Knuckle Curve » ichiro

Ichiro to the DL with a Bleeding Ulcer

Stephen Kersey — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:03:29 +0000

Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners has never been on the disabled list – until now. Due to a bleeding ulcer that has led to discomfort and fatigue, Ichiro will begin the 2009 MLB campaign on the disabled list. The Mariners will try to get off on the right foot without arguably their best player.

This offseason has been an extremely busy time for Ichiro. Playing in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for Japan, he had the entire pressure of the country on him to bring home back-to-back WBC titles. Thanks to Ichiro’s game-winning hit, he was able to do just that.

Ichiro's Heroic Hit for Japan (Image: newscom)

Although he didn’t get many swings in during spring training, Ichiro hit .417. After missing the final three spring training games, doctors found that the problem was a bleeding ulcer.

Last year the Mariners massively underperformed, however Ichiro wasn’t part of the problem. He hit .310 with six homers, 42 RBIs and finished with more than 100 runs, 200 hits and a batting average of better than .300 for the eighth consecutive season in his career.

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Ichiro a Hero as Japan Wins 2009 WBC

Stephen Kersey — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:41:32 +0000

When Japan needed a big hit to win their second straight World Baseball Classic, they got the needed hit from their biggest star. Ichiro, who has been one of the best baseball players in the world over the last decade, hit a single in the top of the tenth inning to score two runs for Japan.

Ichiro a Hero for Japan (Image: Newscom)

After ending South Korea’s chances in the bottom of the 10th, Japan became successful in their bid to go 2-for-2 in the World Baseball Classic. In 2006, they won the inaugural WBC event.

Japan got up early in this ballgame but could never put South Korea away. After gaining a 1-0 lead, South Korea tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Japan scored once in the top of the seventh and top of the eighth, however South Korea forced extra innings by scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth and the bottom of the ninth.

Ichiro’s big hit came with runners on second and third for Japan. The hit was Ichiro’s fourth of the game in six at-bats. Now Ichiro gets to go to Japan as a hero and a two-time World Baseball Classic champion.

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