Holding Court with King Felix
DMZ · August 16, 2005 at 9:53 am · Filed Under Mariners
David Schoenfield (Kentridge graduate) writes about Hernandez on ESPN’s Page 2.
I had to watch because I’m a Mariners fan and it’s been a stinking lousy two years. I had to watch because he’ll be a phenom with an unlimited future for only a breath of time. I had to watch because if he were pitching for the Red Sox or Yankees, the stadiums would have melted from the red-hot hype.
But he’s not with Boston or New York. He’s with the Mariners. And I had to watch Monday night because maybe — just maybe — he really is the King who can save my baseball team.
We can hope.
Comments
65 Responses to “Holding Court with King Felix”
I’ve got to say that while it would be nice to be in Seattle and be able to watch the King work on TV, there’s something kind of neat about being 3000 miles away, relying on Gameday and the game threads to get me through…
Agreed, Zach, agreed.
Thanks for the link, DMZ. Guess I’d better bookmark that first reference to The Royal Curveball.
Yup yup
The seventh inning was the most impressive. After giving up a solid single to Sweeney, Felix induced three grounders. Even though Morse and Betancourt cannot convert the first one into an out or the next two into a double play (allowing Sweeney to score), Felix remains all business, never slowing the game down to mope around the mound like Freddy Garcia would do in similar situations.
Jeff & Derek, nice talking to you last night. Hopefully, the King’s performance cheered you up a bit. And Derek, you never know, Felix might like Yoda too.
Where is Ruano Flanklero?…el segundo Jorge Campillo
I am from Tabasco, Mexico, a mariners fan for about 15 years, i saw a lot of great pitchers but none with the poise of Felix in his first 3 games
Great article-when is Felix gonna get some serious national pub?
Great article-when is Felix gonna get some serious national pub?
Barring a labrum-fraying 140 pitch outing or an unfortunate incident involving Dave Myers and a “stop” sign, he pitches against the Yanks on August 26. His first national TV appearance: September 5 vs. Oakland (ESPN).
Actually, the 26th game is against Chicago. But yes, the 31st against New York will get him all kinds of attention. And if he mows down the Yankees, well, the national media will be on him for good.
Hmm, lessee, his next two games after Minnesota are against the White Sox and the Yankees.
That should do quite nicely.
I’d also like to gratuitously mention that if the playoffs started today, the Yankees wouldn’t be playing in them. Let’s hope we can do our part to make that a true statement come come October, seeing as our playoff odds have finally hit zero.
Actually, the 26th game is against Chicago.
I keep doing that. Apparently, toddlers rob you of your coherency.
I was checking to see if the White Sox game was on WGN, and it’s not.
…seeing as our playoff odds have finally hit zero.
Yes, but they’re less zero than the Royals’ or the Rays’ (for sufficiently large values of zero)
our playoff odds have finally hit zero.
Not true. They’re just less than 1 in 10 million, still better than your odds of winning Mega Millions (1 in 175,711,536).
Still, $17 in lottery tickets would be a better bet than the M’s making the playoffs.
Move over Bill Simmons and ring in the new. David Schoenfield should do an all-Mariner column. He won’t have quite the fodder that the Sports Guy has had with the Red Sox and Patriots but I would read it.
“Felix remains all business, never slowing the game down to mope around the mound like Freddy Garcia would do in similar situations.”
Can we please not mention those two in the same sentence, even if it is to say Felix is better?
Felix is the King. What fun to watch him work.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/Panev/kingfelix2.jpg
The drumbeat of national attention is already starting to build: see #8 at today’s Sports Illustrated’s “Ten Spot”; “M’s phenom sends K.C. to 16th straight loss” is also one of only two baseball stories on their front page “Top Stories” list (the other being Winn’s cycle). And while I’m at the SI site: bonus classic Lou shot.
All morning Mitch on KJR kept making comments about how we get Felix for the next 6 years until the Yanks make him an offer. Can we officially knock that crap off.
1) He is here for a very long time, and a lot can happen between now and 2010-11.
2) The Ms have one of the largest payrolls in the majors, and have proven they will spend the money. (Whether or not they spend it wisely is another question.) The only time we’ve been outbid for a player wasn’t even by the Yanks, but by the Rangers. And even there we were offering A-Rod $20 million a year, but refused to offer the guy 1/4 of a billion dollars.
3) I’m tired of all of the defeatism that surrounds the Seattle sports teams. The best sound I heard last night was when I heard some guys in the bleachers chanting, “Let’s go Mariners!”
The past two years have sucked for everyone from Howard Lincoln on down to the people who only get to one game a year. Let’s hope that everyone has learned lessons from this painful losing. From my perspective, let’s hope that the fans are learning what winning baseball looks like. And are learning how to vocalize that in a way that lets the players and management know that we expect winning teams. (The other sweet sound was the sound of people booing the decision to play Spiezio.)
I think that the “Eastern Bias” thing (especiallly Boston/New York) is somewhat overblown.
I grew up on the East Coast in the ’30s and ’40s, and I don’t remember a similar player from a “Western” team (Bob Feller) being shorted on publicity.
Nor do I remember any publicity shortage for Fernando Valenzuela.
It may be true that west-coast teams don’t necessarily get the shaft on publicity. It’s probably more a case of NY/Boston hype these past few years; the Sox and the Yanks would indeed go absolutely nuts over having such a kid in their rotation. He would be the unmistakably-biggest mid-season acquisition for either team, especially this year… which he is for the M’s, of course… only we’re not in a pennant chase this year. Still, I’m a little baffled at the emptiness at The Safe during his two starts so far. How long will it take the Seattle “baseball-loving” public to understand what it is that they have?
Felix is a gift.
#1 and #2
it’s especially extra sweet following him on MLB TV in Italy..
I could do without the 4AM wake-up call,though..
Fernando Valenzuela pitched in a city with a bit more media-industry concentration and a slightly larger population than Seattle, if memory serves.
In the game thread for last night’s game, John in L.A. wrote what I thought was a great analogy for the trepidation people feel about getting too excited about King Felix:
“…why would I want to deprive myself of hope and excitement because it might not work out in the future? … [Art Theil's P-I column] reminded me of the people that won’t fall in love because they are afraid of getting hurt later on.”
http://ussmariner.com/?p=2881#comment-59379
Compare Hargrove’s quote from the end of David Schoenfield’s ESPN.com column:
“I would love to sit here and tell you all the flowery, beautiful things that I am feeling, but common sense tells me I should not go down that road.”
Mike! Open your heart!
appellation update:
KOMO. King Felix, King Felix the First, Young Hernandez.
KJR. King Felix, The Cat, Felix the Cat.
ESPN. King Felix,
PI, TNT, Kitsap Sun. King Felix, King Felix I
BP. King Felix
Times. zip. nada.
Aaron Gleeman has a nice piece up on Hernandez, including the obligatory King Felix reference
, over at the Hardball Times. Apparently it was written before yesterday’s dominance, but it’s still some nice pub.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-next-big-thing/
I’ve never liked Felix the Cat, but this article, for some reason, really put me off that cognomen.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002441727_catman16.html
Priceless image from last night’s broadcast (other than every pitch thrown by El Rey Felix): After the 8th, he’s in the dugout, cameras on him as Grover, Price, a few players/coaches offer their congratulations. Meanwhile, Franklin, Meche, and Piniero (the three sucksketeers?) are sitting atop the bench, glumly/blankly staring at Felix. Not a word, nod, gesture from any of them. Priceless.
no no no. Franklin, Meche, Pineiro AND Madritsch were all sitting together, Joel was finishing charting the inning, and there were some grins among them, and then the poker faces. my assumption was they were doing the ‘show me what you got kid’ dugout routine done to rookies.
>>I’m tired of all of the defeatism that surrounds the Seattle sports teams
The defeatism has been earned. Let’s see: Mariners – one of a few teams to have never played in a WS. Laughingstock of baseball for the first 2/3 of franchise’s existence. Seahawks – one of a few teams to have never played in a Super Bowl. In an era of forced parity, haven’t won a playoff game in 20 years. Sonics – okay, they’ve pretty much performed to expectations. Overall – I can’t think of a single city with such a record of futility. Houston came close before they won the NBA championship. Cleveland’s in the running, too.
That’s not to say I don’t enjoy seasons like the ’95 and ’01 Mariners. But, those who aren’t dismayed at how every season seems to end in Seattle is either a hopeless optimist (not that there’s anything wrong with that) or isn’t paying attention.
I’m gonna love watching Felix pitch for the next several years, and I certainly hope he pitches the M’s to the WS. But, I’m not going to get annoyed at anyone who puts up his or her defense mechanisms against yet another in a long string of Seattle pro sports disappointments.
Philadelphia, though it’s had its bright spots, has seen a lot worse; and you should try Montreal since the end of the Canadiens dynasty.
King Felix is going to continue to battle defeatism in the fans as a Mariner.
Consider this link on barstoolsports.com, which is a crafty little piece that compares every MLB team to a Simpsons (TV show) character.
The M’s draw? Here, let me excerpt it for you:
That sounds about right. All hail the King! Long life the King!
Damn come home turn on the tube to check ESPN and on Fox FSN it is bottom of eighth last nights game. No where did I read or see there was to be a rebroad cast of the game. Would of been fun to watch again.
Betancourt is one entertaining player as well. Hope get to see him everyday.
Since the Sonics won the city’s sole championship in 1978, here are the Philly teams that have appeared in Super Bowls or final series:
Super Bowl: 1981, 2005
World Series: 1980, 1983, 1993
NBA Finals: 1980, 1982, 1983, 2001
Seattle: Sonics 1996
Final Score: Philly 9, Seattle 1.
Montreal doesn’t count!
#34: First, the Sonics won in 1979.
Second, I’ve been through this with my friends, the only city that’s had worse has been Cleveland.
Football: The Browns in their first incarnation never won a Super Bowl. They were the city’s most beloved team, and Art Modell moved them. Three years later, they won the Super Bowl in Baltimore. Since they’ve come back to the league, they’ve been mediocre or worse.
Basketball: The Cavs looked like they were on the verge of something in the late 80s, then Michael Jordan took them apart. Since, they’ve done basically nothing, and even with LeBron James they’ve failed to make the playoffs since 1998.
Baseball: The Indians haven’t won the World Series since 1948, and while they made the Series in 1995 and 1997, they got taken apart by the Braves in 1995 and lost in heartbreaking fashion in 1997. That team was dismantled in 2001-2002, and now the team is rebuilding.
No argument on Cleveland — you have to go back a long way to find good days. As for Philadelphia, as I said, they’ve had their bright spots; on the other hand, their history goes back a lot further than Seattle’s, and a lot of it has been truly abysmal. Go back and look at the history of the Phillies and the Philadelphia A’s, you’ll see what I mean.
If the Mariners don’t win a World Series until 2074, then you can whine. I grew up in Philly; that’s *97* years of existence before winning a series. Heck, they went 32 years (until 1915) before placing first in their division/league and only managed it twice in their first 93 years. (And don’t even mention 1964.)
The Mariners have been around 28 years and already gotten to the postseason 4 times? It could be a lot, lot worse.
What would make me laugh is if something happened next year with Felix like the 1972 Phillies — when the team won 59 games total, and Steve Carlton won 27 of them.
Because I have no life:
Since the Mariners entered MLB all but 4 teams in each league (If you count the Brewers in the NL even though they were the AL rep at the time) have played in a WS. Seattle, Texas, Chicago, and TB have not for the AL and Colorado, Washington, Houston, and Chicago have not for the NL
Since the Seahawks entered the NFL 4 NFC teams and 6 AFC teams (Current conference alignment) have not played in a Super Bowl. On the AFC side it’s New York, Cincinatti, Jacksonville, Houston, Indy, and KC. On the NFC side it’s Detroit, New Orleans, Arizona, and Seattle.
So Seattle, Houston, and Chicago each have 2 teams that have no reached the final, but at least Chicago has the Bears as well (Not to mention the Bulls), and Houston has the excuse of not having an NFL team for a few years.
Hey! Seattle Storm won it all last year!!
>>If the Mariners don’t win a World Series until 2074, then you can whine. I grew up in Philly; that’s *97* years
Unless you’re 97 years old, I don’t see the relevance. I don’t give a damn about something that happened in my grandparents’ time.
>>The Mariners have been around 28 years and already gotten to the postseason 4 times
Since there are 30 teams and 8 make the postseason, on average you’d expect to have seen the M’s in the postseason about 8 times. Accomplishing half the leage average isn’t going to get me turning cartwheels.
Unless you’re 97 years old, I don’t see the relevance. I don’t give a damn about something that happened in my grandparents’ time.
Yeah, stupid World Wars and stuff. Who needs to know about that kind of garbage? Ist unbedeutend, nein, winn ich spreche Deutch oder Englisch.
Danke,
Herr Zumsteg
Eric,
I could have done without that article. Thanks.
jason
Um, let’s see. You’re suddenly a major league manager. Your team has (miracle of miracles) scored eight runs through seven innings. Your pitcher is just 19 years old; most pitchers 19 years old make MAYBE 20 starts in a season, each start usually only 6 innings long.
This guy has incredible stuff- just blinding. He’s held the bad guys to just one run.
Recap: You’re up 8-1, at home, with a very young very super stud. Do you send him out to pitch the 8th?
WHY let King Felix throw the 8th? I can understand why they did it in the previous start- put him out there with a one-run lead, a little pressure, see how he handles it. It’s not like these games count for much for the M’s anyway.
But last night? Why send him out there up seven runs? He winds up throwing 98 pitches for the game, and granted he went 1-2-3 in that eight inning… but why?
I say put him on a STRICT 90 pitch count, or maybe even 85, until the rest of the season. Why bother going for more? What can be accomplished? His shoulder and arm are only 19 freakin’ years old!
An 18 year old kid pitching for his high school is going to maybe start 1.5 games a week over an 8 week season- maybe more if the league has higher guidelines, but most states are limited around there.
For example, the state of Washington’s season is just 20 games. If a guy starts half of them, that’s 10 starts. How many 18 year old kids are pitching more than 85 innings a year? And the M’s think they’re being safe and conservative with a 150 inning limit!?
I fear for the King.
Whining can be fun! The entire nation of England subsists on it (and are probably in full throttle now, having choked in the most recent Ashes test and allowed Australia to escape with a draw).
That’s a cricket reference by the way.
Hey, I walked right past the Stalking Catman yesterday on the way to the game. He was scratching the sole of a stained tennis sock with the back of a cigaretter lighter.
#40– suddenly hearing Veruca Salt in my head…
Can someone explain to me why the “Que? Que? Que?” fellows at the “Felix’s Fiesta” display yesterday were wearing sombreros? Sombreros are Mexican; Felix is Venezuelan. Kind of like wearing cowboy hats at an England-France football game, isn’t it? Just because they speak the same language, more or less, doesn’t mean they are culturally identical or even similar.
Grumpy grumble grumble, I’m in a bad mood today, huh?
40 – well, you said the Mariners were the “laughingstock of baseball for the first 2/3 of franchise’s existence.” hence why I bring up the fact that they’re much, much better off than some other hard-luck teams have been. That 18 years of the Mariners’ existence is but a mere pittance compared to the eternity of suckitude some other baseball teams have gone through.
And actually, I’m pretty sure there’s a moniker for people who whine if their team isn’t perennially in the World Series, and I think it’s “Yankees Fan”, if I’m not mistaken…
(okay, that was low. i’m sorry. but, your math is off anyway. if you’re going to say 30 teams and 8 times, you’ll have to count post-1994 only, and amortize the expansions and the longer postseasons over the first 17 years of the team’s existence, and… wait, were you demanding a championship in 2009? hold on, we’ll put that on order for you. *cue elevator music*)
Steve Thornton said:”Can someone explain to me why the “Que? Que? Que?†fellows at the “Felix’s Fiesta†display yesterday were wearing sombreros? Sombreros are Mexican; Felix is Venezuelan. Kind of like wearing cowboy hats at an England-France football game, isn’t it? Just because they speak the same language, more or less, doesn’t mean they are culturally identical or even similar.”
um…. well it was Felix’ Fiesta, so maybe they were sombrero-wearing Mexican fans throwing a K party for Felix…. or not.
I grew up in Philly; that’s *97* years of existence before winning a series.
Connie Mack would like a word with you.
Given the number of times people in this space have said “what was that?” after a King Felix pitch and I would bet a number of KC batters were saying “what was that?” as they were walking back to the bench, “que” seems appropriate
Easy Colm. We’re gonna take the Ashes. Put Wilkinson out there and he’ll kick us to victory.
Interesting story, that Connie Mack. Managed for 53 years, but had a career losing record as a manager, and managed a team into last place 15 times (including seven straight times), and only into 9 first place finishes. Maybe Bob Melvin could do better, given 53 years.
But Connie did have longetivity working for him. Maybe the Vets committee should look at Elmer Valo.
First of all there are 5 other teams never to make the series beside the M’s . Rangers,D Rays,Astros,Rockies and Nationals(expos)
Second, I dont blame the other picthers for giving Felix a blank look. They probably were thinking to themselves that a 19 year old kid has done more in 3 games then they have all season.
In response to #38 , the White Sox have made the world series and in football the Jets not only made the Super Bowl but won it! Remember Joe Namath and the guarantee?
oh ya the Cubs also made the series back in forties,remember the goat?
Do your research Jason (#38)
Interesting story, that Connie Mack. Managed for 53 years, but had a career losing record as a manager,
When he was inducted into the Hall (1937) he was 2963-2496.
and managed a team into last place 15 times (including seven straight times),
1. He was Wayne Huezinga before he ever came along. Sold the A’s stars off for cash — twice.
2. He did, however, have a first division finish in 1948 — at 85 years of age. He also had winning records in three of his final four seasons (all in his 80s).
and only into 9 first place finishes.
Nine pennants, five rings. McGraw had 10 pennants but only three rings. Sparky Anderson only had three rings. Joe McCarthy had far more rings, but he had Gehrig, Rolfe, Dickey, Lefty Gomez…
Dylan — Oops, I should say “raised as a Phillies fan”, hence the 97 years bit.
Yeah, that selling off his stars thing kind of sucked. I give you the 1916 Athletics (36-117), for example, as one of the worst baseball teams in history.
(I do think Connie Mack was pretty amazing, all things considered; definitely one of the historical figures I’d put on my list of “if I had a time machine” to visit)
I wonder how many other cities had to suffer through the indignity of having over 200 collective games lost in the same season by both their baseball teams several times? I count 8 times that happened in Philly during the 55 years they both had teams: 1936, 1941, 1921, 1939, 1940, 1938, 1945, and 1942. And that was back when seasons only had 154 games, too…
So it could be worse! We could be sitting through TWO awful teams at once instead of just one! Without any hope of escaping the cellar! Things aren’t so bad!
Deanna,
You don’t like my math? I considered the expansion and wild card team angles but didn’t have the time to quantify it all. Suffice it to say that there is no convincing argument that the M’s have been less successful than their expected performance over the franchise’s existence. As far as the long ramp-up to championship quality, I submit the D-backs and Marlins.
>>Yeah, stupid World Wars and stuff
Nice. You know what I meant. To me, at least, winning championships or rooting your team on in the finals is about getting excited about what’s happening right now. I don’t spend a lot of time reveling in the fact that Seattle had a Stanley Cup champ in 1917.
>>Whining can be fun!
Lamenting Seattle’s pitiful sports history wasn’t gratutious whining. It was in response to someone else whining about the negativity about Seattle sports. I was pointing out that it’s not without reason.
>>and… wait, were you demanding a championship in 2009?
Uhhhh. No. Now you’re just making shit up.
>>there is no convincing argument that the M’s have been less successful
Make that “more successful”.
#56/#57, I’ll do my research once you do your reading. I said “Since the Mariners/Seahawks entered MLB/the NFL” these teams have not reached the World Series/Super Bowl. I said nothing about them never reaching the World Series/Super Bowl. Obviously both Chicago ball culbs and the Jets have reached their respective championships in their history (as have KC and the Colts when they were in Baltimore), but not since the Seattle teams have been in the league.
One typo though. I wrote that Cinci. had never reached the Super Bowl since the Seahawks joined, but I meant to write Cleveland. Cinci faced the 49ers in 1982.
>>And actually, I’m pretty sure there’s a moniker for people who whine if their team isn’t perennially in the World Series, and I think it’s “Yankees Fanâ€Â, if I’m not mistaken…
I was gonna let this go, but it’s gnawing at me like a rat on a piece of cheese.
Me: With a single exception, Seattle teams have never been in the championship game or series since the Sonics won the ’79 championship
Yankee fans (according to Deanna): whine if their team isn’t in the WS every single year
Deanna: These are equivalent comments.
Me again: Don’t make up straw man arguments and lambaste someone for an argument they never made. It makes you look petty and foolish and betrays the fact that you can’t debate on the merits.
in response to #62. Houston did not have a team for just a “few” years. It was a little longer that that. The Houston Oilers became the Tennessee Oilers and then the Titans. Who made the Super Bowl.
Seven degrees
#64, 1996 was the last year of the Houston Oilers, and 2002 was the first year of the Houston Texans. So that’s 5 seasons that Houston were without a NFL team. I think 5 counts as a “few” years.
And Tennessee winning doesn’t help the fact that Houston doesn’t have a winning team, unless you want to count Cleveland as having a team in the Super Bowl because Baltimore got there.