It took two pitches to teach Wainwright a lesson that remains fresh nine years later.
The TV in the Cardinals' Roger Dean Stadium clubhouse has played highlights of Ichiro's emotional retirement announcement since the Mariners season-opening win Wednesday in Tokyo. Cardinals players have watched. Conversations have started.
Marcell Ozuna, a teammate of Ichiro's when both played for the Marlins, told his Cardinals teammates that Ichiro could have won the home run derby every year if he would have entered. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound outfielder could hit 20 homers in a row during batting practice, if he felt like it.