Ichiro snares another award

11/01/2005
The glove that Ichiro Suzuki uses on defense remains golden.
Though noted more for becoming the first player in Major League history to have at least 200 hits in each of his first five seasons, the Mariners right fielder made it five-for-five in Gold Glove selections Tuesday afternoon when the premier defensive players in the American League were announced.
Ichiro was the only Mariners player selected this year, ending a run of four consecutive seasons the team had at least two Gold Glove winners, including a club-record four in 2003 -- when Ichiro, Bret Boone, John Olerud and Mike Cameron all won.
Ken Griffey Jr., is the only player in franchise history with more Gold Gloves (10) than Ichiro and the Mariners have won at least one Gold Glove every year since 1987, when pitcher Mark Langston became the first player in franchise history to strike gold on defense.
The 19-year streak is the longest in the Majors. The Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers are next at 14 years.
The Mariners finished the season with the fewest errors (86) in the AL and Ichiro was one of the primary reasons.
He committed two errors in 393 total chances and had 10 assists, the third time in the past three years he reached double-digits in assists.
Seattle's .986 fielding percentage in 2005 tied for the Major League lead with the Braves, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Oakland Athletics. The Mariners committed 86 errors (in 5,944 chances), tying Atlanta for the fewest in the Majors this season.
During his 779 games over five seasons with Seattle, Ichiro has made just 11 errors in 1,819 total chances -- all but eight of the chances coming as right fielder. His .994 fielding percentage is the highest among Major League outfielders who have played in more than 650 games. Ichiro also won seven consecutive Gold Glove Awards while playing for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan.
Ichiro is joined on the AL all-defensive team this year by three AL West colleagues -- starting pitcher Kenny Rogers and first baseman Mark Teixeira of the Rangers and third baseman Eric Chavez of the Athletics -- along with catcher Jason Varitek (Red Sox), second baseman Orlando Hudson (Blue Jays), shortstop Derek Jeter (Yankees), outfielder Torii Hunter (Twins) and Vernon Wells (Blue Jays).
The Mariners had two other candidates this past season deemed worthy of Gold Glove consideration -- third baseman Adrian Beltre and center fielder Jeremy Reed.
Beltre committed 14 errors in 425 total chances and was adept at fielding balls hit to his right and left and Reed led the team -- if not the league -- in diving catches.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/