Is it the interpreter or is it Ichiro?

Per Gregg Bell at AP, Ichiro Suzuki had this to say yesterday about the difference between the Mariner teams from last year and this year:

"I think, man, we lost a lot of games last year," Suzuki said through an interpreter. "We also have a lot better human beings on this team."

Oh man! You can't leave us hanging here with that one!

Were they unfriendly? Selfish? Smell bad? Jerks? Wouldn't ever pick up the check? Scientologists? What?

That one really deserved a follow-up question but either it was not asked or it was not answered.

I can't fault Mr. Bell too much though. After all, he also got the following quote from Ichiro:

"This year, I like to enjoy some Japanese beer - the right way."

Even if there was some translation issue, this is some great stuff.

Maybe when they win, he likes to guzzle them and he couldn't do that much last year.

I don't know. I guess.