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Ichiro - Isolated power:
First 5 years - abberation was the 262 hit record season
.107
.104
.124
.082
.133
Most recent 3 seasons:
.094
.080
.076
My complaint about Ichiro has been consistently that he had lost his power. After 5 years with very steady power, (and accepting that the 262 hit season was a choice, not a sign of decline), that doesn't change the facts.
From 2006-2008, Ichiro's power vanished. Others brought up questions regarding his speed, which I never really commented on, because I didn't really see any real evidence of decline. But that ISO drop was by about every definition you can come up with a TREND.
Am I thrilled that Ichiro has found his power stroke? Absolutely. And along the way I noted that Ichiro is a singularity - that he doesn't fit well into any projection scheme. But being unique means that you are beyond predictability. In any system I am aware of uncertainty equates to risk.
I would love for Ichiro to prove me wrong -- but that is not the same as saying I think it is a good idea to ignore the reality that no matter how unique players may be, they do still age. Ichiro posts OPS figures over .800 in 3 of his first 4 seasons, and posts OPS figures below .800 in 3 of the next four.
But, blind love of a special franchise player is what leads to signing longterm contracts like Bagwell with Houston -- a contract that was a major problem for Houston to deal with for at least 3 years, (and one Bags eventually had to walk away from).
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As for Silva, he was a #5 SP gamble, and I didn't like the contract when it was signed. But I didn't have anything pertinent to add. He was a high risk, low reward pickup, where the contract was too large and too long with zero upside.
Now, I have defended Washburn on many occasions, but don't recall ever supporting Silva other than to say there is some chance that he might become serviceable again -- or that he might hold some value in long relief.