I worked security as a second job at Safeco Field in 2007 and I always showed up a little early for work just to eat a snack and watch Ichiro take batting practice (and to see Adrian Beltre take infield, which is another story).

Ichiro seemingly could do whatever he wanted. He took three rounds of BP — round 1 he shot every pitch to left field, round 2 he drove everything to center, and round 3 he hit every pitch — literally — into the right field seats where I sat eating my chalupas. It still baffles me why he never took part in a home run derby.