Ichiro can actually play centerfield?

[DesertCat]

Ichiro is on pace to smash the all time record for put outs by a center fielder I've been saying they should move him center for two years, only to be told the mariners should keep some defense only scrub there who can't hit.

Well looks like I might have been right. Ichiro's bat is too weak (no power, OBP dependant upon batting average because he doesn't walk) for a corner outfielder, but very good for a centerfielder, and since he's providing good defense, that's a big win. Now the Mariners just have to find a left fielder who can hit

[Triumph36]

ichiro also calls for any ball he can possibly get to, which surely helps - the other night I saw him catch a pop fly basically in right field. also having a lot of flyball pitchers helps, and i suspect Seattle has a lot of them.

[By-Tor]

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Ichiro's bat is too weak (no power, OBP dependant upon batting average because he doesn't walk) for a corner outfielder, but very good for a centerfielder, and since he's providing good defense, that's a big win.

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i have never in my life understood comments like this.

wtf does somebody's hitting have to do with their fielding?

i understand the obvious (left handed tall guy at 1st) (speedy person in center), but what the hell does someones power have to do with how good a fielder they may or may not be?

[THAY3R]

Ummm, it doesn't?

[MikeyPatriot]

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Ummm, it doesn't?

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[Jack of Arcades]

His bat certainly wasn't too weak for corner OF. However, to answer your Q, the farther left on the defensive spectrum you are the less defensive value you're going to have, and thus you have to hit better. Or, to put it differently, the best corner OF will only be about 20 runs above average with the glove, but the best hitter will typically be about 65.

[vhawk01]

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His bat certainly wasn't too weak for corner OF. However, to answer your Q, the farther left on the defensive spectrum you are the less defensive value you're going to have, and thus you have to hit better. Or, to put it differently, the best corner OF will only be about 20 runs above average with the glove, but the best hitter will typically be about 65.

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Or to reverse that, you can afford to have a big-hitting but poor-fielding guy at certain positions because the difference between league-best and league-worst is very small, and their added contributions with the bat easily outweigh this difference. At other positions, you would have to be a much, much better than average hitter to make up for being a terrible fielder. For example, Derek Jeter.

[HajiShirazu]

Are you saying that MULTIPLE GOLD GLOVE WINNING Derek Jeter is not the most legendary gritty clutch gamer winner makes all the big plays defensive shortstop in baseball?

[Bremen]

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... MULTIPLE GOLD GLOVE WINNING ...

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The fact that Abreau has one too should tell you just how worseless this award is.

[DesertCat]

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His bat certainly wasn't too weak for corner OF.

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Ok, I exaggerated a little bit. He was probably about average. His OPS+ has been 109 for the last two years. That's pretty good for center field, but average at best for a corner outfielder.