Home runs, legends, and milestones all help sell tickets to baseball games. Now, more than ever, home runs seem to be most prevalent.
Whether it is Albert Pujols enjoying a career resurgence, Giancarlo Stanton seemingly hitting every home run to the stratosphere, or Adrian Beltre slugging career home run number 400, home runs are marketable, exciting, but also detracts us from paying attention to non-power hitters.
Stanton is out for the next four to six weeks with a fracture in his wrist. He is perhaps the player most adept at hitting home runs in all of baseball and is very exciting. Stanton’s impact on the game is tremendous. All 27 of his MLB leading home runs have been talked about at length, all 27 of his home runs have been hit a mile, and all 27 of his home runs means he will keep getting playing time.
With Stanton’s playing time, or now lack thereof, it now paves the way for a baseball legend to potentially get more playing time. One impact of Giancarlo Stanton’s Injury is that the player known as Ichiro could potentially get more playing time. The game of baseball is simply better when he plays.
Ichiro, 41, signed a 1 year deal worth $2 million with the Marlins during the off-season. Originally, Ichiro was slated to merely come off the bench as a pinch hitter and act as a veteran presence on a young Marlins roster. But now, thanks to an early season injury to Christian Yelich and now Stanton’s injury, Ichiro figures to get more playing time in right field.
Ichiro is an all-time great. He’s the only player in MLB history to record 200+ hits, receive a Gold Glove, and be named an All-Star in 10 straight seasons and he also holds the single season hit record. Ichiro is well liked and well respected.
Ichiro’s increased playing time may not boost Marlins ticket sales or MLB television viewership, but it’s his work ethic, respect for the game, and admiration for his peers that is admirable.
The MLB is a league currently laden with problem children such as Alex Rodriguez, and Pete Rose. But enter a humble, well respected legend like Ichiro. Baseball is much better with him taking the field than having him ride the bench.
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