Ichiro still looking for a hit

TUCSON, Ariz. — The nightmare continues.

OK, not a nightmare. More like a curiosity, eliciting increasing levels of incredulity.

Ichiro hitless? It's like Paris Hilton going dateless, Jon Stewart going quipless, Eliot Spitzer going escortless.

How does the greatest bat artist of our generation, a man who could, as the old saying goes, hop out of bed on Christmas morning and hit a line-drive single, go 21 at-bats, and counting, without his first base knock of the new year?

How can the major-league record-holder for hits in a season (262), the only man in history to start his career with seven straight 200-hit seasons, a nine-time batting champion in Japan and the U.S., be 0-for-March?

Because it's spring training, of course. Because things like this happen in baseball. And because ... he likes the tension that's being created?

Ichiro on his smash in the ninth that completed another 0-for-4 day on Tuesday: "Part of me said, 'Go through so it can be a hit,' but another part of me said, 'Make this out so the streak can continue.' "

You see, his theory, and he's sticking to it, is that working through the stress and negativity can only be beneficial. It's a new experience for a guy who, in his seven major-league seasons, has put up spring averages of .321, .347, .382, .429, .437, .476 and .322. Notice a trend?

"To tell you the truth, some of this is kind of fun," Ichiro said, speaking through translator Ken Barron. "To be in a situation this early in spring training, and have this bit of an intense environment, it's something I couldn't experience before.

"Basically, it's a situation where I need to battle within myself mentally. That's something I haven't experienced this time of year, and I get to experience that right now. That is something that is great for me."

So rejoice, Mariners fans. Ichiro, as usual, is in full control of the situation. The more outs, the merrier. All hail the weak grounder! Power to the pop fly!

"Once I get a hit, it might actually make me sad this experience isn't going to be there anymore," he said. "At the same time, I understand I need results."

Joe DiMaggio once famously said he played all-out every minute of every game, whether spring training or the dog days of September, "because someone might be seeing me play for the first time."

And Ichiro said he cares about his spring results only in the context of fans' expectations.

"There are people who pay money to see me play here," he said. "Because of that, I can't say I'm going to play just for my feelings."

His feelings, despite the 0-fer, are clearly unperturbed. Before the game, Ichiro signed autographs near the visiting dugout, reaching through a crack in a fence door to take baseballs, programs, whatever. Barron stood nearby as Ichiro smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the fans.

And after the game, he was still relaxed and smiling as he answered questions from the large media assemblage.

"I don't understand," he said, "what I need to be worried about."

Nothing, of course. The whole thing is meaningless, yet mind-boggling. Trivial, yet tantalizing. And Ichiro is taking the absolute perfect approach.

"I'm very thankful that people, when I'm not hitting, care so much about this," he said. "It's something that makes me very grateful."

So, faithful Mariners fan, don't stress because Ichiro has the same number of hits this spring as Billy Crystal, the 59-year-old comedian signed to a one-day contract by the Yankees.

Don't fret because he has the same number of hits as Barry Bonds, who still hasn't found a team to play for.

Don't waste a second of angst over the fact Ichiro has one less hit than Brent Johnson, a Mariners farmhand who banged out a single in a cameo appearance in a lone Cactus League game.

While pitchers like Erik Bedard endure the dead-arm stage of spring training, Ichiro is experiencing the dead-bat stage. It, too, shall pass.

Let there be no panic in the streets of Seattle. Knowledgeable fans understand that this odd stretch will be viewed as a mere aberration when Ichiro puts up his usual .300-plus batting average.

This point of view was articulated Tuesday by Mariners manager John McLaren, who after Ichiro's hitless game against the Rockies said: "Put him down for the batting title. Put my name over it, please."

There's not even panic in the streets of Tokyo, though one Japanese reporter covering Ichiro said the hitless stretch is garnering considerable attention in his homeland.

For the record, Ichiro's last hit came Sept. 30, in the Mariners' final game of the 2007 season against the Texas Rangers. It was an infield single to first base off the legendary A.J. Murray in the second inning.

Ichiro was asked, finally, when he would stop viewing his absence of hits as a beneficial growth experience.

"I don't really have a timeline," he replied. "I guess if Mac sees what's happening, and he starts panicking, that's the moment it's going to be a problem.

"So more than a concern for me, it's a concern for others."

Please, let that end right now.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com