Ichiro: prototype lead-off man and baseball philosopher

As this NY Times article proves once and for all, Ichiro is the master of good quotes:

“Chicks who dig home runs aren’t the ones who appeal to me,” he said. “I think there’s sexiness in infield hits because they require technique. I’d rather impress the chicks with my technique than with my brute strength. Then, every now and then, just to show I can do that, too, I might flirt a little by hitting one out."

But that pales next to his epic quote about facing country-mate and nemesis Daisuke Matsuzaka:

“I hope he arouses the fire that’s dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul,” he says. “I plan to face him with the zeal of a challenger.”