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Aug 5, 2012 -- 8:09PM, canoera wrote:

To this point Ichiro has been a disappointment. He has a hit in every game he's played but aside from the HR, it's been the softest (however many games it's been) hitting streak I have ever seen. Hard to provide a spark from the 8th hole but he really need to pick up the pace imo

Ichiro does something Gardner can never do! He brings Japanese media, fans and revenue!

Ichiro needs some more games to settle down. He may be slapping singles that do not add up as RBIs, but he can be more consistent than Alex or Tex. He may be pressing to prove himself in the media capital.

Batting him 8th is an insult to a player of his stature. Perhaps if he is given an opportunity to lead off he could light up our offense.

Ichiro values the Yankees so much that he surrendered his ego to accept any role. I do bot see a reprosity of that feeling from the usual suspects in this board and Girardi.

I sense some bias in how he is being judged and in how Girardi is using him! That is a shame.

Going with "shame on us" now?  If you want a guy with a .287 OBP leading off on your team fine.  I wouldn't want that guy leading off on mine.  I assume then that I am one of your "usual suspects".  Not sure where you're headed with your loose use of "bias" and "being judged", but I'm sure I'll need a roadmap to find my way back.

By the way, Japanese media, fans and revenue have nothing to do with winning games in a pennant race, and aren't tied to Ichiro batting first.