Seattle Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki channels inner Bobby Valentine
By David Hill
Who was that moustachioed man hanging out on the Seattle Mariners bench on Thursday? Turns out, it was none other than the legendary Ichiro Suzuk.
There was a time when seeing Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki in the dugout would not be worthy of a story. The future Hall of Famer spent 18 years in the majors after all, and had nine seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball prior to that time. Over those 27 years, Ichiro had more than earned his place on the roster, a record setting player whose innate ability to make contact was truly special.
However, after he struggled through the first month of the 2018 season, his time in the dugout came to an end. He became a special assistant to the chairman of the Mariners, and was no longer allowed in the dugout. Yes, he had a brief stint on the coaching staff, and still participates in pregame practice, but he has to remain in the locker room.
Normally, these rules would be binding. Yet, Ichiro is not some mere mortal. Instead, he channeled his inner Bobby Valentine on Thursday, slipping into the dugout while wearing a disguise. Instead of wearing the Groucho glasses that Valentine perfered, Ichiro had a grey hoodie, a pair of sunglasses, and a large fake moustache as he took in the first inning of the Mariners game against the Yankees.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
As it turns out, Ichiro had given warning that he may be up to such hijinks in the future. As enjoyable as watching the game in the clubhouse may be, there is nothing quite like being in the dugout. It is a vantage point that only a select few get to see, and one that Ichiro obviously misses a great deal. He just needed that perfect moment to break out his disguise. With the Mariners facing one of his former teams in the Yankees, he had that moment.
It was the perfect place to pay homage to Valentine’s skills as a master of disguise as well. After all, he was managing the other New York team, the Mets, when he decided to go incognito following an ejection. If there was ever a place that would appreciate a follow up performance, it would be the same city that Valentine called home for seven years.
This may not be Ichiro’s final appearance in the dugout either. Even if he does not channel his inner Bobby V again, he does plan on attempting to earn a roster spot on the Mariners next year. Given his struggles this season, as well as the fact that he would be 45 years old in 2019, that quest seems to be nothing more than wishful thinking. But would anyone really count out Ichiro?
Next: Ichiro in the Home Run Derby?
Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki channeled his inner Bobby Valentine to get back into the dugout. Hopefully, he can become the MLB version of David Spade in Master of Disguise.