ICHIRO SUZUKI

 

VOCABULARY:

 

participate,     tournament,         minor league,            consecutive,    career-high,      pennant,           garnered,

traded,            jerseys,           salary,             superstitious,              reporters,           conference, grounded,

 bunted,           homer, surged,            rush,                fielder,            outfielder,       batting average,

rookie,            inning,           collectible,                 arrangement,                endorsement,              caddies

QUESTIONS:

 

1.      Ichiro Suzuki was born on October 22, 1973, in Kasugai in Aichi prefecture in Japan. When he was three years old, he started to play with a ball and bat. When did you start playing sports?

 

2.      When Ichiro was eight years old he insisted he wanted to play baseball, so he became a member of the baseball club of his town. His father also became the manager of the club. However, the activity was only on Sundays, so he decided to practice baseball with his father on weekdays. When you were young, did you participate in team sports? Which ones?

 

3.      For 4 years Ichiro and his father continued to practice one-to-one everyday. When he was in high school, he participated twice in "Koshien" which is the National High School Baseball Tournament in Japan. Do you know about this tournament? Is it televised in Japan?

 

4.      When he finished high school in 1991, the Orix Blue Waves drafted him in the fourth round. He began his career with the minor league Blue Wave in 1992, hitting .366 in 58 games before he was called up to the majors where he batted .253 in 40 games. Is it common for players who are that young to be called up to major league Japanese teams?

 

5.      In '93 he split time between the two clubs, hitting .371 with eight home runs in 48 games in the minors and batting .188 with a home run in 64 at-bats with the major league Blue Wave. Suzuki hit his first professional home run on June 12, 1993 off the Kinetsu Buffalos' Hideo Nomo.  Can you name the American major league team that Nomo plays for today?

 

6.      Ichiro was named Pacific League MVP and won his first league batting title in 1994, hitting .385 and setting a Japanese baseball record with 210 hits in just 130 games. That year he reached base safely in 69 consecutive games from May 21st through Aug. 26th. Is base stealing as popular in Japanese baseball as it is in American baseball?

 

7.      Ichiro led the Pacific League with a career-high 49 stolen bases in 1995 and was named League MVP for the second consecutive year, and set a career-high with 25 home runs. In '96 he won the MVP award for a third straight year. The Blue Wave won the pennant that year and went on to defeat the Yomiuri Giants in the championship series. Do you remember watching those games?

 

8.      In 1997 Akira Ogi became the manager of the Blue Waves and changed the name on the back of Ichiro's uniform to "Ichiro" from "Suzuki", which was unique. At first he was ashamed of that name, however the fans grew fond of it. That year he set a Japanese record - 216 straight plate appearances without striking out from April 16th to June 25th. In 1998 the Blue Waves won the Pacific League pennant as Ichiro garnered his fifth straight batting title. Is it common for baseball jerseys in Japan to have the first name of the player printed on the back?

 

9.      His 1999 season was cut short after breaking the ulna bone in his right hand when he was hit by a pitch in late August, yet he still led the league in average (.343) for a sixth straight season. The lefty-swinger collected his 1,000th hit on April 20 against Nippon in the Tokyo Dome, and hit his 100th home run on July 6 against the Seibu Lions. Have you ever seen a game in the Tokyo Dome? How much do people usually pay for good tickets to a Japanese baseball game?

 

10.  On November 9, 2000, the Orix Blue Wave said that an American baseball team had won the right to make an offer of $13,125,400 for seven-time Pacific League leading hitter Ichiro Suzuki. Is the Orix Blue Wave a good team? Do you think Ichiro played better or worse after he was traded?

 

11.  The next day, the Blue Wave announced that the American team was the Seattle Mariners. If you played for a Japanese baseball team, would you want to be traded? Why?

 

12.  Ichiro had had Spring camp with the Mariners earlier that year. After two days of discussion at the Nintento headquarters in Kyoto, Ichiro, his agent and the Mariners announced on November 19 that they had reached an agreement. Ichiro was offered a three-year contract, but his salary was kept secret. How much do you think his contract was for?*

 

13.  Part of their agreement stated that he would wear number 51, the same number he had for the Orix Blue Wave. Are Japanese players superstitious about their numbers? Why do you think Ichiro wanted to keep the same number?

 

14.  Ichiro became the 11th Japanese player to join a US Major League team, but the first to play as a hitter. How many other Japanese Major League players can you name?**

 

15.  On November 30th, he visited his new team with his wife and was surrounded by US and Japanese reporters. During the press conference with Mariners' CEO, Ichiro said that it was like being in a movie. What are your favorite baseball movies? Have you seen The Natural, Major League and Field of Dreams?

 

16.  Ichiro joked that his one concern was that Kazuhiro Sasaki, his new teammate, was a big drinker, and that he may have to accompany the pitcher.  Ichiro has since become famous for his sense of humor with his team mates. What is your opinion of Kazuhiro Sasaki? How does his playing measure up to Ichiro’s?

 

17.  On April 2, 2001, in the season's opener before 46,000 fans, Ichiro was in the starting lineup. With the Mariners behind the Oakland Athletics 2 to 4 in the 7th inning, Ichiro grounded the ball past the pitcher, and it became his first base hit. In the 8th, he bunted, and the A’s pitcher and catcher ran into each other, missing the pitch to first. Ichiro ran all the way to 2nd base. In the 9th, Kazuhiro Sasaki closed the game. It was a great US debut for Ichiro. Have you ever been to a Major League game? What do you think is better—watching a game live or seeing it on TV?

 

18.  In Texas against the Rangers on April 6, Ichiro started off with a double and made it home. He hit a single too. In the 10th inning, Ichiro broke the 7 to 7 tie, blasting a two-run homer. Again, Kazuhiro Sasaki closed the game. The Mariners won 9 to 7, thanks to Ichiro. Is chewing tobacco as popular with Japanese players as it is with American players?

 

19.  On April 13, for the first time, Ichiro faced a Japanese pitcher in the US—Shigetoshi Hasegawa, his former teammate in Japan. Ichiro grounded the ball to shortstop, and made it to first base. However, since Sasaki gave up a two run homer to end the game, the Mariners lost 3 to 4 to the Anaheim Angels. It turned out that the Ichiro-Hasegawa match was the first between a Japanese pitcher and fielder, so the ball used entered the hall of fame. Have you ever been to the baseball hall of fame? Is there something similar in Japan?

 

20.  May 2. It's been seven years since Ichiro faced Hideo Nomo in pro baseball. The day finally came in Seattle. Ichiro would not get on base the first two times at bat. But the third time, Nomo hurled a pitch into Ichiro's back. Ichiro could not get up immediately, but managed to walk over to first base. Ichiro had a triple after that, and even came home. The Mariners defeated the Red Sox 5 to 1. Have you ever seen an American hitter rush the mound after being hit? Do fights ever occur in Japanese baseball?

 

21.  On May 10, Ichiro faced Tomokazu Ooka of the Boston Red Sox for the first time. He managed to get on base and at the same time bat in a run the 3rd time at bat. It was his 17th consecutive game hit, and the Mariners defeated the Boston Red Sox 5 to 2.

 

22.  It was reported that in 2000, Ichiro paid more in taxes than any other Japanese athlete—around 195 million yen. When do Japanese people usually pay taxes?

 

23.  On May 29, Ichiro had 2 hits against the Baltimore Orioles. The Mariners won 3 to 2. It was learned before this game that the Ichiro had so far earned 187,730 votes for the July All Star game. That was the second highest among outfielders, and the 4th overall in his league. Do Japanese players also have an All Star game? When is it played?

 

24.  On June 3, Ichiro played only as a hitter for the first time. He had three hits, stole two bases and batted in a run. His batting average surged to .362, and the Mariners broke their winning streak record with 11 in the 8 to 4 game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. It would eventually reach 15 games before losing to the Padres on June 7. Have you ever stolen a base? What is your batting average?

 

25.  On June 21, Ichiro had three hits in five times at bat. He not only stole base to second, but also to third. With a batting average of .356, he exceeded Manny Ramirez to surge to the top. The Mariners won 12 to 10 against the Oakland Athletics. Nearly everywhere Ichiro played now, a large part of the crowd would be made up of Japanese fans cheering him on. What is your favorite baseball stadium? Why?

 

26.  On July 2, even though Ichiro did not start the game, he slammed a two-run homer in the 9th to tie it up. The game went into the 10th inning. In the end the Mariners won 9 to 7 against the Texas Rangers, with Kazuhiro Sasaki closing the game. It was learned that day that Ichiro ended up winning 3,373,035 votes for the All Star game, more than anyone else, making him the first rookie to be the number one choice. 680,000 of these votes were Japanese. What are “rookie” players called in Japan?

 

27.   July 4, Ichiro had one lucky hit that dropped out in the field. But he struck out twice, which is very unusual for him, and the Mariners lost to the Texas Rangers 3 to 6. The good news that day was that Kazuhiro Sasaki was also selected to play on the All Star team. Did you see the All Star game? Which team did you want to win?

 

28.  The All Star game on July 10 delighted Japanese fans. Ichiro was the first on the plate in his home stadium, Safeco Field. He faced pitcher Randy Johnson. He hit a hard one towards first, which was caught by the first baseman way off the base. The ball was thrown to Johnson, but Ichiro beat him in the race to first base. Ichiro also stole a base during the game. Kazuhiro Sasaki closed the game perfectly in the final inning. The American League defeated the National League 4 to 1. So the game was started by a Japanese player and ended by a Japanese player.  What baseball leagues are there in Japan?

 

29.  On July 27, Ichiro got his sixth. He stole another base, too—his 34th. And his team defeated the Kansas City Royals 4 to 1. Do you own any baseball collectible items? (For example, signed baseballs or bats, hats, gloves, etc.)

 

30.  In his most recent game on August 1, 2001, Ichiro had two hits, stole a base, and also made a lightning throw from right field to home. His team defeated the Detroit Tigers 7 to 1. How many games do you watch per week?

 

31.  It is reported that one Japanese tabloid offered $2 million for a photograph of Ichiro naked. So far, no one has been able to claim the prize, although Ichiro’s dressing room arrangement now has him changing in a private room, apart from the other players. Would you like to be so famous that you could not get away from reporters?

 

32.  Ichiro has refused to do advertisements or product endorsements, even though he’s been offered millions of dollars to do them. When asked about this, he’s replied that baseball isn’t about one player, but the whole team. Can you think of some famous athletes who have made television commercials for certain products? (Tiger Woods for Nike, Andre Agassi for Olympus cameras, etc.)

 

33.  Ichiro’s presence in Seattle has made millions for the city and for his team from the extra ticket sales to thousands of extra Japanese baseball fans who attend games just to see him play. Do you think the 27-year-old player ever gets nervous out in front of all those people? Do you perform well under pressure?

 

Please ask your teacher at least three questions about Ichiro Suzuki.

 

ICHIRO SUZUKI FAST FACTS:

 

POSITION: Right fielder

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5 feet 9, 160 pounds

DATE OF BIRTH: Oct. 22, 1973

HIGH SCHOOL: Aikoudai Meiden (Aichi Prefecture, Japan)

FAMILY: Wife, Yumiko

HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent Nov. 18, 2000.

 

INSIDE INFO:

 

WHICH PITCHER ARE YOU MOST ANXIOUS TO FACE?

"I'm anxious to face them all, but in reality I'm looking forward most to (Boston's) Pedro Martinez. He was with the major league team that came to Japan in 1996, just before he became a superstar. I'm anxious to see how much he's improved. And I'm anxious to see how much I've improved against him."

 

WHICH BIG-LEAGUE PARK ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN SEEING? "The parks with the most history have the most interest for me. I'd like to see Yankee Stadium, of course, and in Boston, Fenway Park."

 

GOLF OR BASEBALL? "I love baseball, but being here, I've been able to play golf every day. I can't play in Japan because every course has caddies, and the caddies all want autographs and don't want to let me golf."

 

IDIOMS AND EXPRESSIONS

 

  1. on the ball – ready, astute.  Give the project to Bill.  He is always on the ball.

 

  1. off base – not accurate, inaccurate assumptions.  You should look at your figures again because I think you are way off base.

 

  1. strike out – loose, not do well.  He asked her for a date but he struck out.

 

  1. pinch hitter – someone who will save the day.  The negotiations were going badly so we sent John to the meeting as our pinch hitter.

 

 

 

*It is reported that he signed his three-year contract for $18 million!

 

**Makoto Suzuki of the Milwaukee Brewers, Tsuyoshi Shinjo of the New York Mets, Masato Yoshii of the Montreal Expos, Hideki Irabu of the Montreal Expos, Tomokazu Ohka of the Boston Red Sox, Shigetoshi Hasegawa of the Anaheim Angels, Kazuhiro Sasaki of the Seattle Mariners, and Hideo Nomo of the Boston Red Sox.

 

 

Lesson by ATS

Edited by HTS