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ghost's picture

...I think the exact opposite, Doc.
I think Ichiro, while still fast enough to steal bases, can no longer beat out infield hits at a 50/year clip and in so doing keep his BA up...which means he can't hit .300 by going to the pure slap it on the ground to left and run strategy anymore. In fact I've noticed that infields which used to play hi a step up to cut off the infield hits are now playing him two steps BACK to cut off his flares and grounders toward the middle and the third base hole. And still getting him out at first on five hoppers to the shortstop...even if that shortstop is Derek "worst defensive shortstop ever to win a gold glove" Jeter.
So no...I don't think his next transition is the slap hitter squared approach. I think both he and I are thinking the next transition is to start trying to drive the ball. To become a .280 hitter with line drive power, rather than a .340 hitter on the ground...because NOW the choice isn't "get on base with groudners OR be a slightly less productive power hitter"...now it's "hit .280 with no power...or hit .280 with power"...hmmm...that one seems easy to me... :)

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