Ichiro tries for payback homer on first pitch

ST. LOUIS — Ichiro led off the All-Star Game on Tuesday and took a lusty hack at Tim Lincecum's first pitch, resulting in a hard-hit foul into the right-field corner.

Turns out there's a story behind Ichiro's aggressive rip.

Ichiro was out to dinner on Monday night and happened to be at the same restaurant as American League manager Joe Maddon.

The AL skipper sent over a bottle of wine to Ichiro's party. As Maddon tells it, "He promised to get a hit. I said, 'Make it a home run.' He almost did it. He just hooked that ball a little bit."

Here's how Ichiro tells the tale: "Manager Maddon bought me a bottle of wine and said I had to hit a home run the first pitch, so I had to try."

Ichiro wound up getting a single to right off Lincecum in the at-bat, sparking a two-run rally by the American League. It was his only hit in three at-bats. He also flied out to right and grounded into a force-out.

Though he acknowledged his performance in his ninth All-Star Game wasn't particularly memorable ("nothing special," he said), his pregame encounter with President Obama was.

Obama went around the clubhouse shaking hands with the players.

"My idea was to tell him, 'Wassup?' But I got nervous, and I didn't say it. That was a little disappointing. But I realized the president wears jeans. I hope our skipper, Wak, was watching so we can wear jeans on flights, too."

The King rules

Felix Hernandez had a successful outing in his first All-Star Game. Working the sixth inning for the AL, he needed just eight pitches to retire the side in order.

The middle out was the man of the hour, Cardinals star Albert Pujols. Hernandez got him to ground out to shortstop on what turned out to be Pujols' final at-bat of the game.

"I didn't care if I faced him or not," Hernandez said. "But I was saying in Seattle before I left, talking to my boys, 'I'll bet I face Pujols.' I got behind in the count (2-0) and threw a fastball away. It was good."

And meeting Obama, he said, "was great."

Summing up his All-Star experience, Hernandez said, "It was very exciting. There's no words to describe this part. It was a good inning. It's a good thing I was throwing strikes."

Ichiro said that Hernandez's strong showing against such elite players should propel into the second half of the season.

"To be able to have that performance definitely has to give him confidence for our team, the Mariners," Ichiro said.

Told of Ichiro's remark, Hernandez said his confidence was already high.

"I've been pitching good," he said. "Hopefully, in the second half, I can pitch as good, or better."

Ichiro's pilgrimage

Ichiro used the occasion of the All-Star Game in St. Louis to make a pilgrimage, of sorts.

He spent part of Monday visiting the St. Louis grave of Hall of Famer George Sisler, whose season hits record he broke in 2004. Ichiro had long wanted to pay his respects to Sisler, and brought flowers to leave at the gravesite.

Ichiro had briefly greeted the members of the Sisler family that were at Safeco Field the night he got his 257th and 258th hits to tie and break Sisler's 1920 record for the St. Louis Browns. Sisler died on March 26, 1973, in Richmond Heights, Mo.

"There's not many chances to come to St. Louis," Ichiro said in the American League clubhouse, speaking through interpreter Ken Barron. "In 2004, it was the first time I crossed paths with him, and his family generously came all the way to Seattle.

"Above all, it was a chance ... I wanted to do that for a grand upperclassman of the baseball world. I think it's only natural for someone to want to do that, to express my feelings in that way. I'm not sure if he's happy about it."

Ichiro said his wife, Yumiko, went with him, as well as some friends.

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu was moved by the gesture.

"I got to see the pictures with Ichiro at Sisler's grave, and it gave me some chills," he said. "I think it's important that people understand that there's a different side to him, and to be able to go back and respect a man whose record he broke was awfully special."

Figgins picked

over Branyan

With Evan Longoria getting scratched from the American League team at the last minute because of an infected finger, Maddon had a chance to name the Mariners' Russell Branyan to the team. Branyan is among the league leaders in home runs and OPS.

But Wakamatsu, one of Maddon's coaches, understood the decision to go with the versatile Chone Figgins from the Los Angeles Angels

"I think the trouble is, you need a utility spot for somebody," Wakamatsu said. "Obviously, Figgins is deserving of it. You have that many first basemen in a National League park, it's awfully difficult to carry another one."

First basemen Mark Teixeira (the starter), Justin Morneau, Carlos Pena and Kevin Youkilis were already on the AL roster.

Wakamatsu savors first All-Star trip

Wakamatsu savored the entire experience of his first All-Star appearance, from watching the Home Run Derby (with his wife and children getting to join him on the field) to the well-attended parade that brought the All-Stars to Busch Stadium.

"The parade was pretty overwhelming, to see that many people be that friendly and open," he said. "It was a great crowd out there."

Wakamatsu, however, seemed most excited about soaking up the atmosphere in the clubhouse.

"It's an honor just to be in this room, and meet some of the guys I've admired as a coach," he said. "To be in that room for the team meeting was special."

Asked what players he was most eager to meet, he started with Derek Jeter of the Yankees.

"Obviously, Jeter is probably one of the most influential," he said. "Another guy that really, really impresses me, as far as character, is Joe Mauer. He's one of the nicest guys, and [a] special player. He has a chance to be one of the greatest of all time if he stays healthy. He's awfully special.

"The interesting thing, when you compete against guys, you don't really get to know their personality, and they come off a lot more abrasive or cocky. You're in the same room, and they turn out to be the nicest guys."