Ichiro mania grips Japan, Mike Sweeney too

No, this isn't a sign Mike Sweeney is headed to the Japanese League next season. Sweeney was on the field for pre-game stretching and saw some fans down the right field line, one of them wearing a Team Japan jersey with Ichiro's name on it. So, he did what Sweeney would do. Borrowed the jersey and came running over to lead the stretching routine. Kind of what Ichiro would look like after a long-term conditioning program with an NFL team. Sweeney kept working out in the jersey for several minutes. Poor old Ichiro, fresh off another tickle attack by Ken Griffey Jr. -- who is in tonight's lineup -- he didn't quite know what to make of the whole thing. Ichiro is generating quite the news crush in Japan right now, where a nation is enthralled by the fact he's five hits away from becoming the first player to ever have nine consecutive 200-hit seasons. They've sent the entire Japanese press corps to Angel Stadium to cover it. I even have my very own television cr...