Ichiro is sporting a 1.4 WAR, and Raul's is somewhere around .4. It is completely fuelled by baserunning (20th best in the majors) and defense (10th best). That's a good ballplayer, but Raul's ability to drive in runs and hammer both lefties and righties in crucial moments was what the Mariners needed to contend this season. Yes, it didn't work. But it certainly won't work if you decide on May 1 that you will not contend, based on WAR formulas and projections. Ichiro would not have carried the team in a crucial stage like Raul did. Ichiro would have been a nice player being wasted on a bad team. WAR says Ichiro would have been better for this team in 2013. WAR didn't watch the games in May and June.
Having said all that, I still miss Ichiro, and would enjoy having him at leadoff and in right field right now. Even with his .660 OPS. He's the best sub .700 OPSer in the game.
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