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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Herptilian haven New Ashland cell tower light angers neighbors 'Batkid Begins' will air at film festival Asphalt plant granted extension Work your body to save your braaaaains Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergecy Services, March 16 Emergency services, March 15 Emergency services, March 14 Judge denies motion to suppress evidence in Rogue River serial murder case Medford man gets 4 years for burglaries Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Education Work your body to save your braaaaains St. Mary's School buys campus from parish for $6.5 million Medford School District calls foul on teachers union Supporters rally to back beleaguered principal St. Mary's reaches out to China Environment Herptilian haven Proposed new rules for Oregon critter catchers would require the killing of nuisance animals Jacksonville requests extension on reservoir dam-notching permit Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees Low snow closes Mt. Ashland bunny hill chairlift State News At Dorchester Conference, Oregon Republicans look past a bruising election Curry County commissioner's decision to opt out of insurance causes clamor Gov. Kate Brown to declare drought emergency in Lake, Malheur counties Lebanon High School sharpshooters aim for national titles Man languishes in Oregon jail, hasn't commit a crime Nation - World Obituaries James Albert Button Marjorie Ann Carter Rosaline (Tagudin) Wasierski Kenneth L. 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East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, March 16 Our View: Keeping the light trained on government Letters to the Editor, March 15 Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Charles Krauthammer: Early Onset Clinton Fatigue Editorials Our View: Keeping the light trained on government Other Views: State must rein in medical marijuana Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service Our View: Medford council shouldn't over-regulate backyard pot gardens Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 16 Letters to the Editor, March 15 Letters to the Editor, March 14 Letters to the Editor, March 13 Letters to the Editor, March 12 Columns Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Charles Krauthammer: Early Onset Clinton Fatigue George Will: The prescience of Daniel Patrick Moynihan Dana Milbank: Jason Rezaian's detention a tragedy for Iran Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Lifestyle Latest stories Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Home Help: This top garage trend keeps gaining momentum Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Haga-Parks Southern Oregon Journal: It’s a small world Food Community blog: Have a ball at this weekend's cheese festival Community blog: Fewer and fewer of us eschew brilliant beets Season Stepp: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with authentic Irish recipes Page H. 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Community blog: The Future is Now Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville City-rock band Shotgun Wedding performs at the Craterian Theater in Medford Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Theater Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Music Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Rogue Valley Chorale presents 'A Festival of Choirs' at the Craterian Theatre SOU's Chamber and Concert choirs present 'Songs of Passion' City-rock band Shotgun Wedding performs at the Craterian Theater in Medford Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Dining Restaurant Inspections Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Herptilian haven ... Our View: Keeping the light trained on government ... Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action ... Herptilian haven ... Our View: Keeping the light trained on government ... Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action ... MAJOR LEAGUES Ichiro still going strong Outfielder's steadfast preparation at age 41 is unmatched Comment By Joe Trezza Miami Herald MailTribune.com By Joe Trezza Miami Herald Posted Mar. 14, 2015 at 7:52 PM By Joe Trezza Miami Herald Posted Mar. 14, 2015 at 7:52 PM » Social News Before each of his new team’s games this season, Ichiro Suzuki, like all players, will need to get loose. Like all players, Ichiro will stretch. But Ichiro will start earlier than most players, and Ichiro won’t really ever stop. “Sometimes I think I’m stretching in my sleep, too,” he said. The pliability connoisseur is one of the few major-leaguers who doesn’t lift weights. Instead he prefers a rigorous flexibility routine that requires specialized machines, targets often-overlooked joints and promotes improved blood circulation. What Ichiro does is not Pilates and it is not yoga, although people have told him similarities exist. It’s a complex circuit that takes up to eight machines to complete and pays special attention to the scapula and pelvic areas. It’s also a major reason the outfielder, whose game relies so much on his legs — 487 stolen bases, 666 infield hits, six infield doubles — has been placed on the disabled list just once in 14 seasons, and how, even as the oldest Marlin by eight years, he is able to stay spry. “Sixteen, seventeen years, the same program,” said Ichiro, who missed two weeks in 2009 with a bleeding ulcer. “I want to do it every day.” He will repeat the routine up to four times per day — when he wakes up, before team stretches at the ballpark, before the game and again at home after the game. The machines are in Jupiter and will be shipped to an emptied storage area within Marlins Park, separate from the weight room, for the season. Where weight lifting left him feeling constricted, these exercises, which he has done since his playing days in Japan, find Ichiro liberated. What separates Ichiro from other players isn’t his work ethic. Instead it’s a meticulousness that touches every aspect of his preparation and makes him a fiercely revered figure in Japan and a fascinating one here at 41. “He’s the most interesting man in the world,” Marlins hitting coach Frank Menechino said. The first Japanese player in Marlins history is a former MVP and 10-time All-Star, a gray-haired, red-gloved, trilingual sage that uses a flip phone and comes with a media entourage. While most players spit in their gloves, he treats his like a trophy, polishing it with oil every day. While others make conscious efforts to grime their bats with tape or tar, Ichiro gauges the health of his like a chemist. A custom-made dehumidifier sits inside a trunk atop his locker, sucking unwanted moisture from the wood of his Mizuno bats. The dehumidifier keeps used bats close to their original state. Before he owned one, Ichiro would leave bats in the sun to dry like laundry. Dehumidifiers are not common in major-league clubhouses, but since his debut in 2001 their use has increased (he once gave one to teammate Michael Morse as a gift). It’s hard to argue with Ichiro’s results. He’s one of just three players to collect more than 4,000 professional hits, and he’s 156 from becoming the 29th player with 3,000 in North America. He has done it all swearing by a formula for success nobody else wants to follow. “A lot of people have come to me. They’ll do it a few times, but they don’t continue to do it,” Ichiro said about his unique program. “That has been most of the cases.” He says it with a shrug, and not a semblance of scorn. This is simply the best thing for him alone, a singular offensive talent of his time. He has been so successful while being so different. In many ways, he’s the player he has always been. In many ways, he’s not. Ichiro’s .275 batting average during the past three seasons sits well below his career mark of .317. He was only a part-time player for the Yankees last season, and barring injury, will have the same role for the Marlins in 2015. But he’s still a hit with fans, as evident by the ovation he received before his first at-bat of spring training on March 3 at Roger Dean Stadium. Before the game against the University of Miami, Hurricanes players snapped photos of Ichiro in awe. Adult Japanese women peaked through the stadium gates for glimpses of him like teenage girls at a Taylor Swift concert. Ninety Marlins games will broadcast in Japan this season, compared to two last year. “In Japan, he’s like Roger Federer in tennis, Tiger Woods in golf or Michael Jordan in basketball,” said Kimikazu Shimizu, a writer who covers baseball for Sankei Sports. Yu Darvish and Masahiro Tanaka are current MLB stars, and Hideo Nomo and Hideki Matsui qualify as legends in baseball-crazy Japan. But Ichiro rises above them all, transcending sports in his native country in large part to the discipline and focus he has utilized his entire career. Japanese fans are floored by his talent and find his regimented, detail-oriented approach admirable. Really, the best way to describe what they feel is rabid love. “In Japan, even if people don’t care about baseball they care about Ichiro,” said Setsko Nagano, a Japanese fan who now lives in Boca Raton, Fla. “He’s a hero to us.” At this point, what could be the last year of an incredible career, that doesn’t feel like much of a stretch. By Joe Trezza Miami Herald MailTribune.com By Joe Trezza Miami Herald Posted Mar. 14, 2015 at 7:52 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Fantasy Football Outlook for Chiefs Stars Mar. 11, 2015 at 8:04 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Bills Stars Mar. 6, 2015 at 8:46 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Cardinals Stars Mar. 4, 2015 at 5:27 am Fantasy Football Outlook for 49ers Stars Feb. 27, 2015 at 9:40 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Rams Stars Feb. 24, 2015 at 11:29 pm Fantasy Football Outlook for Browns Stars Feb. 19, 2015 at 6:32 pm calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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