Comments on: Milestones Ichiro Will Reach in 2008 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/milestones-ichiro-will-reach-in-2008/ People don't think it be like it is, but it do. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:08:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: shtiny http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/milestones-ichiro-will-reach-in-2008/#comment-1017 Sun, 03 Feb 2008 13:16:34 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/milestones-ichiro-will-reach-in-2008/#comment-1017 I am surprised his stolen base rate over the past 5 years is so high, considering he stole 45 bases in a row between 2006-07. I think the ratio of hits between MLB and NPB is closer than you would think, for an extremely unique hitter like Ichiro. Had Ichiro been American, he would have had a real shot at the all time hit record. I am surprised his stolen base rate over the past 5 years is so high, considering he stole 45 bases in a row between 2006-07. I think the ratio of hits between MLB and NPB is closer than you would think, for an extremely unique hitter like Ichiro. Had Ichiro been American, he would have had a real shot at the all time hit record.

]]> by: Tank http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/milestones-ichiro-will-reach-in-2008/#comment-1011 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:31:04 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/milestones-ichiro-will-reach-in-2008/#comment-1011 We all have our crosses to bear in this life, and I accept mine as proving that Ichiro is Ty Cobb without the sociopathic traits. Here is my thinking on the non-power stats, but I would really like to hear thoughts on better ways to think about how non-power NPB performance equates to MLB performance. In seven full seasons in NPB he averaged 177 hits per season. In seven full seasons in MLB he's averaged 227 hits per season. I grant that his batting average is 20 points lower here - .333 here versus .353 in NPB. But I don't really see a basis on which to assert that he was less of a player before 2001 than since, or that somehow the level of performance needed to attain 227 hits in MLB is below that needed to attain 177 in NPB. Versus NPB his BA is 6% lower but he plays 25% more games; it is tough for me to conclude that his career hits and total bases totals were anything but reduced by his playing the first half of his career to-date in Japan. Steals is a bit more interesting; in NPB he was caught stealing in just 14% of attempts. In MLB he has been caught stealing in 20% of attempts. Part of the increase seems to have been temporary, though, reflecting a learning curve. During his first two MLB seasons he was caught in 25% of attempt, while over the past five seasons he has been caught in 17% of attempts, obviously much closer to his NPB success rate. We all have our crosses to bear in this life, and I accept mine as proving that Ichiro is Ty Cobb without the sociopathic traits. Here is my thinking on the non-power stats, but I would really like to hear thoughts on better ways to think about how non-power NPB performance equates to MLB performance.

In seven full seasons in NPB he averaged 177 hits per season. In seven full seasons in MLB he’s averaged 227 hits per season. I grant that his batting average is 20 points lower here - .333 here versus .353 in NPB. But I don’t really see a basis on which to assert that he was less of a player before 2001 than since, or that somehow the level of performance needed to attain 227 hits in MLB is below that needed to attain 177 in NPB. Versus NPB his BA is 6% lower but he plays 25% more games; it is tough for me to conclude that his career hits and total bases totals were anything but reduced by his playing the first half of his career to-date in Japan.

Steals is a bit more interesting; in NPB he was caught stealing in just 14% of attempts. In MLB he has been caught stealing in 20% of attempts. Part of the increase seems to have been temporary, though, reflecting a learning curve. During his first two MLB seasons he was caught in 25% of attempt, while over the past five seasons he has been caught in 17% of attempts, obviously much closer to his NPB success rate.

]]> by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/milestones-ichiro-will-reach-in-2008/#comment-1007 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:44:59 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/milestones-ichiro-will-reach-in-2008/#comment-1007 I realize you take your role as Main Ichiro Cheerleader very seriously - and I don't think we should completely discount what Ichiro did in NPB. While its more meaningful that what he might've done in AAA, it's just not as (completely) meaningful as what he's done in MLB. It's just not 1:1, my friend. I'm eager to see where his MLB totals end up (which we discussed previously) - and I'll then be willing to consider his NPB performance as a contributing factor, but not nearly with the weight that you do. I realize you take your role as Main Ichiro Cheerleader very seriously - and I don’t think we should completely discount what Ichiro did in NPB. While its more meaningful that what he might’ve done in AAA, it’s just not as (completely) meaningful as what he’s done in MLB. It’s just not 1:1, my friend.

I’m eager to see where his MLB totals end up (which we discussed previously) - and I’ll then be willing to consider his NPB performance as a contributing factor, but not nearly with the weight that you do.

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