Congrats to Ichiro 1000!

Congrats! Hopefully he can get out of his current funk now that this huge monkey is off his back.

ESPN's Jim Caple makes an interesting point about Ichiro's and other Japanese players' Cooperstown potential and how NPB stats should be weighed. [ESPN News]

I pretty much agree with his opinion. And some American writers have to stop being hypocritical where they don't vote for Japanese players for Rookie of the Year (Iguchi will likely have a tough time getting the honour even with a decent performance) because they've played professionally in Japan. But at the same time, they can't ignore Japanese stats completely for Cooperstown (can't be 1:1 weight with MLB stats, but NPB is definitely a higher level than AAA). Can't have it both ways.

Here's an interesting discussion on USS Mariner about the topic.

I would like to start out by congratulating Ichiro for reaching 1,000 hits in the majors. It's truly an great accomplishment. With the retirement of Cal Ripken, Ichiro has became my current favorite player along with Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada.

I wish people like Joe Morgan could stop being hypocrites about Ichiro and just accept a record when they see one, and be proud that they saw it.

About Japanese players and the HOF, we should truly consider the numbers of their career in the NPB, as the reserve clause prevented many from actually playing in the majors, and the ones that do play, start at a older age.

With this said, sportwriters can't have it both ways, if they're not going to vote Japanese players ROY, then they should recognize the achievements of their NPB career. Also, their NPB stats should factor in on their HOF candidacy.

With the Hanshin Tigers defeat of the New York Yankees last year (11-7) and their tie to Tampa Bay (7-7) it's time for people to recognize that the NPB is definetly higher than a AAA league, one that is even with the Majors. Because if the quality of baseball was so low in Japan, then Hanshin would not have beaten the Yankees nor tied the Devil Rays. Ichiro wouldn't have broken the MLB single-season hit record (and the NPB single-season hit record) if the quality of baseball was so low. Also, so many foreign players wouldn't be released or succeed if the level of baseball is so low in Japan.

Do you think that Ichiro has peaked yet? His numbers this year would be stellar for any other player, but who knows whether he's just in a slump or if the best days are behind him?

- Do you think that Ichiro has peaked yet? His numbers this year would be stellar for any other player, but who knows whether he's just in a slump or if the best days are behind him?

I think the 1,000 hit mark was bothering Ichiro of late as he had been dealing with it lately. With this said, I don't think Ichiro has peaked yet.

Interesting question.

If he were any normal athlete, then yes, as athletic peak in most active sports is usually around the age 27. But he's the exception to the rule on many issues, so I can see him peaking later. But then again, he does rely on speed, and that definitely declines with age.

Interesting blog article posted on this subject [Link]. It touches on some of the same points raised here, but includes some new ones I found interesting.

- With the Hanshin Tigers defeat of the New York Yankees last year (11-7) and their tie to Tampa Bay (7-7) it's time for people to recognize that the NPB is definetly higher than a AAA league, one that is even with the Majors. Because if the quality of baseball was so low in Japan, then Hanshin would not have beaten the Yankees nor tied the Devil Rays.

While I agree with you that the level of play in Japanese baseball is much higher than AA or even AAA, certainly higher than most Americans fans and sports "experts" are willing to give them credit for, I think this particular argument is a pretty weak one to be using as proof. If these were meaningful games, I'd say you have a good point. But these were both pre-season games and the Yankess removed their starters around the half-way point of the game with Hanshin (and were going to do so regardless of the score) while the Tigers left theirs in. Also, New York didn't use a single one of their regular pitchers in this game, instead going with a number of minor leaguers that were with the team for pre-season looks.

For me, the individual successes of Ichiro, Sasaki, Nomo, Hideki Matsui, etc. are much better examples of how good Japanese ball really is.

- For me, the individual successes of Ichiro, Sasaki, Nomo, Hideki Matsui, etc. are much better examples of how good Japanese ball really is.

Yes I agree, the successes of Ichiro, H.Matsui, Nomo, Sasaki, Iguchi, and many others are a better example of how good Japanese ball is. The overall successes of Japanese players in the majors is a better assessment of the level of Japanese baseball. Also, a better assessment would be the number of former major leaguers that go to Japan and that are released because of the high level of competition in Japan (ex. Gabe Kapler).

Though the fact the Hanshin Tigers defeated the Yankees (who many of their subs could be starters on other teams) and tied Tampa Bay (who kept most of their starters in), it is truly an accomplishment. Definetly it's an accomplishment when the Yankees are the so-called "26 time MLB World Champions."

I also agree that the pitchers the Yankees pitched against Hanshin are truly below average (hey Osborne was way below average, and hasn't done anything since the 1990s), though the lineup the Yankees had at the plate were still mostly major-league caliber players, including their bench.

- But these were both pre-season games and the Yankess removed their starters around the half-way point of the game with Hanshin (and were going to do so regardless of the score) while the Tigers left theirs in. ...

And yet, if the Tigers had lost both games, many people would have regarded that as proof that Japanese baseball wasn't up to par.

I agree that it didn't prove anything, but you know, in their entire history, the Hanshin Tigers have only had one opportunity to play the Yankees, and they came away with a win. It's not the Tigers' fault that the Yankees didn't take them more seriously. Hanshin retains the bragging rights.

Maybe there should be a rematch, but this time, use Japanese baseballs and see how the Yankee pitchers handle these. (They used major league balls in the 2004 exhibition game, which are a different size.)

Boy, but was that ever a confusing game with both teams wearing home pinstripes!

- Boy, but was that ever a confusing game with both teams wearing home pinstripes!

And even more confusing when you consider that it was a road game for both teams.