In case you hadn’t noticed, Ichiro does not have a hit yet in fake baseball. That’s right, he’s 0-for-21 in spring training. The breathless Japanese media that follows him everywhere is making a big deal of it. The outfielder? Well, he’s handling it beautifully (bold is ours for emphasis):

“I don’t understand what I need to be worried about,” Suzuki said Tuesday through Barron, after a groundout to the pitcher, two lazy flyouts and a sharp grounder on which sprawling third baseman Ian Stewart robbed him.

Suzuki’s feet were propped onto the chair he was sitting in at his locker. His arms were resting on his knees. The look was decidedly unconcerned.

But nothing is ever so-what around this icon of Japan, the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The pack of two dozen Japanese reporters who follow his every move are holding their breath for his first hit - so much so that Suzuki says he is feeling sympathy from others.

“I am very thankful that people when I am not hitting care so much about this,” he said. “I am grateful.”

And - get this - he’s not necessarily eager to get his first hit of 2008.

“To tell you the truth, some of this is kind of fun,” he said. “To be in a situation this early, in spring training, and have this kind of a little bit intense environment is something I couldn’t experience before. Basically, it’s a situation where I need to battle within myself mentally. That’s something I haven’t experienced this time of the year. … This is great for me.”

This guy is the best ever. We’re not sure why he doesn’t get proper due for how funny he is; maybe it’s the language barrier? Maybe he just has a great interpreter. In any event, we can’t get enough Ichiro.

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