Ichiro Turns Down the Home Run Derby...Again

As the title suggests, another Home Run Derby will go by devoid of Ichiro's presence, being that he has turned it down for the second year in a row. You can't help but speculate about why he insists on not fulfilling the fantasy of just about every die hard Mariner fan who sees his power potential as the next Jose Canseco or, maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself, Mo Vaughn (apologies for the references to steroid-enhanced players, but nothing strengthens my point better than the "Hit Dog" himself).

Maybe Ichiro does not want to be in the spotlight? Could be that he believes he has not rightfully earned a spot in the Derby? Maybe he is content with just playing Home Run Derby with Ken Griffey Jr.? Injury avoidance? Or perhaps are we are thinking way too far into the matter and its just part of his ongoing Charlie Brown style boycott of the commercialization of this once sacred baseball tradition?

Of the multitude of possibilities, it is most likely a legitimate reason meaning there is no point in getting angry at the man for turning down this offer, and honestly, seeing him not bite on an admittedly gimmicky opportunity lends to the mystique that makes Ichiro who he is. Hopefully the league will keep an open invitation for Ichiro to compete in future Derbys (Derbii?), and until then, baseball fans will just have to keep dreaming of the possibility of seeing probably the greatest pure hitter in the baseball today uncharacteristically swing for the fences.

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