Great stuff Doc.
I try to remind myself everytime I watch (and let my almost 12 year old daughter know, too) that it is a great thing to watch Ichiro through his prime. He is certainly, defensively, the greatest RF of our time and truly a hit machine. Nice point, as well, about his slumps being comprised of a bunch of GB's to 2nd base. I've alwys felt that he rushes things a bit and then get flippy (to use a golf word) during his slumps.
About Ricky Henderson:
I've watched baseball for a long time. Gobbled up James when he was just starting to be James, and replayed several entire seasons with the old APBA board game back in the '74-'79 era.
I've long thougt that Henderson's '90 season was one of the two or three best of the modern era (And I discount B. Bonds' efforts. They were prodigious but also tainted).
Not only did he OPS/OPS+ 1.016/188, but he also destroyed pitchers with his presence. The only knock against that year was that he missed some games, playing in only 136. but it was a tremendous performance. He stole 65 bases....that season deserves due mention. I'm glad you brought him up.
188 OPS for a lead-off hitter is ALMOST unheard of. To give you an idea of how rarified that air is Mays never hit that mark and Aaron only once. In Piazza' tremendous '97 year he hit .362/.431/.638 and his OPS was only 185! Pujols, as the greatest CLEAN-UP hitter of our day OPSed 190 and 188 durng his terrific '08 and '09 years.
In Rock Raines' terrific '85 and '86 seasons he OPS+ed only 145 and 149. I hope our younger guys lok back to see how terric he was as a player in his prime.
However, Hendersons '90 season WAS exceeded by one leadoff hitter!
In what was probably the greatest single modern era (and clean) season. Joe Morgan, the greatest 2Bman off all-time (and a superb announcer currently) had a .320/.444/.576 OPS+ 186 season in '76. AND he won the Gold Glove Award, and led his team to the WS trophy. It is the greatest season I can remember enjoying.
Anyway, back to Ichiro. Count your blessings. We M's fans have been given a great gift during the past decade. I would love to continue to enjoy it, Ricky style, for the next 5 or 7 years!
moe
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