This game was all about Ichiro, as far as the Nippon TV broadcast was concerned, even after he was pulled in the 7th inning (0 for 3... at least he hit the ball all three times). Ichiro stayed in the dugout, slightly down a set of stairs, hidden partly by Scott Servais standing on the top steps. I never noticed before. Maybe this is Ichiro's preferred perch. I don't think so, it appeared as though he was hiding and who could blame him when the NHK cameras recorded his reaction to everything that occurred.
What was hardest to see were those reactions... serious, probative, seemingly reflective. Except for a wan smile celebrating Dee Gordon's unlikely line-drive home run to right-center, he appeared unhappy, his eyes darting back and forth, contemplating something. Thinking whst? He interacted with no one. He was alone, by choice it would appear. What was he looking at so intently? Did all this conjure up memories? Was he thinking about tough personal decisions he will surely have to make in the next few days?
I thought the best moment of the night for the game and Ichiro came as the line-ups were being introduced. The M's players and coaches were arrayed along the third-baseline line. Ichiro was batting ninth, I think intentionally. All spring he'd been batting 7th, but putting him in the nine spot meant he would be the next to the last introduced and the last one out of the dugout (pitcher Mike Leake was warming up). Greg John captured it, albeit at some distance.
https://twitter.com/gregjohnsmlb/status/1107111095154573312?s=21
Ichiro runs out, heads to the front of the line, turns and offers a gesture of gratitude to the crowd. When he reaches the first person, Scott Servais, there is a slight hesitation as they go to shake hands and the manager offers a modest, Japanese-style, bow to Ichiro. And as he goes down the line the rest of the coaches and starting teammates do the same.
It is a fitting, well-deserved and meaningful tribute.
.......
The game itself. The M's won, a late-inning outburst of power with homers from Haniger, Bruce and, again improbably, Dee Gordon. Encarnacion hit a most impressive monster shot all the way to the dead-center wall that was caught on a great play by Maru. Leake pitched okay, not great. Certainly a sevicable and encouraging start before the games start count.
Infield play was a little ragged, perhaps due to the new turf installed last week. Ryon Healy still seems to be struggling at the plate. He took a lot of strikes in his early at-bats, then started swingly wildly as the game went on. He needs to start making contact.
Bullpen was lights-out. Hunter Strickland looked particularly sharp, in midseason for with a fastball hitting 96. Elias gave up a run, but actually looked good.
Japanese broadcast, aside from it Ichiromania, offered some interesting contrasts to what we're used to seeing. More replay, from some different angles mostly. They isolate on the pitcher's hand to get an idea of finger placement. And they focus on the batter's eyes. They also use a camera that peeks in just over the catcher's shoulder to give a good look at the pitch as the batter may see it.
The crowd was as advertised. Singing, bands playing, coordinated cheers. Loud.
Set your alarm. 3 a.m. tomorrow morning.
Ichiro runs out, heads to the front of the line, turns and offers a gesture of gratitude to the crowd. When he reaches the first person, Scott Servais, there is a slight hesitation as they go to shake hands and the manager offers a modest, Japanese-style, bow to Ichiro. And as he goes down the line the rest of the coaches and starting teammates do the same.
It is a fitting, well-deserved and meaningful tribute.
.......
The game itself. The M's won, a late-inning outburst of power with homers from Haniger, Bruce and, again improbably, Dee Gordon. Encarnacion hit a most impressive monster shot all the way to the dead-center wall that was caught on a great play by Maru. Leake pitched okay, not great. Certainly a sevicable and encouraging start before the games start count.
Infield play was a little ragged, perhaps due to the new turf installed last week. Ryon Healy still seems to be struggling at the plate. He took a lot of strikes in his early at-bats, then started swingly wildly as the game went on. He needs to start making contact.
Bullpen was lights-out. Hunter Strickland looked particularly sharp, in midseason for with a fastball hitting 96. Elias gave up a run, but actually looked good.
Japanese broadcast, aside from it Ichiromania, offered some interesting contrasts to what we're used to seeing. More replay, from some different angles mostly. They isolate on the pitcher's hand to get an idea of finger placement. And they focus on the batter's eyes. They also use a camera that peeks in just over the catcher's shoulder to give a good look at the pitch as the batter may see it.
The crowd was as advertised. Singing, bands playing, coordinated cheers. Loud.
Set your alarm. 3 a.m. tomorrow morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment