Seattle outfielder Eric Filia, the Mariners' No. 22 prospect, has been suspended 100 games following a third positive drug test. Kansas City pitcher Jon Perrin and Boston pitcher Chase Shugart were suspended 50 games for positive drug tests.
Buster & Karl Ravech discuss the activity in the NL Central, new-wave philosophies in front offices and much more (4:13). Plus, Marly Rivera talks Ichiro (28:32) and Jessica Mendoza discusses her recent interactions with Mike Trout and more (36:54).
Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki has retired from playing, he announced after Thursday's game against the Oakland A's.
Before Buster's extensive conversation with Phillies OF Andrew McCutchen (38:04), Josh Macri talks to David Schoenfield about Ichiro's goodbye, Mookie Betts' future, injuries to young stars & more (8:58). Plus, Sarah Langs' "Numbers Game" (31:50).
Ichiro Suzuki was showered with cheers and chants while taking what appeared to be his final bow in a magnificent career that lasted nearly three decades Thursday night when the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4 in 12 innings.
Tim Kurkjian shares a few favorite tales on the day the world's all-time hit king played his final major league game.
He fatigued late, but Roenis Elias' outing was pretty solid otherwise. He threw quite a bit harder after his move to relief last year and maybe he'll embrace a role as the Mariners' multi-inning relief dynamo. I'm jotting his name down as someone to track.
According to Kyodo News, Ichiro will hold a press conference after the game and announce his retirement. It was my honor to cover his career and one of the highlights of my life to spend time with him in Japan this past January. One of the greatest ever.
Ichiro Suzuki told the Seattle Mariners he will retire after Thursday's game, sources confirmed to ESPN. Kyodo News first reported the story.
Solid outing by Yusei Kikuchi, but representative of the "total innings" question he faces. He fell short of the minimum-IP qualification for a W and threw 10 of 19 first-pitch strikes. Still, he's got great breaking pitches, so his ERA/K's should meet (or exceed) our projection.
Ichiro Suzuki is in the Mariners' starting lineup in what might be his last game in the majors.
Ichiro Suzuki started for the Seattle Mariners against the Oakland Athletics in MLB's opening game of the season, and about 45,000 voices in a sellout crowd cheered him on.
Buster discusses the first game of 2019 with Eduardo Perez (5:35), dishes on the Mike Trout & Alex Bregman deals with Keith Law (9:50), dives into the numbers with Hembo (24:19) and catches up with Mets OF Michael Conforto to talk about his perspective on the Trout deal and expectations for New York this season (30:40).
Ichiro Suzuki drew the loudest ovation back home in Japan and Domingo Santana delivered the biggest hit, launching a grand slam that led the Seattle Mariners over the Oakland Athletics 9-7 Wednesday in the Major League Baseball opener.
After how he looked in the game's first three innings, who'd have guessed Marco Gonzales would come out of this one with a quality start (and a likely win)? He settled down late, finishing with three shutout frames of three K's, one hit and one walk.
Oakland and Seattle are getting the 2019 MLB regular season going in Japan. Couldn't get up to watch the 5:30 a.m. ET start? Don't worry, you don't have to miss a thing.
That was Domingo Santana's 22nd career home run to right field, out of 55 total.
We checked in with Ichiro Suzuki's countrymen about the importance of MLB's regular-season return to Tokyo and his role.
Before hearing from Carlos Correa (36:42) & Marcus Semien (43:17), Buster & Boog Sciambi discuss the video game epidemic, Scott Boras' rough winter, Clayton Kershaw & more (4:38). Plus, Sarah Langs' "Numbers Game" (30:16).
Ichiro Suzuki struggled at the plate this spring and went hitless in two exhibition games in Tokyo, but he will start against the A's Wednesday in the league's opening game.
Used to being considered MLB also-rans, Australian pitcher Liam Hendriks and the Oakland Athletics are ready to prove their doubters wrong.
Ichiro Suzuki is enjoying it while he can.
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | - | W2 |
| Texas | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | - |
| Houston | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | - |
| Los Angeles | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | - |
| Oakland | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2 | L2 |
