MVP: Ichiro gives hint of what could have been

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Dream on, Giants fans.

Ichiro Suzuki offered a tidy image Tuesday of the havoc he could create at the cavernous ballpark alongside McCovey Cove -- say, muscle up on a long shot to right-center field, watch the ball take a crazy bounce and race around the bases for the first inside-the-park home run in All-Star history.

That memorable moment -- capping a 3-for-3 night -- vaulted Ichiro to the Most Valuable Player award. But if run-starved Giants fans yearn for him making the same mad dash for their team in the years ahead, well, forget about it.

On the same day Ichiro seized All-Star glory in San Francisco, reports surfaced of his imminent return to the Pacific Northwest. Two Seattle newspapers reported Tuesday that Ichiro and the Mariners are nearing agreement on a five-year, nearly $100 million contract extension to keep him off the free-agent market this winter.

The Giants had been considered a logical suitor, given Ichiro's preference to stay on the West Coast, the large Asian American population in the Bay Area and the potential departure of Barry Bonds. It all made tantalizing sense, at least until the Mariners threw gobs of money at their marquee man.

Asked after Tuesday's game if he were committed to Seattle long-term, Ichiro said coyly, "You'll find out sometime."

At least one of Ichiro's American League teammates found it fitting to hear he's on the verge of re-signing with Seattle.

allstar11_0010_db.JPG American League's Ichiro Suzuki holds his MVP trophy at home plate, after it was awarded following the game; American League defeated National League at the 78th All-Star Game at AT&T Park in San Francisco, CA, on Tuesday, July, 10, 2007. photo taken: 7/10/07 Darryl Bush / The Chronicle ** (cq) Ran on: 07-11-2007 Ichiro Suzuki holds the MVP trophy and looks like a businessman who just agreed to a new Seattle contract. less allstar11_0010_db.JPG American League's Ichiro Suzuki holds his MVP trophy at home plate, after it was awarded following the game; American League defeated National League at the 78th All-Star Game at AT&T ... more Photo: Darryl Bush Photo: Darryl Bush Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close MVP: Ichiro gives hint of what could have been 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

"Obviously, I would love for him to beat it and get to the National League," said Texas shortstop Michael Young, who sees plenty of Ichiro in the AL West. "But I'm happy for him. He belongs in Seattle. He's done a lot of great things for that city."

Ichiro did plenty of great things for the AL in Tuesday's game, a tidy compilation of his magical skills at the plate. He hit a sharp grounder into right field for a first-inning single, then used his protective two-strike swing to bloop another single into left field in the third.

In the fifth, with Baltimore's Brian Roberts on first base, one out and San Diego's Chris Young on the mound, Ichiro unveiled his Bonds-like swing. He smacked Young's low fastball toward the distant red-brick wall in right-center, where the ball hit padding covering the out-of-town scoreboard.

The ball took a funky carom, shooting back toward the right-field line, away from Ken Griffey Jr. Ichiro shifted into gear and sprinted around the bases with ease, securing the first inside-the-park homer of his life and abruptly giving the AL a 2-1 lead.

"As soon as it took that bounce, we knew he was in business," Young said.

Few American League players were surprised Ichiro's shot reached the wall. His batting-practice displays of power are well known throughout the league, and that was before he put on an impressive show during BP on Tuesday.

AL manager Jim Leyland clearly noticed.

"He probably hit more home runs during BP than anybody -- and he made it look easy, like it was nothing," Leyland said. "I'm not too happy about that, because we (the Tigers) open against the Mariners on Thursday."

Said Twins first baseman Justin Morneau: "It's like he does whatever he wants to do at the plate. It's almost like he's playing around."

Ichiro hasn't hit more than 15 home runs in any of his six-plus major-league seasons (he has five so far this year). But he also hasn't hit lower than .303 -- he's at .359 this season -- and that's obviously more of a priority as Seattle's leadoff hitter.

Asked how many home runs he could hit if he concentrated on power, Ichiro said, "If I'm allowed to bat .220, I could probably hit 40 homers. But nobody wants that."

The Hall of Fame pounced on Ichiro's big night. Hall vice president Jeff Idelson collected the hat Ichiro wore Tuesday and the ball he hit for the inside-the-park homer, to put on display in Cooperstown.