Game 161, Rangers at Mariners
For the second time, Happy Last Felix Day!
Hernandez vs Millwood, 1:05 pm.
Felix is on a 6 inning limit, and since he knows it, I’d expect we’ll see him going balls to the wall from the first pitch. I’m guessing we’re going to see Max Effort Felix today, with lots of 98s and 99s. Of course, that’s not necessarily a good thing – Max Effort Felix often falls behind in counts, misses up in the zone, and gets frustrated when a fastball gets hit 500 feet. However, there’s a real tangible improvement shown in most pitchers when they know they don’t have to save their strength, so we could easily see a 6 1 0 0 2 10 performance as well.
Anyways, copied and pasted from the last post when it was Felix’s last start of the year:
King Felix has been at times frustrating and inconsistent, and while he may not have performed at a level we expected following his amazing debut last fall, today, he’s going to cap off one of the best seasons a 20-year-old pitcher has ever had. He stayed healthy, he improved as the year went on, and based on the things that a pitcher has significant control over, he’s been one of the best pitchers in the American League.
There’s not a pitcher alive I’d trade Felix for in a one-for-one swap. His future now is brighter than it was 12 months ago. For the last time in 2006, all hail the King, long live the King.
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107 Responses to “Game 161, Rangers at Mariners”
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Re: Putz or Ibanez. JJ just didn’t have that splitter last year, and he COULD not have had this season without the change. Hence, his season is not something that could be anticipated. Ibanez is having a career year, but it’s not wildly off his peak years at all. Only by putting excessive faith in aggregate projections of decline would one be genuinely suprprised as their are just too many outlier good seasons by guys in their mid-30s to see Raul’s year as something unprecedented. Unlikely, sure; unprecedented in the way that Putz’s breakthrough must be seen, no.
Re: #92, I agree that Bill Bavasi is _not_ stupid. It’s a shame that such a generally likeable and together guy who is quite polished as an exectutive is such a wash as a talent evaluator. Again, if he could be kicked upstairs to Chuck Armstrong’s comfortable chair by the fire, Bill would find his true calling. But as the talent chooser for my organization, sorry pal ten years of no-can-do is enough.
Thank goodness Felix’s last start was great.
#100
For example, in the Billy-and-Grover-come-back thread just a few days ago, a completely unknown guy pops up, and dumps like thirteen well composed, accurately puncuated, LOONNNNGG posts on why folks are over-reacting (not that he knows their long-term positions on the two), and how really things aren’t that bad at all with the team. Totally smelled like a crypto-provocateur to me.
Who, me?
No, I’m not with the Mariners, or a crypto-provacateur – I’m not well-informed enough for that. I’m just a lurker who was motivated to speak up for the first time.
If you’re serious about wondering about me, I have an established online presence – go to Google Groups and search for “Chris Hafner Sonics”. I’ve left a long trail of inanity across Usenet over the last 12 years.
Plus, JMB can vouch for the fact that I’m a real person. A moron, perhaps, but a real person – who has finished ahead of him (but, sadly, behind Dave) – in a fantasy basketball season, no less.
I actually did think people were overreacting and was amused by the idea that it’s that hard to be a Mariners fan over the last few years. I agree it’s not perfect, but try being a Sonics fan over the same period on for size. Being a Mariners fan looks pretty good.
Bottom line – all fans feel like they’re tortured. It’s part of the experience.
Forgot the smiley on the fantasy basketball part. No offense, Jason.
None taken. Thought I was probably robbed.
And with the Huskies up 21-3 at half (woo), I’m going to bed. Stupid 10pm ET kickoff…
Some of the people here were Mariners fans when the SuperSonics were winning a championship, and they’re still waiting until next year. Put that in your Jack Sikma tighty shorts and smoke it….;)
I personally believe that the Mariners will be the last MLB team to play in a World Series (not win, mind you, but play). Long after Texas and the Rockies have made an appearance, and yes even after the lowly Devil Rays have played (and probably lost), Mariners fans will still be waiting to one day hoist an ALCS banner… In fact, given the history of expansion teams like Florida and Arizona, I expect the Las Vegas and Portland teams to play in the World Series before the Mariners do.
And, speaking of the Huskies, SI rated them their 5th biggest surprise of the season.