When discussing great plays, context is everything. We all know this. So I won’t try to convince you that the leaping, full-tilt, back-to-the-infield catch made by Ichiro(notes) on Tuesday – in a largely meaningless spring training game – was one of the all-time defensive plays. (Video here). It was similar in style to the Willie Mays catch in ’54, sure, but not similar in substance.
Mays, of course, made his spectacular grab in a tied World Series game – and he ran farther, then made a run-saving throw. Ichiro made his catch in the second inning of a Cactus League game.
But still, it was insane. If a play like that doesn’t get you in the mood for baseball, then nothing will.
Here’s Ichiro himself describing the catch to MLB.com (and sounding a little like an animal whisperer or a yoga instructor):
"You [must] have the imagery to go straight to the ball and not go around it. Once you go around from the left or the right you don’t get to that ball. When you first see it, you imagine where the ball will land. So you go straight to that point where the ball will drop and then you will see it from up top."
Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu simply said of Ichiro, "He has GPS."
After scanning the five additional links below, we encourage you to join us in comments. And please bring imagery. Do not go around the ball.
• If you’re looking for a thorough sweep of the game’s best prospects, ranked and profiled, then Joe Posnanski has you covered. Reflecting on the ’07 MLB Draft, Joe asks an important question: "How in the heck did teams take 13 players in front of [Jason Heyward(notes)]?" Then Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein drops in with a response.
• More Heyward coverage: Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explains why the top hitting prospect in baseball – a guy who’s batting .364/.523/.576 this spring – should begin the year in the minors.
• Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com checks in on Bryce Harper, the presumptive top pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. Harper presently plays for the College of Southern Nevada, but the Washington Nationals will likely employ him soon. In case you were wondering, "He is doing, as one scout put it, exactly what was expected of him."
• OK, so maybe we’re a little prospect-heavy today. Jenrry Mejia(notes) pitched another clean inning for the Mets, hitting 97 mph on the radar gun according to Tyler Kepner. The 20-year-old is thought to be in the bullpen mix for New York. He sounds fairly confident, too:
“I think I can pitch in the major leagues,” Mejia said. “That’s what I think. But whatever they do with me, that’s what I do. If they send me back to the minor leagues, I have to work hard to get to the major leagues. I have to work hard anywhere.”
• Albert Pujols(notes) is expected to return to the St. Louis lineup on Wednesday, just two days after "receiving an injection to calm recurring stiffness and discomfort in his lower back." Of course he’s been scratched from spring games before, and might be pulled at the last minute today. But it’s a relief to hear that he’s close.
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Photo via AP Images