Former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine believes that Ichiro Suzuki thought he was going to make his MLB debut with the Amazings. But a short conversation with his agent probably eliminated any real chances.

Ichiro will go down as one of MLB’s greatest hitters of all time. During his 19-year career, the Japanese icon posted years between .350 and .372 batting averages, was a one-time MVP, a 10-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove winner. If he had the power it would be illegal.

However, when they debuted in 2001, imports from Japan were not given as much importance as they are now. For the most part, many of the former stars of the Land of the Rising Sun disappointed. So expectations from Ichiro were not high. But many now look back and wonder if he had started his career in MLB a few years earlier, he might have had many of the all-time hits records.

Ichiro is a great “what if” story for teams that didn’t make much of an effort to beat out the Seattle Mariners for his services. One of them is the Mets as stories have surfaced over the last few years about New York’s interest and why they haven’t landed the outfielder.

The NY Mets colluded with the agent to void Ichiro Suzuki’s deal in 2001?

This week, former manager Bobby Valentine added a new layer to the story. in conversation sal lucata showHe claimed that he urged Mets management to make a large silent bid because he knew how talented he was after seeing him in person while managing in Japan.

Valentine also thought there was a better than average chance that the Mets could acquire Ichiro because he and the great outfielder were represented by the same agent, Tony Attanasio.

However, he stated that the agent and club were not on good terms because of how poorly Valentine’s contract was negotiated, and some in the organization may have confused the manager’s keen interest in Ichiro as an attempt to get his agent another good payday.

“If Ichiro had sat down and reflected on that time, I think he would have said, ‘Oh, I thought I was going to be a New York Met,'” Valentine said.

After reaching the World Series in 2000, the Mets declined in subsequent years. However, if the roster had had an elite hitter like Ichiro in his later years, including his next NLCS run in 2006, it would have been possible that the club would have reached the playoffs more often and ended its championship drought.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

As even the most optimistic and happy people in the world can attest, all good things come to an end. On Monday night, the Los Angeles Lakers’ nine-game winning streak came to an end as they couldn’t overcome the dangerous Detroit Pistons 113-110 on the road despite the absence of Cade Cunningham. It was Dennis Jenkins who delivered the decisive blow, drilling a go-ahead liner from midrange to give Detroit a lead they would not relinquish.

Although the Lakers won’t be resting on their heels, this loss will at least give them time to think about what went wrong for them on the night and what they can do to make sure it doesn’t happen again. But for head coach JJ Redick, it was clear What LA lost on the night was that they were without two key players, Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura, to compete against the Eastern Conference leader.

“We’re a good basketball team. I believe we’re a good basketball team. Not being smart killed us tonight. It’s important for us to be healthy,” Redick said in his postgame presser, via LakersMuse on Ax (formerly Twitter).

JJ Redick says one bad game can’t undo what the Lakers have done recently:

“We’re a good basketball team. I believe we’re a good basketball team. Not being smart killed us tonight. It’s important for us to be able to get healthy.”

pic.twitter.com/ioAiMEDhEw

– LakersMuse (@LALMuse) 24 March 2026

That will be the number one goal for the Lakers moving forward: going into the playoffs with a full strength. Smart’s absence on Monday doesn’t appear to be a long-term thing, so at least this is a win for LA despite their losing streak on Monday.

Lakers outclassed by Pistons in clutch

The Lakers and Pistons both entered the night with 24 wins each by single digits, as they are two of the best clutch teams in the NBA. But even without Cunningham, the Pistons had plenty of time in crunch time, with Jenkins making it happen.

The Lakers have one more game left on their current road trip, which is a game against the weak Indiana Pacers, so this is at least a golden opportunity for them to start another winning streak.

PHOENIX – Jalen Green wondered why he couldn’t take advantage in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Milwaukee consistently doubled Devin Booker throughout the game, and clear advantages did not emerge.

Normally, the ball will continue to swing and into the hands of the open shooter. However, it felt like the offense was a step slower than normal.

The Suns scored 23 points in the quarter and hit only three of their ten triples. In the process, Booker doubled up and didn’t have much of a chance to score, which left Green wondering why he didn’t take advantage of it.

“I just think (when) our main guy is doubling, I think we should be able to hit them,” Green said in the locker room postgame after the 108–105 loss. “Whenever a double (team) gets sent in, we have to be able to beat them and get what we want.”

Jalen Green told @DuaneRankin His ideas about the fourth quarter of the Sun.

“I just think (when) our main player is getting doubled, I think we should be able to hit them. Anytime a double (team) is sent in, we should be able to hit them and get whatever we want.” pic.twitter.com/i59xZOlM17

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 22 March 2026

Jalen Green wants Suns to take advantage of mismatches

In his response, Green referenced what the team has done all season: take advantage of mismatches. This has happened countless times where Booker will be doubled, or someone like Dillon Brooks, and the ball will continue to turn over.

This happened quickly during Saturday’s loss but was not as sustained as in previous games.

When asked what specifically the problem was, Green was unsure.

“I need to watch film, but I think whenever I see a double take with our team, the guys out there, we should be able to hit them,” Green explained. “We got shooters spaced out on the floor. I don’t really know specifically what it was. They’re trying to take our best player out in the fourth and the other 4 players on the court won’t allow it, won’t allow it, so we have to help.”

During the team’s dry spell, the Suns have suffered a string of injuries, with six players reporting before Saturday’s game. Green doesn’t see this as an excuse in any way.

He understands what his team needs to do, and he needs to make a small change to ‘beat’ more teams if they want to do what Milwaukee tried to do.