Drayer: Ichiro’s future the focus during Mariners’ first day in Tokyo
Mar 16, 2019, 10:24 AM
TOKYO – The Mariners’ first day in Japan is in the books, and in those initial 24 hours the team got a good taste of the excitement to come in the four games that will be played here over in the next five days.
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From the arrival at Haneda Airport Friday evening, it has been clear that this has been an eagerly anticipated event. A huge contingent of media and fans lined the roped-off path from customs to the team buses, and fans camped outside the team hotel with baseballs, cards and placards in hand to be signed by both Mariners and A’s players as they ventured out into the Asakusa area and beyond.
And there is no question who the star of the show here is: Ichiro.
At a press conference at the Tokyo Dome Hotel prior the Mariners’ first workout, Ichiro and Yusei Kikuchi joined manager Scott Servais at the podium and took questions from the assembled media – which included at least 30 photographers, 10 television cameras and 50 members of the written press. The vast majority of the questions were for Ichiro, whose answers seemed to reflect some thoughts he felt important to get across regardless of the actual question.
When asked by the press conference host, “Mr. Ichiro, you are going to play in the Opening Series in Japan. How do you feel about that?” he stated that it be best to not read too far into his 2-for-22 performance this spring.
“Last spring I wasn’t playing actively, I didn’t have satisfactory results,” Ichiro said through an interpreter. “However, based on my past experiences after 2004, the year after my 262 hits, I had a hit at every game (in spring training) but during that season I struggled a lot. On the other hand I had 27 at-bats with no hits in spring training the season I achieved 200 hits. I learned from those experiences you can never predict what will happen based on spring training.”
While Ichiro will be on the expanded 28-man roster for the series in Japan, it is hard to see a fit for him on the team once it gets back to the required 25 men prior to the home opener. Servais and general manager Jerry Dipoto have been asked numerous times what the plan is for Ichiro past Tokyo, and it has been a question they will not answer. The question was asked again at the press conference, Servais saying they would take it day-to-day, and Ichiro himself bristling a bit when asked how he would know when it was time to hang it up.
“I have no idea when I would know that, I am not used to questions like this,” he said before expressing great appreciation for getting to play once again in front of the fans in Japan.
“I am back in Japan, my favorite place, and I have a opportunity to play here,” added Ichiro. “I will renew my resolve, refresh myself and I am going to put my utmost into my play.”
As for his current status with the Mariners?
“In 2012 I was traded to New York. After that I lived day-to-day to my utmost. Day after day I trained. The Major Leagues is a very tough world. You can be told at any time you are gone. That is my basic understanding, but I am still here.”
Notes
•Following the press conference, the Mariners held a workout on the field in preparation for the two exhibition games this weekend. On-field guests included a number of youth baseball teams who were treated to a question and answer session with Ken Griffey Jr. and the Mariners Moose. Junior of course did all of the talking.
• New turf was installed at the Tokyo Dome last week. The verdict? “The turf is very slow,” said Servais. “It is the slowest I have been on. Both teams have to play on it, we will be fine. That’s why we did a lot of infield work today. It is different.”
• Right-handers Mike Leake and Felix Hernandez will pitch the exhibition games against the Yomiuri Giants this weekend. Both will be on pitch counts of 80-85 or five innings, whichever comes first.
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