Day: March 21, 2019

So long, Ichiro

Credit: Getty Images

It was just time.

A pro baseball career that started in 1992 ended on Thursday. In 2019.

Between those first cuts for the Orix BlueWave and his final at-bat as a Seattle Mariner in Tokyo, Ichiro Suzuki was as revolutionary as he was refreshing to the game of baseball.

For those who see baseball strictly as a quest for numbers, Ichiro’s most memorable number – 4,367 hits – denotes him as professional baseball’s “true hit king.”

Others might see 17 combined all-star appearances between his career in Japan and in the United States. The 2001 double-up of the American League rookie of the year and most valuable player awards. Twice he was the AL batting champion, a feat he’d accomplish seven times in the Pacific League. He racked up 262 hits in 2004, a number that still represents the high-water for hits mark in a single season.

While the numbers support the cause, Ichiro was just … Ichiro. A unique personality, who was larger than life in his home nation while quickly becoming a household name in the U.S., despite being isolated in Seattle.

Through a career that took him to New York, Miami and back to Seattle, Ichiro was a hero to some, a favorite to most and a quiet, hard-worker. Even to Age 45, Ichiro’s obsession with perfecting his craft was undeniable.

Thursday, again, seemingly marks the end. The 0-for-4 day is the least important part of Ichiro’s effort during Seattle’s 5-4 win in 12 innings over the Oakland Athletics. Ichiro was lifted in the eighth inning, taken out after taking his customary spot in right field.

Ichiro exited to the ovation of a reported 46,451 at the Tokyo Dome.

It was just time.

Song of the Day — 3.21.19

The Penguins are in Nashville tonight to take on the Predators which provided the inspiration for this song choice. In 2014, legendary rock band Foo Fighters recorded their Sonic Highways album to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Each individual song on the album was recorded at a studio in a different city.

During the making of their album, one of the stops was in Music City where they recorded the song “Congregation” at Southern Ground Studio in Nashville. The studio is owned by Zac Brown, lead singer of country music performers Zac Brown Band. Brown joins in with Foo Fighters on the track as well.

During their stop in Nashville to record “Congregation,” Foo Fighters drummer Dave Grohl played an hour long acoustic set at the famed Bluebird Cafe. His performance is documented in a special video series that was released to accompany the Sonic Highways album.

I had the opportunity to travel to Nashville in 2016 and it is one of the finest American cities I have ever been to. It’s reputation is built on music and it shows all through the heart of the city. Open air bars with live music playing all day long is one of the great joys of visiting Nashville. Country music is undoubtedly the star genre in Nashville, but you don’t have to look hard to find something that suits your tastes. If you are ever planning a trip and need a destination, I cannot recommend Nashville enough.