Ichiro

[packs]

I know that hits in Japan are not hits in MLB but Rose should at least acknowledge that those hits in Japan came in their professional league. They didn't come in the minors or anything like that. Rose said something like, "What's next? Are they going to count his high school hits too?". That is such a stupid thing to say and really does show how lame he is.

[chaddurbin]

c'mon this is how pete rose makes his living now, being the hit king nets him 2mil+ a year...of course he wants to protect his title.

ichiro's resurgence this year is kinda surprising tho, he's a sure-fire hof'er...hope he doesn't get pop for ped or something like that down the line.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by packs

I know that hits in Japan are not hits in MLB but Rose should at least acknowledge that those hits in Japan came in their professional league.

Sure he should - right after Barry Bonds and/or Hank Aaron acknowledge Sadaharu Oh's 868 home runs.

[packs]

I think you're missing the point. Rose was trying to diminish Ichiro's professional hits by equating Japanese professional baseball to high school baseball. No one said they count the same as an MLB hit, I said he should acknowledge it's the highest level of play in Japan, which has nothing to do with high school baseball. Also, Oh never played in the MLB and I highly doubt anyone is critical of his accomplishments.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by packs

Rose was trying to diminish Ichiro's professional hits by equating Japanese professional baseball to high school baseball.

Rose wasn't trying to do anything. A reporter asked him for his comment and he gave his opinion.

Edited to add: In other words, it wasn't Rose that brought it up.

Edited to further add: It shouldn't even be a topic for discussion. If we're going to even possibly consider Ichiro's hits from Japan, then let's consider all Japanese players statistics for all categories.

[packs]

No one is suggesting his total hits from both leagues mean he is the all time MLB hit leader.

[jhs5120]

Originally Posted by packs

No one is suggesting his total hits from both leagues mean he is the all time MLB hit leader.

Ichiro doesn't have the MLB record, but the pro baseball record.

[chaddurbin]

ok ichiro is great. starting your mlb rookie year at age 27 and still get to 3000 hits is an incredible achievement....but japan baseball is equivalent to AAA baseball here. if a guy like wladimir balentien who can't hack it in the major can jack 60 dongs over there, i have a hard time being impressed by any milestone being achieved over there.

ichiro--i wish you would've started your mlb career at age 21...what could've been.