There was considerable chatter earlier this season about whether the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, presently posting a less-than-stellar offense-only WAR of 0.9, should continue hitting at the top of the order, particularly against right-handed pitchers. Well, Jeter’s numbers look positively splendid compared to another 37-year-old leadoff legend, Ichiro Suzuki. Even though he has played in all but one game this season, Ichiro has posted a dreadful .269/.310/.306 line with an anemic 0.4 oWAR.

As I stated in the past regarding Jeter, current challenges do not in any way deflect from these players’ past greatness at the plate. Additionally, I realize that the anemic Mariners lineup would not have morphed into the Big Red Machine had manager Eric Wedge batted Ichiro ninth after the All-Star Break, but dropping him in the order now while games of little interest are being played ought to make next season’s lineup easier to configure. (Ichiro will be in his walk year.) At minimum, let newly acquired Casper Wells get some opportunities at the top of the order against southpaws.