Ichiro Suzuki: “The Throw”
Ichiro Suzuki throws a “laser beam strike” from right field to nail Terrence Long at third base. Click image for video.
The New York Times: “With Terrence Long on first base and one out, Ramon Hernandez laced a single to right. Suzuki charged hard on the bouncing ball as Long rounded second and headed for third. Suzuki gloved the ball and with uncanny precision made the transition into his exaggerated throwing motion to go for the out.
“What followed would come to be referred to as The Throw.
“At the time Suzuki released the ball, Long was well on his way to third. The ball came out of Suzuki’s hand unusually low and hard, as if fired from a rifle. David Bell, the Mariners’ third baseman, stood straight up, shifting to his right, never expecting there to be a play. Just as Long broke into his slide, Bell held his glove low and the ball arrived, seemingly never having traveled more than six or seven feet off the ground.
“With a flick of the wrist of no more than a few inches, Bell tagged out Long.
“The entire play took eight seconds from the crack of the bat to the umpire’s calling out Long.” More…