The Official 2024-25 MLB Hot Stove Thread

[Remote]

Contact hitters aren't valued appropriately today, I think.

And frankly, the Yankees might have a ring or two in the last 6-7 years if they had 1 or 2 guys like Ichiro or Arraez...instead of the Gary Sanchezes of the world.

 

[2ATMsYouSteppinOrWhat]

I'm not trying to trash Ichiro by saying this. I'm just saying when you look at the basic HITTING stats across the board, they're similar.

I never said Arraez was near the overall player Ichiro was.

I just wanted a discussion about how Ichiro would be viewed as a hitter today and if he'd do the same things today as he did 20+ years ago. Contact lead-off hitters aren't valued the same in 2025.

in todays game. these pitchers would be food for ichiro

 

[TrillaMonsoon]

Wouldn't Ichiro be at least Steven Kwan esque? His defense i think would be pretty elite for a corner OF and the bat to ball skills are just too good. Everyone says that if Ichiro sold out for more HRs he had the pop so would be interesting if he would have changed his approach a bit. But him on the basepaths with these rules and bigger bases would be fun to watch. He'd still be an elite leadoff hitter who maybe could push 20 HRs in this era

 

[2ATMsYouSteppinOrWhat]

Wouldn't Ichiro be at least Steven Kwan esque? His defense i think would be pretty elite for a corner OF and the bat to ball skills are just too good. Everyone says that if Ichiro sold out for more HRs he had the pop so would be interesting if he would have changed his approach a bit. But him on the basepaths with these rules and bigger bases would be fun to watch. He'd still be an elite leadoff hitter who maybe could push 20 HRs in this era

steven kwan
really
y’all are trippin

 

[2ATMsYouSteppinOrWhat]

man ichiro is ichiro

he is 1 of 1

arraez more like a juan pierre type (kinda disrespectful towards pierre tho cause he a goat)

 

[Professor K.]

man ichiro is ichiro

he is 1 of 1

arraez more like a juan pierre type (kinda disrespectful towards pierre tho cause he a goat)

 

[TrillaMonsoon]

steven kwan
really
y’all are trippin

I know Ichiro is a legend and the name holds weight, but he has a .750 OPS for his career same as Kwan. I know a lot of that is due to him playing til he was in his 40s

But that's not why I compared them. It was a lower power, high contact, elite defensive corner outfielder. I'm guessing you don't think Kwan is that good? Because the batting average isn't as high but they both gonna give you about 20-30 doubles a year, less than 15 HRs a year with elite corner defense.

 

[blues_funk_reggae]

Ichiro getting ready for a comeback at 51

Those workout machines though

 

[2ATMsYouSteppinOrWhat]

I know Ichiro is a legend and the name holds weight, but he has a .750 OPS for his career same as Kwan. I know a lot of that is due to him playing til he was in his 40s

But that's not why I compared them. It was a lower power, high contact, elite defensive corner outfielder. I'm guessing you don't think Kwan is that good? Because the batting average isn't as high but they both gonna give you about 20-30 doubles a year, less than 15 HRs a year with elite corner defense.

kwan is a solid player. in a league that is weak.

think about the type of pitchers ichiro was facing (the johanssantana, the roy halladays etc)

it’s why i say that the pitchers of today would be easy picking for ichiro
make it look like batting practice

 

[2ATMsYouSteppinOrWhat]

juan pierre dont get love. AMAZING PLAYER

 

[Ku$h Parker]

Can we agree that the AL will be the baseball equivalent of the early 2000s eastern conference in the NBA?


Seems like ALL of the elite teams is in the NL, Mets, Braves, Phillies, Dodgers, Padres... everybody else =


The AL is basically AAAA From skimming though this thread seems like no AL team really improved this off-season.

Boston,H Tine,NYY going Status while Cleveland, BMore who are supposed to be next up are failing in The Offs has a lot to do wit it

 

[Trojan 24]

Ichiro getting ready for a comeback at 51

Those workout machines though

That hairline

 

[TrillaMonsoon]

kwan is a solid player. in a league that is weak.

think about the type of pitchers ichiro was facing (the johanssantana, the roy halladays etc)

it’s why i say that the pitchers of today would be easy picking for ichiro
make it look like batting practice

If there's anything that's weak, I don't think it's the pitching.

They say it's harder for hitters facing different pitchers for majority of their at bats rather than a starter for 2-3 ABs and then bullpen for 1 or 2. But I'm not arguing that Ichiro wouldn't be great. I think the bigger discussion was you just don't see a guy like Ichiro in the league. I really can't think of one every day player who hits for high average, very little power but that fast. The guys who steal bases these days would probably be described as power hitters too. Guys like Elly, Shohei and Acuna have real pop and I wouldn't compare someone like Brice Turang to Ichiro. Just an interesting thought to see how we would look into today's era.

 

[K-Apps]

 

[Trips]

This bytch bought the Os talking bout he was going to spend and bring a World Series trophy back to Baltimore. And now he's all lets get a salary cap