Ichiro

Just one more reason baseball deserves all the angst it's getting right now: All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Ichiro Suzuki. Nobody in Tuesday's game in San Francisco was more fun to watch play than Ichiro. Nothing that happened during the two days of festivities was more electrifying than his dash around the bases for the first inside-the-park home run in 78 All-Star games spanning 75 years. The next most spine-tingling moment? Willie Mays' entrance. One master of the art of playing every facet of baseball brilliantly - not just power-hitting, everything - preceding a modern master of the practically lost art of small ball, baseball minus the power hitting.

The Mariners know they're going to hit Chone Figgins (above) second, behind Ichiro Suzuki, but they aren't as clear about where they will play him. Third base, replacing Adrian Beltre, seems the likely spot, but he could move to second if they deal Jose Lopez, as is rumored. Left field, where the White Sox considered him, is also a possibility. … It appears teams are starting to take a last shot at re-signing their big-name free agents. The Cardinals made an offer to Matt Holliday, and the Yankees are talking to Johnny Damon (whom they see as a part-time left fielder, part-time DH)

SEATTLE - One team gave away an unearned run and committed two errors, heaved an ill-timed wild pitch and walked twice as many hitters as it struck out. The other team received a complete game from its starting pitcher, pressured its opponent throughout the latter innings and committed no errors. But last night, the Orioles were unrewarded for playing the tighter game against the Seattle Mariners. Willis Roberts (5-4) finished what he started only to absorb a 3-2 loss before 30,413 at Safeco Field.

Gary Sheffield plans to go for No. 500 with the New York Mets. One home run shy of the milestone, Sheffield reached a contract agreement with New York on Friday, three days after he was released by the Detroit Tigers. Just hours before opening their beaming new ballpark Friday night with an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox, the Mets made another splash by acquiring the outspoken Sheffield. He is expected to be in New York on Saturday, and the deal is contingent on him passing a physical, general manager Omar Minaya said.

Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, a three-time MVP in Japan, is named American League Most Valuable Player, only the second rookie so honored. (Article, 2d )

Ichiro Suzuki Mariners right fielder He has raised his average from .177 to .288 in three weeks. Brian Moehler Marlins pitcher He lost his 10th straight decision and has an ERA of 9.76.

It's a fact Trevor Hoffman of the Pa dres has blown just four saves this season, but each has cost David Wells a win. Milestone Johan Santana is the first Twins pitcher with 200 strikeouts since Bert Blyleven had 215 in 1986. The number .456: Batting average (through Friday) of the Mari ners' Ichiro Suzuki since the All-Star break.

Chad Bradford, Orioles reliever What makes Ichiro Suzuki one of the toughest outs in the league? Even when you feel like you beat him, he hits a ground ball and he can leg it out. He's tough. If you make a mistake, he's going to hurt you. And even if you don't make a mistake, he can slap it over the left side and leg it out.

SAN DIEGO -- Of the 480 ballplayers listed on the final rosters of the World Baseball Classic, more than 170 played in the major leagues last season. Only two, Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and Texas Rangers reliever Akinori Otsuka, are still in the hunt for the inaugural title. Title game Cuba vs. Japan, 9 tonight, ESPN

Chad Bradford, Orioles reliever What makes Ichiro Suzuki one of the toughest outs in the league? Even when you feel like you beat him, he hits a ground ball and he can leg it out. He's tough. If you make a mistake, he's going to hurt you. And even if you don't make a mistake, he can slap it over the left side and leg it out.

SEATTLE -- Seattle Mariners starter Horacio Ramirez looked rattled. He had just failed to cover first base on Nick Markakis' RBI single that gave the Orioles their first lead and then compounded matters by giving up a base hit to Kevin Millar. The Orioles had strung together three straight wins with the help of some timely hitting, and the situation they were in - men on first and second with no outs in the fourth inning - called for it again. However, Aubrey Huff bounced into a double play and the offense went silent the rest of the way. That cost them, as Yuniesky Betancourt's two-out double off starter Brian Burres broke a sixth-inning tie and sent the Mariners to a 4-2 victory over the Orioles before an announced 23,128 at Safeco Field.

Just one more reason baseball deserves all the angst it's getting right now: All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Ichiro Suzuki. Nobody in Tuesday's game in San Francisco was more fun to watch play than Ichiro. Nothing that happened during the two days of festivities was more electrifying than his dash around the bases for the first inside-the-park home run in 78 All-Star games spanning 75 years. The next most spine-tingling moment? Willie Mays' entrance. One master of the art of playing every facet of baseball brilliantly - not just power-hitting, everything - preceding a modern master of the practically lost art of small ball, baseball minus the power hitting.

Ichiro Suzuki Mariners right fielder He has raised his average from .177 to .288 in three weeks. Brian Moehler Marlins pitcher He lost his 10th straight decision and has an ERA of 9.76.

SAN DIEGO -- Of the 480 ballplayers listed on the final rosters of the World Baseball Classic, more than 170 played in the major leagues last season. Only two, Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and Texas Rangers reliever Akinori Otsuka, are still in the hunt for the inaugural title. Title game Cuba vs. Japan, 9 tonight, ESPN

I know many of you are thinking Super Bowl this week, and I haven't been struck by any thunderbolt ideas, so we'll do an odds and ends column. Several people asked me last week if Kobe Bryant's 81-point game was a big deal in fantasy sports. I actually think it's a greater accomplishment in real basketball. Bryant's incredible scoring makes him a top player, but points are not rare commodities in the fantasy game. In the leagues I'm in, the teams with Bryant rank third and fourth in the points category.

BATTING LINE OF THE DAY Jonny Gomes, Devil Rays RF AB R H RBI HR 4 3 3 3 3 PITCHING LINE OF THE DAY Francisco Rodriguez, Angels IP H R BB WP 1 1 3 4 1 WHO'S HOT Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners is hitting .385 for July after a .243 June. WHO'S NOT Mark Redman of the Pirates has lost six straight on the road. He is 0-6 with a 6.62 ERA in his past nine starts away from Pittsburgh.