Ichiro Praises Cairo
by Jon Shields ~ July 3rd, 2008
I’ve heard a lot of Mariner fans, myself included, ask why is Cairo hitting second?
While we may still be a bit confused on the matter, there is no doubt in Ichiro’s mind where Cairo should be hitting. ”I personally think that Japanese make the best No. 2 hitters, but (Cairo) is as good as anyone in Japan batting second,” Ichiro told reporters after Wednesday’s ballgame, in which Cairo had a pair of RBI doubles. “Miguel is the first real No. 2 batter I’ve seen since I came to the U.S.,” he continued. ”He understands the mental side of the game.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve read about someone praising Cairo’s baseball smarts, but does that make him “as good as anyone” in the number two hole? Yes, tonight he was perfect there, but typically he doesn’t perform at that level. If you know the game better than anyone but have trouble executing, that doesn’t make you any better than anyone else, right?
6 Responses to Ichiro Praises Cairo
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1 July 3rd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
If I were Jose Lopez I’d be super pissed off at this. Cairo hits 2 doubles in a game and he gets praise when Lopez has been busting his ass all year to prove he belongs in the show, and he gets nothing. Lopez is a deserving All-Star and he won’t get it (probable). But for Ichiro to say that Cairo is a productive 2 hitter, better than Lopez after just a couple games is absurd.
2 July 4th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Lopez does not deserve to be in the All-Star game. Kinsler, Roberts, Pedroia are definitely better then Lopez and probably Polanco and Grudzielanek are having better years then Lopez.
3 July 4th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Ah, but I also believe how their offensive contributions in comparison to their teammates should be taken into account. If you look at that, I think Lopez deserves a shot.
4 July 4th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Sure you can make that argument but thats not how All-Star teams are picked.
5 July 6th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Doesn’t knowing the game better than anyone else but not being able to execute usually put you in the coaching/managerial ranks?
6 July 6th, 2008 at 9:35 am
^^^ Ding ding ding ding ding! We have a winner!