Ichiro should throw first pitch from right field
On Opening Night, re-enact the epic play from 2001 when he nailed Terrence Long at third base
The Mariners announced on Monday that Ichiro will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Night when they start the season against the A’s on March 27th at T-Mobile Park.
I hope the Mariners don’t blow it this time by passing up a terrific opportunity to make highlight reels everywhere - they need to ask Ichiro to throw out the first pitch from right field to third base.
Everyone remembers that play from 2001 when he nailed a sliding Terrence Long at third base with the tag by David Bell and the call by Dave Niehaus, one of his best ever.
In 2020 when Ichiro threw out the first pitch on Opening Day, I suggested in this column that he should do it from right field. It didn’t happen. Ichiro threw a 94-mph strike from the mound instead.
This is the perfect situation, fercrisesakes, they’re playing the A’s again, and that’s who they were playing when he threw the laser beam that sent Long to the dugout.
It’s Ichiro’s Hall of Fame season - he’ll be inducted this summer in Cooperstown, and the Mariners are hosting an all-Ichiro weekend Aug. 8-10th at T-Mobile Park.
Out of all of his memorable hitting feats, the one signature moment that outshines the rest was a defensive play on April 11, 2001 when the then-future Japanese star showed why he was going to be a Gold Glover for years to come.
Plus let’s not forget that the Mariners have one of the most creative marketing teams in MLB - why not showcase Ichiro by having a wild hair and asking him to re-create the defensive play of the 2001 season?
I’m guessing he’d be game to do it. And while they’re at it, the Mariners should see if Bell can come back to take the throw at third, and I’m thinking Long would be a good sport to play along too - send him a free plane ticket, give him a free hotel room and all he has to do is round second base and get thrown out at third.
When I wrote about this five years ago, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports told me there were no rules that governed what should and shouldn’t be done with a ceremonial first pitch. As proof, Rangers Hall of Fame catcher Pudge Rodriguez threw out the first pitch from behind home plate to second base in 2014.
“I think right field to third base would be fair game for Ichiro,” Drayer said. “Do I want to see it? Sure. I also wouldn’t mind seeing him throw any of his pitches from the mound…But right field might be an interesting choice for him as he is always the showman but also very respectful of tradition.”
I didn’t try to get a comment from Shannon this time around because she quit talking to me a few years ago after I wrote a spoof column about the Mariners in which she was included and was not amused. At all.
I’ve apologized over and over again, but she’s real life blocked and muted me. Sometimes I don’t blame her for that, sometimes I think she needs to lighten up - it was satire.
Can’t you picture it, Ichiro’s introduced and goes to the mound but suddenly sprints to right field while a replay of his iconic throw is shown on the big screen in center field with Niehaus’ voice bellowing in the park again.
Then the big smiles to follow as the 51-year-old Ichiro throws a one-hop dart to Bell, who tags Long, the sellout crowd erupts while all three of the former players laugh and hug each other on the infield dirt.
It’s such a no-brainer that the Mariners probably won’t do it because it’s a franchise that fails to do obvious things, like bolster their lineup in the offseason, and besides, the round trip ticket to Seattle might cost too much for Long, not to mention for Bell wherever he is, Toronto I think.
But here’s hoping the Mariners surprise us all by putting Ichiro in right field instead of the mound on Opening Night.
Love the idea. Mariners have always focused on the past, since they are unwilling to do what it takes to be relevant now and in the future.
Love this idea. That throw — and how my dad raved about it — lives in my memories. He’s eager for the season to start and would love to see this too, I bet!