: “PAY ATTENTION TO THE GAME YOU HAVE ENOUGH TROUBLE CATCHING THE BALL ALREADY”
by OlSalty on Jul 7, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 14 recs
How the fuck were you heckling players from the nosebleeds?
did they give you access to the PA system or something?
by seattlebruin on Jul 6, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Easy there killer
Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.
by pdb on Jul 7, 2009 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ichiro toss clip
I can’t find a video of Ichiro doing the fake toss to the yankee fans. Anyone have a video of that somewhere?
by fortyniners on Jul 6, 2009 9:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This obviously needs to be sidebarred.
2009 Safeco Field Record: 4-0 ; Overall Safeco Field Record: 8-4
by Fin on Jul 7, 2009 2:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was at this game
I sat in the RF Bleachers… from my seats there was plenty of fan heckling and offensive things being shouted (such as every type of sushi one guy could think of)
I think the issue with the new Yankee Stadium is more the setup. Box seats now cover the OF wall, with the bleachers being a section behind the box seats. The Bleacher Creatures are usually you’re hecklers, and after Ichiro dropped the ball that inning, they were definitely letting him hear it… chants of “Ichiro dropped the ball” amongst others.
It probably has to do with the more assholeish fans being located further away from the field… less intimidating without the proximity.
Formerly Mariners124M... Username was sorta bland, so I'm changin it up
by BQueezy on Jul 7, 2009 2:13 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
You sure that guy shouting names of sushi wasn't just a sushi vendor?
I do hear it’s pretty swanky there, after all.
by FlaskInSafeco on Jul 9, 2009 7:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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