Updated Jan 26, 2012 - 10:02 am
Wedge: 'Good possibility' Ichiro won't hit leadoff in 2012
Eric Wedge sounds like he is prepared to move Ichiro out of the leadoff spot he has occupied for 11 seasons.
The Mariners manager told 710 ESPN Seattle Wednesday said there is a "good possibility" that Ichiro will hit elsewhere in the lineup in 2012.
"If you had to put a gun to my head right now I'd probably be leaning in that direction, but I'm not going to just close myself off until spring training," Wedge said while speaking with Jim Moore and Mike Salk from the Sports Star of the Year awards banquet.
 Ichiro |
Wedge told 710 ESPN Seattle's Shannon Drayer in September that he considered moving Ichiro out of the leadoff spot last season, adding: "He was open to it at that time but as we saw it through the next couple of days and seeing the domino effect it could have, I felt it was best to leave it alone."
Wedge said Wednesday that he hasn't made up his mind and added that he plans to speak with several Mariners, including Ichiro, in spring training to gauge their viability as potential leadoff hitters.
"I've got a vision in mind in regard to what I want to see happen," he said. "Obviously I've got to work off of Ichiro a little bit, but ultimately I'm going to do what I think is best to give us a chance to score runs because it's just too important for us to make a huge step for us this year offensively."
Wedge was asked what he'd like to see from his leadoff hitter.
"I want him to get on base, I want him to see pitches, I want him to help the number two hole hitter, the number three hole hitter, the four hole hitter," he said, adding that he also values speed and doesn't want to see quick outs.
"So we'll see. Ichiro is very unique, but I've been very frank with him and very clear in regard to what I'm looking to do, so we'll see."
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Marinerman87 wrote...Wedge is making the right callJanuary 25, 2012 7:59 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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Toby in Tacoma wrote...Ichiro not a lead off hitter anymoreJanuary 25, 2012 9:44 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Newton wrote...Itchy is good enough to play on a real baseball team.January 26, 2012 12:04 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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wcremedy24 wrote...NewtonJanuary 26, 2012 5:27 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Ed Altizer wrote...Leading Off...MaybeJanuary 26, 2012 7:04 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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MFCEO wrote...good and badJanuary 26, 2012 7:42 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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SeattleNative wrote...@ 69 wedge: You forget the most important stat for a leadoff hitter:January 26, 2012 8:13 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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SeattleNative wrote...Ichiro had 200 more AB than the next closest player...January 26, 2012 9:03 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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BikeNazi wrote...Ichiro is a marketing machineJanuary 26, 2012 9:21 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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otherpointofview wrote...pains meJanuary 26, 2012 9:45 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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artimus wrote...The sooner the M's go all in with theJanuary 26, 2012 10:02 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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C"mon Man wrote...MarinersJanuary 26, 2012 11:25 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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In addition to co-hosting "Wyman, Mike and Moore", Dave Wyman co-hosts the Seahawks pre- and post-game shows on 710 ESPN Seattle. Dave was an All-American and All-Pac-10 linbeacker at Stanford -- where he received a degree in communications and is a member of the university's Athletic Hall of Fame -- before entering the NFL as second-round pick in 1987 and spending nine seasons with the Seahawks and Broncos. Dave lives in Sammamish with his wife and two kids.
Michael, the new co-host of "Wyman, Mike and Moore", comes to 710 ESPN Seattle from 590 ESPN in Omaha, Neb. and previously worked at WBBL in Grand Rapids, Mich. Michael started in radio in 1997 in the rock music world at Grand Rapids stations WGRD and WKLQ.
Jim Moore has co-hosted the show since its inception in 2009. He also co-hosts "The Northwest Golf Show" with Shon Crewe and writes weekly columns for 710Sports.com. Jim spent 26 years as a reporter and columnist at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, where he developed his nickname, "The Go 2 Guy."
Jessamyn McIntyre has produced the show since its inception in 2009 and is the executive producer of 710 ESPN Seattle. Jessamyn previously spent four years at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn. She freelances as a producer for ESPN Radio and TV and is the sideline reporter for WSU football games on 710 ESPN Seattle.
