First of all, I apologize for not writing for a while - on April 19th I celebrated the birth of my son Adam, so I've been a bit preoccupied. Rest assured that I have already taken the following measures to ensure that he is a 5 Star Recruit for football, basketball and baseball in 2030:
1. Alternated tying his right and left hands behind his back so he can go to the hole with either one and switch hit.
2. Strict protein diet to make sure he's gaining appropriate weight.
3. He's been throwing to some local high school kids after their spring practices - we really appreciate them coming and running routes for us.
4. 1000 jumpers right handed, 1000 jumpers left handed
5. Wall sits. Lots and lots of wall sits.
6. BP twice a day
7. Throwing simulated games to the JV Team.
I must be the greatest Dad ever. Sort of like Marv Marinovich.
It's interesting, Adam was born on April 19th - the same day that Felix Hernandez threw eight brilliant innings and struck out 12 Cleveland Indians and LOST 2-1. It was a microcosm of Felix's entire career in Seattle. He's filthy, but they can't score the runs to give him the support he needs.
Six days and six sleepless (but amazing) nights later, Adam and I settled in once again to watch King Felix take the bump, and once again he was dazzling - seven innings, one run and overall dominant. Low and behold, the M's scored nine runs and the game was never in doubt. Completely the opposite of what we're used to, and look how it turned out!
Next time out, the Tampa Bay Rays stood opposite Felix, and once again, Felix was Felix. Eight innings (see a pattern?) one run (seriously, pattern?) and nine strikeouts. How many runs could his offense muster? One in nine innings, which meant extra baseball. Jose Montero (who by the way is getting his own post soon) jumped yard to give the M's a 2-1 lead, only to be pissed away by Brandon League in the bottom of the inning.
So, what to think as a Mariner fan? First of all, for the first time in years, we have appointment based viewing. That means that there are players that you specifically set aside time to watch play. For years we had Griffey, Edgar, Randy and even Ichiro for most of a decade. But recently, who have you wanted to watch play? Richie Sexson? Jose Vidro? Wilson Valdez?
Felix has been here since 2005, but in the past three years he has truly become the dominant pitcher we all thought he would. He has evolved from a pure thrower to a pitcher. He knows he doesn't have to throw 98 mph fastballs to get people out, he needs to locate and move his pitches around and change speeds. He does it better than every single pitcher in Major League Baseball with the exception of MAYBE Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw.
In 2010, the Mariners got really lucky - before the season went in the tank, they were still riding the momentum of an unlikely 87 win season in 2009, and Felix signed a long term contract extension through 2014. This meant that Felix would be under club control and there would be no worry of him leaving via free agency during that time. The plan was that the team would get better and Felix would soon be starting Game 1 of a playoff series.
Yeah, that didn't happen. At all.
So here we are, in 2012, with Felix less than two years from Free Agency. In 2014 he will be 28 years old, and without a doubt the hottest free agent pitching prospect maybe ever. If you're Felix, what would you do? Be loyal to the team that gave you your start and sign a below market deal, even if that team has, in your 10 professional seasons, sniffed the post season precisely zero times? Has been rebuilding for nearly two decades? Has turned a fan base of 3.5 million annually into less than half of that?
OR....
Would you be interested in hearing what a team in a major media market with 27 world titles and a nasty reputation for spending whatever it takes to build a winner? Or what about a team with a freakishly loyal fan base that has won two titles in 10 years after an 86 year drought?
Or even worse - what about a west coast team in the nations second largest media market which also happens to have a MASSIVE Latino population and an owner who has also proven he cares so much about winning that he will spend huge amounts of money to be competitive, bottom line be damned?
In case you're wondering, I'm talking Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, hell, even the Rangers. Do you think Nolan Ryan would appeal to Felix? You know, one of the greatest power pitchers of all time who just happens to own the best team in baseball right now?
Could you imagine Felix in pinstripes? Or in Beantown? Frankly, that's not nearly as devastating as seeing him in an Angels uniform, just down I-5 becoming a mega star in LA while the Mariners are back to pre-Safeco field attendance numbers.
I realize that a lot can happen between now and 2014. But my God, look what we've gone through as a sports town in the last 15 years. Randy, Jr. and ARod all leaving town, the Mariners becoming a perennial laughing stock, the Superbowl in 2005, the Sonics disaster...we don't deserve to see our latest megastar leave town as well.
I am begging BEGGING the Mariners - put a winner on the field. Reward Felix for what he's done, what he will do, and what he's going to do. Otherwise, well - the next time we see something this special just might be in about 2035 when my son makes his major league debut.
1. Alternated tying his right and left hands behind his back so he can go to the hole with either one and switch hit.
2. Strict protein diet to make sure he's gaining appropriate weight.
3. He's been throwing to some local high school kids after their spring practices - we really appreciate them coming and running routes for us.
4. 1000 jumpers right handed, 1000 jumpers left handed
5. Wall sits. Lots and lots of wall sits.
6. BP twice a day
7. Throwing simulated games to the JV Team.
I must be the greatest Dad ever. Sort of like Marv Marinovich.
It's interesting, Adam was born on April 19th - the same day that Felix Hernandez threw eight brilliant innings and struck out 12 Cleveland Indians and LOST 2-1. It was a microcosm of Felix's entire career in Seattle. He's filthy, but they can't score the runs to give him the support he needs.
Six days and six sleepless (but amazing) nights later, Adam and I settled in once again to watch King Felix take the bump, and once again he was dazzling - seven innings, one run and overall dominant. Low and behold, the M's scored nine runs and the game was never in doubt. Completely the opposite of what we're used to, and look how it turned out!
Next time out, the Tampa Bay Rays stood opposite Felix, and once again, Felix was Felix. Eight innings (see a pattern?) one run (seriously, pattern?) and nine strikeouts. How many runs could his offense muster? One in nine innings, which meant extra baseball. Jose Montero (who by the way is getting his own post soon) jumped yard to give the M's a 2-1 lead, only to be pissed away by Brandon League in the bottom of the inning.
So, what to think as a Mariner fan? First of all, for the first time in years, we have appointment based viewing. That means that there are players that you specifically set aside time to watch play. For years we had Griffey, Edgar, Randy and even Ichiro for most of a decade. But recently, who have you wanted to watch play? Richie Sexson? Jose Vidro? Wilson Valdez?
Felix has been here since 2005, but in the past three years he has truly become the dominant pitcher we all thought he would. He has evolved from a pure thrower to a pitcher. He knows he doesn't have to throw 98 mph fastballs to get people out, he needs to locate and move his pitches around and change speeds. He does it better than every single pitcher in Major League Baseball with the exception of MAYBE Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw.
In 2010, the Mariners got really lucky - before the season went in the tank, they were still riding the momentum of an unlikely 87 win season in 2009, and Felix signed a long term contract extension through 2014. This meant that Felix would be under club control and there would be no worry of him leaving via free agency during that time. The plan was that the team would get better and Felix would soon be starting Game 1 of a playoff series.
Yeah, that didn't happen. At all.
So here we are, in 2012, with Felix less than two years from Free Agency. In 2014 he will be 28 years old, and without a doubt the hottest free agent pitching prospect maybe ever. If you're Felix, what would you do? Be loyal to the team that gave you your start and sign a below market deal, even if that team has, in your 10 professional seasons, sniffed the post season precisely zero times? Has been rebuilding for nearly two decades? Has turned a fan base of 3.5 million annually into less than half of that?
OR....
Would you be interested in hearing what a team in a major media market with 27 world titles and a nasty reputation for spending whatever it takes to build a winner? Or what about a team with a freakishly loyal fan base that has won two titles in 10 years after an 86 year drought?
Or even worse - what about a west coast team in the nations second largest media market which also happens to have a MASSIVE Latino population and an owner who has also proven he cares so much about winning that he will spend huge amounts of money to be competitive, bottom line be damned?
In case you're wondering, I'm talking Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, hell, even the Rangers. Do you think Nolan Ryan would appeal to Felix? You know, one of the greatest power pitchers of all time who just happens to own the best team in baseball right now?
Could you imagine Felix in pinstripes? Or in Beantown? Frankly, that's not nearly as devastating as seeing him in an Angels uniform, just down I-5 becoming a mega star in LA while the Mariners are back to pre-Safeco field attendance numbers.
I realize that a lot can happen between now and 2014. But my God, look what we've gone through as a sports town in the last 15 years. Randy, Jr. and ARod all leaving town, the Mariners becoming a perennial laughing stock, the Superbowl in 2005, the Sonics disaster...we don't deserve to see our latest megastar leave town as well.
I am begging BEGGING the Mariners - put a winner on the field. Reward Felix for what he's done, what he will do, and what he's going to do. Otherwise, well - the next time we see something this special just might be in about 2035 when my son makes his major league debut.
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