Not a lot of mention or discussion, of whom the "Best MLB Hitter" is, so let's offer some names.

 

Who is better than Ichiro?

Ichiro will go down as one of the best hitters all time. The thing is base hits are really over looked today.. he doesn't have a lot of pop, but he is the best "put the ball in play" guy. Excellent bag stealer as well, any major league team would have been LUCKY to have him.

No one Ichiro is a machine!

Ichiro will go down as one of the best hitters all time. The thing is base hits are really over looked today.. he doesn't have a lot of pop, but he is the best "put the ball in play" guy. Excellent bag stealer as well, any major league team would have been LUCKY to have him.

 

:thumb: I agree, he is a pure hitter. He reminds me of a Rod Carew type hitter.

No, Ichiro isn't the best, it's fairly close, but the nod has to go to Jeff Keppinger. HE CAN FLAT OUT RAKE! :lol:

 

I remember when Gwynn and Boggs were having their seasons of 200 plus hits year in and year out and you don't realize just how difficult that is.

 

He has to go down as one of the all time greats, just keeps doing it, year in and year out.

3,000+ combined hits in the U.S. & Japan.

 

Ichiro

 

 

Kinsler - this season

Reyes - this season

Edited August 8, 200818 yr by ScarHeel

I've got to go with Pujols. They came into the league at the same time and the only hitting categories that Ichiro leads him in is total hits and triples.

 

......Pujols..........................Ichiro

Avg-.333---------------.331

Runs-915---------------858

Hits-1471---------------1737

2B-325-----------------190

3B-13-------------------------63

HR-305-----------------71

RBI-934----------------456

BB-667-----------------372

K-489-------------------------504

SLG-.620---------------432

OBP-.424---------------.378

 

Not only does Pujols beat him in almost every category but he has put up those kind of power numbers and has actually struck out LESS than Ichiro. In fact for his career Pujols has 653 extra base hits and only 489 Strikeouts so he is way more likely to get an extra base hit than to strike out. Ichiro? 224 extra base hits and 504 strikeouts so he is twice as likely to strike out than to get an extra base hit. Simply amazing numbers for Pujols.

 

I remember when Gwynn and Boggs were having their seasons of 200 plus hits year in and year out and you don't realize just how difficult that is.

 

He has to go down as one of the all time greats, just keeps doing it, year in and year out.

 

:thumb: Gwynn and Boggs were both great, great hitters along with Ichiro.

I have read numerous, numerous accounts that Ichiro has TONS of pop, but that's not his style or game. Ichiro is not only the best hitter in the game today, he likely is in the top 5 of all time.

Not even close ... Pujols, A. Rodriguez, Utley, H. Ramirez, Sizemore and others are more productive hitters. Batting average is only part of the equation.

Not even close ... Pujols, A. Rodriguez, Utley, H. Ramirez, Sizemore and others are more productive hitters. Batting average is only part of the equation.

 

And Pujols even has him beat in that category. :thumb:

Edited August 8, 200818 yr by STRIKE3
fixed quote

Give me Manny any day.

I think some of you are homer-ising....but I don't know why...watch Ichiro play the game...it is unreal.

I think some of you are homer-ising....but I don't know why...watch Ichiro play the game...it is unreal.

 

Not me, I'm a Red Sox fan. Pujols is just flat out a better hitter. He hits for a higher average, scores more runs, drives in more runs, has more pop, walks more and strikes out less. He is by far a better hitter. Now if you want to talk all-around game then it gets more interesting, Ichiro is by far the better fielder and baserunner. However, the thread title asked if Ichiro was the best Major League hitter--and he's not.

I have read numerous, numerous accounts that Ichiro has TONS of pop, but that's not his style or game. Ichiro is not only the best hitter in the game today, he likely is in the top 5 of all time.

 

WHAT??????? Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Lou Gherig, and Rogers Hornsby. What about Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb. Even present day, you just saw that Pujols stats are better.