Ichiro to bat 3rd this year...

[SydBarrett]

With Chone Figgins batting leadoff. :?

 

[SamHell]

Is this the year that he hits 20+ HR's that a lot of people say he is capable of or the fall off of a great career?
I think he is just about done and the team is desperate.

 

[mredsox89]

Always good to give more AB's to the guy who hit .188 and take AB's away from the guy who is probably the best hitter on the team, even if he's not near what he was at his peak

 

[Hallsgator]

I mean why not have a guy that had a .241 OBP lead-off. What could go wrong.

 

[wasabicracker]

I believe in what they are doing. Figgy will bounce back

 

[DeliciousBacon]

There must be someone really good that Seattle wants to take with the top draft pick next year.

 

[Ghumbs]

I've been following this rumor for a little while now and honestly having Figgins leading off is the least of my worries. I can't imagine Ichiro's hitting style to be complementary anywhere else in the lineup. It's the recipe for a hell of a lot of fielder's choices if you ask me. I haven't liked him batting first for years now because he mostly hits singles (often infield ) but doesn't steal like he should. But that said, I think he's cancer anywhere else in the lineup. Put men on base and you get fielder's choices and double play balls.

 

[PadresFan86]

Ummm, didn't he steal 40 last year?

 

[Ghumbs]

You're right. Nevertheless, the bulk of my statement deals with his "hits" which are basically groundouts he outruns. I hope I'm wrong, but when you bat 3rd, that won't be good for advancing runners.

 

[joey12508]

i think it all depends on who bats 4 th. maybe jesus, could be a good thing jmo.