Ichiro applauds M's risk with Erik Bedard trade

PEORIA, Ariz. — An ever-fashionable Ichiro had toned down the color on his garb Wednesday compared to what he showed up in at spring training a year ago.

His collared pullover and custom-designed Levi's were downright conservative compared to the splashy pink T-shirt and knit cap he opened camp with the last time. Ichiro has toned down some other things as well — no longer questioning the commitment of the Mariners to winning, or dropping hints he might leave town.

The leaving part was settled last summer with a long-term contract extension. And now, in Ichiro's words at least, the commitment-to-winning issue has been answered by the team's recent trade for starting pitcher Erik Bedard.

"We made a big trade, something that is the biggest of my career with the Seattle Mariners," Ichiro said, through interpreter Ken Baron. "What I mean by that is, it was a trade in which we didn't try to avoid risk.

"To gain power, sometimes you have to take a big risk. And I think the Mariners showed that by making that move."

The Mariners held their first full-squad workout of the spring Wednesday, looking to build off the momentum of acquiring Bedard to go along with Felix Hernandez in a one-two rotation punch. Mariners manager John McLaren said he plans to reveal the rest of the rotation's order shortly, but it's the bold acquisition of Bedard from Baltimore — in exchange for Adam Jones, George Sherrill and three minor-leaguers — that is generating so much attention for this team at the moment.

Top writers from ESPN.com, USA Today and Yahoo! Sports joined an unusually large contingent of television cameras as the full squad took the field. The trade is not without controversy, with some arguing the club gave up too much to get Bedard and is not close enough to contention to warrant making such a move.

But there is a sense of confidence among players and coaches here that the team is on the verge of something big.

Ichiro talked of the entire organization "coming together" more than he's seen it since his initial season in 2001. That seems to be code for doing what it takes to win.

"By 'coming together' I don't mean that strictly by the coaches and the players," he said. "But just the whole organization coming together. I'm not saying that just because of the moves we made. But the feelings that were behind the moves. The motivations behind the moves."

For all of the preseason talk about what the Mariners must do to win, it seems a foregone conclusion that Ichiro will do his part. Even at age 34, he has shown few signs of slowing down in the field, or on offense — boasting that his body fat went up only .07 percent from a year ago — as he shoots for his eighth consecutive season of at least 200 hits and 100 runs scored.

He seemed to be half-kidding when responding to a question about what he thought of the outfielders next to him, newcomer Brad Wilkerson in right and veteran Raul Ibanez in left. Ichiro said he was pleased with what he's seen so far because: "If the other corner outfielders have too much speed and too much ability and try to do too much, it's hard for me."

With Wilkerson and Ibanez, he concluded, there shouldn't be much concern about crowding each other and getting signals crossed.

McLaren has talked rather loosely about Ichiro being capable of stealing 80 bases in a season. On a more serious note, he mentioned Wednesday wanting to see more verbal leadership out of his leadoff hitter.

"When you're the best player and you have something to say, it means a lot," McLaren said. "And I think he's moved up to the point where he's comfortable talking to his teammates."

Ichiro wouldn't pledge anything just yet. He shrugged off talk of his growing proficiency in English by making a joke, then added that the best leaders aren't always talkative ones.

"I think there are many ways to be a good leader," he said. "One person might be good at leading vocally ... the other person might be someone who doesn't say anything, but leads by example."

He talked of needing to find a balance between the two. A good leader, he adds, has to "take care of himself" first.

"He does what needs to be done by himself," he said. "Because if you say something, but you're not doing it yourself, you're not a good leader."

He threw in a line about his teammates, coaches and front office all seeming to all be more "aware of the consequences" of their performance heading into 2008. Not surprising, considering the risk this franchise just took by trading away five players for one.

Ichiro will set out to do his on-field part once again this year. And what transpires in the months ahead will likely depend on how many Mariners follow in his footsteps.

Notes

• Second baseman Jose Lopez has sorted out his visa problems in Venezuela and is expected to participate in Thursday's workout.

• Ex-major leaguer Tony Phillips was the first guest coach to arrive in camp and is expected to stay the entire spring.