Mariners
Ichiro hitless in loss to A's, takes quest on road

By Bob Sherwin
Seattle Times staff reporter

DEAN RUTZ / SEATTLE TIMES Ichiro spins out of the batter’s box after striking out to end the game against Oakland. Ichiro was 0 for 4, his fifth hitless effort in his past 10 games.

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Now it begins for Ichiro.

The Mariners' right fielder has had it his way thus far this season in his chase of the major-league season hit record of 257 set by George Sisler in 1920. However, Ichiro yesterday dropped below record pace. He went 0 for 4 in the Mariners' 2-1 loss to Oakland — his fifth hitless effort in his past 10 games.

"There is nothing I need to change, just go out and play the game," said Ichiro, keeping a brave face, through interpreter Allen Turner.

With Ichiro's consistent impassive demeanor, it's hard to tell if the pressure of the pursuit is getting to him. He did admit, "It (the record) is a big thing."

And it's looming large daily as it has become the focus of the wretched season for the Mariners (56-93), on pace for the franchise's fourth 100-loss campaign.

Ichiro has 236 hits, 21 short of tying Sisler. If he gets 50 at-bats over the final 13 games, he would need a .420 average to place his name alongside Sisler.

Ichiro has to average 1.62 hits per game to do it. He's currently averaging 1.58 hits per game, grinding down to less than a hit (0.7) a game over the past 10 games. He is hitting just .179 (7 of 39) over the past 10 games.

"His swing doesn't look overly different to me. He may be overly anxious," said Paul Molitor, the Mariners' hitting coach who sat down for a talk with Ichiro during the homestand. "To me, it's not a physical thing. I'm just trying to get him to relax and stay in his game. We're playing the AL West. These are the clubs that know him the best.

"But when he was hot, he was aggressive. I don't want to take that away from him," Molitor said. "Does he swing at some bad balls? Yes. But does he hit some bad balls? Yes. It just seems like he's forcing the issue at times. When he doesn't get a hit in the first couple at-bats, he's up there swinging at the first pitch. And it's not like that doesn't work for him, too."

The Mariners head out on a 10-game road trip through Anaheim, Texas and Oakland. This road trip has some baggage:

• Two of those teams, Anaheim and Oakland, contributed to Ichiro's recent slump as he was just .185 (5 of 27) in six games here.

• With all three teams still in the playoff picture, more intense advance scouting will be applied to Ichiro, one of perhaps two (along with Randy Winn) offensive threats for the Mariners.

	Sisler, of the St. Louis Browns, set the single-season hit record in 1920
	238 257
	Games remaining: 12 Ichiro is on pace for: 257 Yesterday: Ichiro went 2 for 4. Tonight: Seattle (LH Jamie Moyer, 6-12) at Anaheim (RH Aaron Sele, 9-3), 7:05 p.m., FSN. Ichiro vs. Sele: Ichiro is 4 for 7 (.571) with three walks this season. In his career, Ichiro is 10 for 17 (.588) vs. Sele.

• Instead of dealing with him, opposing managers just may walk him in tight spots. He was intentionally walked in the third by A's manager Ken Macha with a runner at third and two outs. It makes some sense, since Ichiro has a league-leading .366 average with men in scoring position.

"That was the first intentional walk this year I thought was a little questionable," Molitor said.

Ichiro is tied for the league lead with 15 intentional walks.

• The Mariners will see most of the best starters but also a full complement of relievers — sometimes in unusual spots just to contain Ichiro.

• Ichiro's teammates haven't helped much. Over the past 14 games, they've scored two runs or fewer eight times and been shut out twice.

• Ichiro said he's not tired, but with teammates playing out the string he has to muster up the energy. The chase is a grind. Manager Bob Melvin used him as the designated hitter yesterday.

"That's considered a rest for Ichiro," Melvin said.

However, there are some positives Ichiro also can exploit:

	DEAN RUTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES M's pitcher Bobby Madritsch, left, talks tactics in the dugout with pitching coach Bryan Price.

• His club is guaranteed to bat in the ninth inning. That could provide another five to seven at-bats over the next 10 games.

• With so much at stake, all the games should be played. They'll wait out storms.

• By the time the Mariners get to Texas next weekend, the Rangers might be eliminated. That could lower the Rangers' intensity or focus on Ichiro. He also has a career .323 average in Arlington.

• He's due to break out. His longest funk this season was a 10-game stretch to finish April in which he hit .171 (7 of 41). He then broke out with 17 hits over his next 33 at-bats. He had another seven-game slide in June, hitting .208, before hitting .333 over the next five games.

It will come down to how well Ichiro adjusts to the pitchers — and vice versa. Anaheim's probable starters will be John Lackey (6 hits in 29 career at-bats), Aaron Sele (10 of 17) and Bartolo Colon (9 of 24).

Texas has an uncertain rotation after the season suspension of reliever Frank Francisco and suspensions of other players. It's likely the Rangers will start rookie Chris Young (never faced) this Friday, followed perhaps by erstwhile reliever Joaquin Benoit (3 of 16), then Ryan Drese (8 of 16).

In the four-game Oakland series beginning next Monday, the A's are projected to start Barry Zito (17 of 44), Tim Hudson (12 of 57), Rich Harden (0 for 4) and yesterday's starter, Mark Redman (8 of 24), who held Ichiro hitless in three at-bats.

Ichiro has some of his best career averages against some of those pitchers, including Sele (.588) and Zito (.386). "He's going to have to pick up the pace after the past four or five days," Molitor said. "It can change in an at-bat or a game. If he could get a couple hits in a game it will relax him a little bit. As much as he has experienced, I know any player in that situation is going to have his mind racing."

Bob Sherwin: 206-464-8286 or bsherwin@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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