Comments on: Sunday pregame update: Thoughts on Gio Gonzalez; Ichiro nearing milestones

By: Bee Hylinski

Bee Hylinski — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:42:41 +0000

Dnrapp, I agree that the Japanese leagues are not quite up to the level of MLB, but they are way better than Triple-A, and that’s where the fairness issue arises. What you do about it, I don’t know, but it is worth the MLB brass taking a look at it. Suzuki (Ichiro) is a special player and probably would have done spectacular things if he had come over and played in our minor leagues, rather than playing in the Japanese leagues. But to call him a rookie after 9 years of professional ball is ridiculous. That was my real concern. I don’t remember who came in second in the ROY voting, but if I were him, I’d feel cheated.

By: Dnrapp

Dnrapp — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:07:44 +0000

If you are saying that the Japanese leagues are the same as the Major leagues then I disagree. From what I have read the Japanese leagues are more or less AAAA leagues. Notice that the only MLB players who go to Japan are those who don’t make it in MLB. Come on,Tuffy Rhodes was a MVP in the Japan leagues.

By: Bee Hylinski

Bee Hylinski — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:19:59 +0000

Congratulations to Ichiro on getting his 2000th hit, but I am concerned about the fairness of a japanese player coming over after having a career in Japan and being considered a rookie. He is now the second fastest person to get 2000 hit (1406 games). Is that fair since he played 9 years for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan’s MLB equivalent.

I also don’t think it was fair that he was given Rookie of the Year his first year in the MLB. It isn’t fair to guys who come up through the minors and have a good year when they break into the majors. Any Japanese player has an unfair advantage if they have played major-league caliber ball for several years in Japan. Maybe their Japanese stats should be taken into account when considering achievement awards in the American Major Leagues. What is everyone else’s thought on this?