Ichiro compares free agency experience to being ‘a puppy at a pet shop’
As a baseball player, Ichiro Suzuki is simply one of the best we’ve seen in the past 20 years. No one could possibly deny that. As a provider of memorable quotes, however, he just might be the most underrated athlete in the entire professional sports landscape.
Lines like “If I’m in a slump, I ask myself for advice” and “I’ll walk on my hands before I use crutches,” rank pretty closely with baseball’s most quirky and quotable legends, such as Yogi Berra and Casey Stengel. He’s a really clever guy whose sense of humor and undeniable charm translate well in any language or walk of life. He’s just Ichiro, and that’s always good enough for us.
Perhaps that was good enough for the Miami Marlins as well. Back on Jan. 23, they reached a one-year agreement with the 41-year-old outfielder that will allow him to continue his career in the United States and continue his quest for 3,000 hits in Major League Baseball.
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The deal came at a time when Ichiro was seriously wondering if a market would ever develop for his services. He was working out back in Japan, waiting and waiting and waiting for nearly three months for the phone to ring with a major league offer. It was an experience unlike any other he’d had in baseball, because after all, this is Ichiro, a sure-fire Hall of Famer whenever he decides to hang it up. And as only Ichiro can, he was able to sum his experience with a most unique comparison.
“That must be what it feels like to be a puppy at a pet shop,” Ichiro explained in his unique style. “Amongst all the cute little puppies jumping and tumbling for prospective owners, there’s one who’s a little older, a little more mature, who keeps getting passed over for the more adorable ones. When someone finally comes along and points a finger at him, an undying loyalty is born.”
We never thought of it that way, but that’s about as good and adorable a description as one could possibly come up with.
Marlins: “How much is that doggy in the window?”
Ichiro’s agent: “Oh, let’s say $2 million for one year.”
Marlins: “We’ll take him!”
Of course, the Marlins already feature an impressive group of young pups, particularly in their outfield. In fact, Giancarlo Statnon, Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich make up perhaps the most talented young outfield in the entire National League, which means Ichiro will be relegated to the experienced backup role.
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Really, it’s not a bad gig for Ichiro to have at this stage in his career. For the Marlins, though, it’s an exceptional deal because he’ll be a great source of knowledge for those young guys in terms of not only playing the game, but also preparing for the game day in and day out. That’s perhaps the most impressive thing about Ichiro. No one has ever outworked him, and helping to instill that mindset on those blooming talents could make his impact on the Marlins last far beyond the one year.
You can’t teach the old new tricks, but that’s only because he already knows them all anyway. Just watch, listen and learn, .
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
