With the start of Spring Training right around the corner, Seattle Mariners skipper Eric Wedge may be trying to tinker with his lineup a bit before the start of the 2012 regular season, possibly moving Dustin Ackley, Chone Figgins, or Franklin Gutierrez to the leadoff spot, and moving the aging Ichiro further down the line.
Ackley, Figgins and possibly Gutierrez are potential leadoff hitters if Ichiro is moved down in lineup, Wedge says.
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) January 26, 2012
After his first non-stellar season in 2011, many feel that time is simply catching up to the 38 year old, batting .272 last season, well below his .326 career average.
Eric Wedge on Ichiro: "I'm leaning in that direction to have Ichi hit somewhere else. " #Mariners
— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) January 26, 2012
It's not the end of the world, but possibly the end of an era with Ichiro blowing people's minds.
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