Seattle Mariners star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has mesmerized Japan ahead of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) this week, enjoying intensive and gleeful media coverage that has baffled some pundits.
Ichiro, who helped Japan win the inaugural WBC in 2006, is the focus of such feverish reporting that he even affected the selection of the national coach.
With such a high-profile player in their ranks, Japanese expectations are high for another round of Ichiro’s heroics during the 16-nation event, which is aimed at expanding global popularity of the game.
Largely thanks to his presence, the national team’s practice in a Miyazaki attracted 241,000 spectators in six days.
Ichiro has always commanded national respect for his talent and stoic practice ethics to remain a superb batter, skilled base runner and multi-year Gold Glove outfielder.
In line with this, media have given blow-by-blow reports and analysis on his practice and condition since the Japanese squad began assembling last month.
“The fate of the Samurai Japan hangs on the condition of the team leader,” trumpeted the Tokyo Shimbun after Ichiro ended hitless in four at-bats during a Saturday exhibition game against Japanese team Seibu Lions.
Sports newspapers are so focused on him that they report where Ichiro sat during team meetings and how fast he ran and whom he spoke with during practice — and his charisma has affected players.
“Mr. Ichiro pulls the team together as the leader. My duty is to follow,” star pitcher Yu Darvish told reporters.
Ichiro openly exercised his influence last year when he criticized the Japanese baseball authority’s planned move to ask retired coach Senichi Hoshino to lead their WBC squad.
Hoshino had hyped public expectations when he coached Japan at the Beijing Olympics, but the team ended with no medal and faced harsh criticism at home.
So when he was about to be asked to lead the WBC team, Ichiro openly questioned the move and suggested appointing a coach active in the local professional leagues.
“What is important is for the team to unite,” Ichiro said in October. “It would be impossible for the team to come together if they are seeing the WBC as an opportunity for a comeback after Beijing.”
After Ichiro’s comment, Tatsunori Hara, who coaches the Yomiuri Giants, arguably the most popular team in Japan, was picked instead.
Ichiro’s influence has troubled some.
Articles and columns by journalists at the Sankei Shimbun and its sister paper, the Yukan Fuji tabloid, say it does not encourage any constructive criticism.
“The mood of the team is that if Ichiro says something is ‘white,’ it is ‘white,’” the Yukan Fuji said.
Ichiro has reportedly complained about long practice sessions and his mood has apparently affected other Japanese players, the tabloid said.
A senior sports writer for the Sankei Shimbun urged management to face up to Ichiro to maintain the team’s organizational structure.
“Sure Ichiro has a dominating presence, but he is also one of many players. I strongly hope the management has a resolute attitude before the concern gets worse,” he wrote in his blog.
Japan open their WBC in Tokyo tomorrow against China in Pool A, which also includes South Korea and Taiwan.
In related news, the Seibu Lions thrashed Taiwan 13-2 in an exhibition game in Tokyo yesterday.
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