Pic of the Week

The great Ichiro Suzuki's 2018 season is done, but
his playing career -- probably -- isn't quite over

Ichiro Suzuki is no longer on the active roster of the Seattle Mariners. He is a "special assistant to the chairman" of the team. But he will still don a uniform before games, take part in batting practice, shag fly balls -- then, when the game begins, vacate the field and dugout.

He's not officially retired. The M's will open the 2019 season with a short series in Japan against the Oakland Athletics, and it appears the plan is for Ichiro to get a few at-bats in that series as a final coda to his brilliant career.

Ichiro is 44, and his days as a star or even as a regular are well in the past. Last year he came one hit short of the record for pinch hits in a season, which suggests that he was still a useful player, if only in a bit role.

But what a player he was at his best. I'm glad I got to see him play.