Ichiro's 200-hit milestone due to technique, training

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 27, 2010)
Ichiro's 200-hit milestone due to technique, training
イチロー　技と鍛錬が生んだ２００安打（9月26日付・読売社説）

The Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki has reached yet another milestone in Major League Baseball history.
　米大リーグの歴史に、また新たな金字塔を打ち立てた。

On Thursday, Suzuki notched 200 hits for an unprecedented 10th consecutive season, breaking his own major league record of nine straight 200-hit seasons. We'd like to extend our warmest congratulations on this remarkable feat.
　シアトル・マリナーズのイチロー選手が、１０年連続２００安打を達成した。昨季に成し遂げた９年連続２００安打の大リーグ記録を更新した。偉業を祝福したい。

Ten years have passed since Suzuki joined the Seattle Mariners after a nine-year stint with the Orix BlueWave (now the Orix Buffaloes) of Japan's Pacific League.
　オリックスからマリナーズに移籍して１０年。

Suzuki has exceeded 200 hits every year since moving to the United States, using his masterful bat control and natural speed on the base paths.
巧みなバットコントロールと持ち前の俊足を生かし、移籍１年目から毎年、２００安打以上を打ち続けてきた。

Commenting on his achievement, Suzuki said, "I know better than anyone that it's not easy."
　イチロー選手は、それについて「簡単じゃないことは、僕が一番知っている」と語った。

His feat is a great record that can only be achieved through continuous training and good physical conditioning.
地道なトレーニングと体調管理があってこその大記録であろう。

The Seattle Mariners have performed poorly in recent seasons, and the team is in last place in the American League West this year. With his team running in low gear, it must be difficult for Suzuki to maintain his concentration.
　マリナーズは、戦績の振るわないシーズンが続いている。今季もア・リーグ西地区の最下位に沈んでいる。チームが不振の中で、集中力を維持するのは容易でない面もあったはずだ。

===

Pete Rose mark within reach

Former Major League player Pete Rose, who also is widely known in Japan, also had at least 200 hits in 10 seasons but not consecutively.
　大リーグでは、日本でも広く知られるピート・ローズ氏が１０回にわたり２００安打を放ったが、連続記録ではない。

If Suzuki reaches 200 hits for the 11th consecutive season next year, he also would top Rose for the most 200-hit seasons. We hope he will break this record, too.
　イチロー選手が来季も２００安打を打てば、通算回数でも単独トップに立つ。ぜひ、この記録も塗り替えてもらいたい。

On Sept. 18, Suzuki collected his 3,500th hit in his major league and Japanese careers combined. However, since this statistic includes the hits he had during his Japan playing days, it does not necessarily garner much praise in the United States.
　イチロー選手は先ごろ、日米通算３５００安打も達成した。だが、日本での安打も含まれていることから、米国でのこの記録への評価は、必ずしも高くはない。

For that reason, the significance of the 10 consecutive 200-hit seasons he achieved only in the United States stands out.
　それだけに、米国だけで達成した１０年連続２００安打の偉大さが際立つのだろう。

Major league players praised Suzuki's achievement as a record that will be unbreakable for the next 100 years. Despite reaching the mark while his team was on the road in Toronto, the fans in attendance gave him a standing ovation.
　大リーグの選手も「今後１００年は破られない記録」と称賛している。敵地にもかかわらず、カナダ・トロントの観衆も大きな拍手を送っていた。

Suzuki will turn 37 next month. When he is in a slump, some people say his abilities have declined due to age.
　イチロー選手も来月で３７歳となる。不調時には、年齢による衰えを指摘されるようになった。

However, Suzuki's extraordinary speed has hardly diminished, as this season he reached the 40-steal mark for the first time in two years.
　だが、今季の盗塁数が２年ぶりに４０個を超えるなど、たぐいまれなスピードは健在だ。

===

NPB knock-on effect

Suzuki's marquee performances also stimulate Nippon Professional Baseball. Norichika Aoki of the Yakult Swallows and other players who admire Suzuki are studying his technique and banging out the hits.
　イチロー選手の活躍は、日本のプロ野球にも刺激を与えている。青木宣親選手（ヤクルト）ら、イチロー選手にあこがれる選手たちが、その技を研究し、安打を量産している。

Japan won the World Baseball Classic championship both times the tournament has been staged, in 2006 and 2009. Japanese baseball will rise to an even higher level if more players follow Suzuki's example and achieve excellence in all three facets of the game--running, hitting and fielding.
　日本は、ワールド・ベースボール・クラシック（ＷＢＣ）の連覇を果たしたが、イチロー選手のような走攻守に優れた選手が増えれば、日本の野球のレベルは一層、上がるだろう。

Above all, the growing number of children who pick up bats dreaming of becoming baseball players like Suzuki will help spread the game even further.
　何よりも、イチロー選手のようになることを夢見て、バットを握る子供たちが増えることが、野球のすそ野の拡大につながる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 26, 2010)
（2010年9月26日01時11分 読売新聞）