http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ge-fullcount091509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Matsuzaka’s surprising return to form
By Gordon
Edes, Yahoo! Sports September 15
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Short and sweet: In breaking the record for consecutive 200-hit seasons held by Wee Willie Keeler, set in the twilight of the 19th century, Ichiro Suzuki, very much a 21st-century creation, demonstrated a mastery of an art that worked for the wee one then and the slender Japanese star today. Suzuki is far and away the major league leader this season in infield hits, according to a study by Ari Kaplan, the Cal Tech-trained statistical analyst and webmaster of ariball.com.
Utilizing spray charts he keeps on every hitter, Kaplan said that entering the week Ichiro had 54 infield hits, more than 25 percent of his 200 hits total. Luis Castillo(notes) of the Mets was second with 39, with Michael Bourn(notes) of the Astros third with 38. Denard Span(notes) of the Twins (34), Emilio Bonifacio(notes) of the Marlins (32) and Scott Podsednik(notes) of the White Sox (31) rounded out the top six.
Of his infield hits, Kaplan calculated that Ichiro had eight bunt singles. Bourn and Bonifacio each had 15.
Ichiro, who has had 200-plus hits in each of his nine major league seasons, is one season away from tying Pete Rose for most 200-hit seasons. Rose’s 10 did not come consecutively.
Folks are busting with pride in Japan.
“Only Ichiro can break a 100-year-old major league record,” Shigeo Nagashima, who ranks with Sadaharu Oh as Japan’s most revered players, told Kyodo News. “He respects the game and has strengthened mentally and physically. I hope he continues to improve and brings more dreams to children – future baseball players.”
(Getty Images)
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