Word: ichiro
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...spring training various scouts, coaches, managers and players took one look at Ichiro's 1.75-m, 73-kg frame and his open stance, and thought the same thing: inside heat. But Ichiro, a quick-wristed, fast-out-of-the-box slap hitter with excellent bat control, will not be bullied. In a recent Mariners' victory against the defending champion Yankees, ace right-hander Roger Clemens threw a wicked 150 km/h splitter that broke near Ichiro's knees. No matter. Ichiro grazed the ball with the tip of his bat, sending it rolling down the third-base line for a double...
...After Ichiro puts the ball in play, fielders have to deal with his speed down the line. The Mariners have timed him to first at a Mickey Mantle-like 3.7 seconds. In the bottom of the ninth during another recent match against New York, Ichiro startled several Yankees when he hit an innocent one-hopper back to the pitcher and?whoosh!?missed beating the throw by only half a step. "He caught Mo 100% by surprise," said Yankees left-hander Ted Lilly. "He tore off for the base like a rocket...
...When they are not calling him Wizard (a tribute to his magical offensive abilities), the Mariners gleefully refer to Ichiro as Ichiballs. He has learned a variety of English curse words, plus some of America's most useless phrases. Rookie reliever Ryan Franklin taught Ichiro to say "chillin' like Bob Dylan...
...After he steps in the batter's box at the start of every at bat, the left-handed-hitting Ichiro crouches into a catcher's tuck, loosening his hamstrings. Then he pops up, plants his left foot, drags it parallel to the plate and plants it again. With his right foot resting outside the box, Ichiro wags his black Mizuno bat back and forth below his belt like a putter. He proceeds to whip it around in a counterclockwise loop, stopping as soon as his hands reach his chest. Then Ichiro uses his right hand to hold the bat parallel...
...Ichiro is also quick to utter such dandies as "chillin' like a villain," "whassup?" "thanks, dogg" and "no pain, no gain." When a reporter noted Ichiro's smooth feet, Ichiro nodded, smiled and said, "They sexy." He has picked up bits and pieces of English by listening to conversations, as well as television, movies and hip-hop. "I very much like hip-hop," he says in English, pronouncing hip as heep...