Ichiro Suzuki to Mariners: Trade Me

After adding Erik Bedard and Carlos Silva to a pitching rotation already consisting of flame-throwing Felix Hernandez, the Seattle Mariners appeared capable of competing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the American League West title.

Currently, Seattle is 12.5 games behind the first-place Angels. The Mariners have been plagued by injuries to both Bedard and now Hernandez, but the team as a whole is playing like a middle school team.

A team that was solid defensively last season has already committed 35 errors.

J.J. Putz, Seattle's closer, blew Sunday's game against the Yankees by making a throw to first that probably should not have been made. Putz had to dive towards first to cut off a slow roller to second. As he got up to throw from his knees, the ball slipped out of his hand but he decided to continue his throwing motion anyway. The result: an overthrow which allowed the tying run to advance to third with one out.

Robinson Cano hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game and Matsui tagged to second base.

Jose Molina hit a fly ball to the right-center field gap. The ball appeared to have been hit high enough for gold-glover Ichiro Suzuki to be able to catch the ball out of the air. To everyone's surprise except Ichiro's, the ball fell in, due to Ichiro's circuitous route to the ball.

This type of lackadaisical play seems to be routine for Ichiro. Yankees' TV commentator Michael Kay commented on Ichiro's recurring sluggish, hot-dogging style of defense. Kay claimed that it is very unusual to see a Japanese player treat the game with disrespect like Ichiro has simply because Japanese players are taught to respect baseball and play that way.

Defense is not the only part of Ichiro's game that lacks intensity. It is currently the end of May and Ichiro is batting .292. Some major leaguers would kill to have this average, but Ichiro has much higher expectations than almost any other major leaguer.

Ichiro has been part of Seattle's struggles and it appears that he wants out of Seattle. Where he will go is obviously not yet determined, but it is clear that he would rather play for any team other than the Mariners. The way he is playing right now, he has the potential to give a bad influence to his younger teammates. If Seattle is smart, Ichiro will be dealt mid-season.