Ichiro is a big Cleveland fan

[Big Pimpin]

LMAO

Seattle star Ichiro is going to be a free agent at the end of the 2007 season. But it's reasonable to guess that he won't end up a Cleveland Indian next year.

According to a report in the Seattle Times, the Mariners right fielder said he would punch himself in the face if he ever caught himself saying he would enjoy a trip to the city once derisively referred to as "the mistake by the lake."

Seattle had to make a side trip to Cleveland for a make-up game on Monday, where the Mariners blew a seven-run lead before winning, 8-7.

"To tell the truth, I'm not excited to go to Cleveland, but we have to," Ichiro proclaimed, through an interpreter. "If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying."

Monday's game was a makeup for an April matchup that was part of an entire series with the Indians wiped out due to snow. The Mariners were originally scheduled to have Monday off before what was originally scheduled as a six-game road trip beginning in Chicago on Tuesday night.

[LukeW9027]

Boy, who would have known Ichiro was full of great quotes?

[roncool11]

lol whats so bad about Cleveland

[IllinoisBandit]

Haha, so true. Cleveland is a garbage town. Second only to Detroit in my mind.

But atleast both of them have nice stadiums and good baseball teams.

[roninmedia]

Cleveland: The Mistake on the Lake

Seriously, Ichiro is probably just referring to having to fly back to Cleveland on what should have been off-days to make up all those games. He should blame Mother Nature instead.

[lane_anasazi2]

That is hilarious. Ichiro is a quirky guy - there are some other great quotes out there if you look for them; he's got a good sense of humor.

[Krunk City King$]

the real question is would he punch himself infront of his wife and kids?

[jswede]

Haha, so true. Cleveland is a garbage town. Second only to Detroit in my mind.

you have not seen much of this country, I can tell.

[kimchi_chigae]

I can't say if Ichiro is right or wrong because I have never been to Cleveland. But he makes some interesting comments every once in a while. Last year during the WBC, he said that Japan would beat Korea so badly that the Koreans wouldn't be able to play Japan for another 30 years, or something along those lines. My girlfriend, who is Korean, was so upset at those comments that she wouldn't shut up about it for 2 weeks, not to mention cursing at him during the entire game. In the beginning of this season he made that "I plan to face him (Matsuzaka) with the zeal of a challenger.'' comment.

[Heiserman]

Cleveland hasn't been the Mistake by the Lake for 30 years. Also, if you think Cleveland is the worst city, you obviously haven't been to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh smells like a foot.