Baseball is a game of inches, or more accurately, milliseconds. Just ask anyone who has had to face down one of the game’s fastest players, and you’ll know what it means. Take Ichiro Suzuki, for instance. The man was lightning on the base paths, blasting down the first baseline in record time. A time that left little hope of others catching him once he really got going.
But here is the thing about competition: you can’t just hope to beat a guy like Ichiro. To compete against a speed like his, you have to be faster than fast, and this is when the story gets interesting. Alex Rodriguez, renowned for his power and precision, knew exactly how to push himself past the limits to outpace even the fastest.
In fact, his training was built around that. He called it “120-125% effort.” And in a recent Instagram reel, Alex Rodriguez gave out his secrets that newcomers should definitely not miss. Atleast, if outpacing your competitors is the goal.
Alex Rodriguez opened up about a training drill he used to perfect his speed and reactions on the field. The goal was to get that edge, those precious milliseconds. And his secret was simple, but far from easy. So, A-Rod mentioned that with the help of Rob Thomson and Mike Borzello, A-Rod would time himself during the drills, pushing himself to the point where it almost felt like he was out of control. He said, “I’m, like, almost chaotic and out of control. Cause Ichiro’s running, so I move up a little bit, and as soon as the balls hit, Borzello starts that clock, and I’m coming in full speed.”
Alex Rodriguez wasn’t just trying to beat the clock, but he was trying to beat the limits of what he thought was even possible. “I had to be 3.4,” A-Rod explained, talking about the time he needed to beat Ichiro and others like Rickey Henderson. And he did reach that + 0.1 than Ichiro and shaved those seconds, which made all the difference. Mostly, the result is more about mindset than speed. And he had one advice that sums it all up the best way. “So, a lesson for you youngsters out there who want to win a Gold Glove—practice has to be tougher than the game. And give 100% in practice—sometimes even 120%.”
Alex Rodriguez honors Ichiro with a classic story
While Alex Rodriguez had massive competition with Ichiro, he also had massive respect. And hence, even though after years of being passed over by the Hall of Fame himself, A-Rod was not bitter. Instead, he was genuinely happy to see his former rival and one-time teammate, finally taking his place in Cooperstown, and honestly, it is about time.
Ichiro wasn’t just a guy who was a star in the field—he changed the game. The first Japanese position player to break through in MLB. He became a cultural bridge between the two baseball worlds and became an inspiration for so many Japanese players today. So yeah, this moment was huge. So Alex Rodriguez was simply thrilled when Ichiro found his rightful place. And on the occasion, he shared a story—a story so hilarious that it sums up who Ichiro is. So, back in 2018, Tom Brady wanted to reach out to Ichiro. Rodriguez handed Brady Ichiro’s number, thinking it would be cool. But when Ichiro got his text, his reaction was priceless.
“Who the f–k is Tom Brady?” Ichiro asked his teammates. He was dead serious, no joke. It’s peak Ichiro, so focused on sport, he doesn’t recognize one of the most famous people in the world. A-Rod didn’t share the story to mock him but to show how humble, unbothered, and legendary he is.
What do you think, though- will A-Rod ever get to be among the baseball greats in Cooperstown? Let us know in the comments.
The post Alex Rodriguez Discloses “Chaotic & Out of Control” Tactic That Helped Beat Likes of Prime Ichiro & Other Speedsters by Mere Milliseconds appeared first on EssentiallySports.