HASUUNN…. CHOP!

So Ichiro Suzuki was ejected from a game for the first time in his professional career. His career started way back in 1992, so that’s a pretty long time. Longer than any player I can think of anyway (I wonder what ELIAS has to say about that.)

It happened in the top of the fifth inning of the Mariners' eventual extra-inning 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. With a runner on third base, one out and Seattle leading, 2-0, Ichiro took three consecutive pitches from Blue Jays left-hander David Purcey. All three pitches were called strikes. After the third one, Ichiro backed away and then took a few steps back, stuck out his bat, leaned over the plate and drew a line in the dirt, indicating that he thought the pitch was outside. Without hesitation, plate umpire Brian Runge gave Ichiro the heave-ho.

Whenever I see a player draw a line in the dirt like that it always reminds me of the Bugs Bunny sketch where say’s, “I dare you to step over this line!”

After he drew the line in the dirt and Brian Runge tossed him that had an argument. How great would it have been to listen to that?
"Pansgfjfh ikdhdmej jikfhfewfbhweu outside!"

Wouldn’t it have been great if Ichiro went all Bruce Lee on Runge? HASUUNN…. CHOP!It would have been like watching Hong Kong Phooey... - Josh Bolan

Josh Bolan is a retired AP baseball reporter and now works as a freelance writer in Fresno California. Josh has been contributing to baseball publications as a writer since 1996.

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