Game 124, Indians at FELIX
Happy Felix Day. Perhaps the Happiest Felix Day. Last Wednesday, we didn’t know how awesome the game was going to be. Today, we’re pretty sure that it’s going to be awesome.
No, not because we know Felix is going to pitch really well again. I actually did a piece for the Wall Street Journal today that demonstrates that it would be historically unique if he does pitch well. Pitchers coming off perfect games have been largely terrible, and that held true this year for both Philip Humber and Matt Cain as well. Whether it’s just small sample size or some real effects from the distractions that come from throwing a perfect game, the reality is that no pitcher has ever followed up his perfect game by even throwing a shutout. Only Tom Browning allowed one run. So, yeah, Felix might not be great tonight. That is an unfortunate but distinct possibility.
I’m not sure it’s going to matter much, though. Tonight is less about the game than it is about giving Seattle something it hasn’t had in a long time – a reason to be excited to go to Safeco Field. Tonight’s event is the opportunity to give Felix Hernandez the ovation of his life when he comes onto the field, and a chance to create a special memory with a guy who will probably go down as the best pitcher in franchise history. Tonight is about showing Felix what Seattle can be when the Mariners give the city a reason to respond, and to show him that this is a relationship that should continue for years to come.
You’ve probably heard by now that Felix “promised” Mitch Levy that he wasn’t going anywhere this morning, in response to a question about his next contract. I doubt that his agents will consider that a binding agreement to end his career with the Mariners, but Felix has made it very clear that he loves Seattle. Seattle has not always loved him back. Sure, we’ve liked having him, but he pitched in front of 18,672 people against Texas on a Monday night in May, in front of 13,084 people against San Diego on a Tuesday in June, in front of 20,692 people against Boston on a Thursday in June, and in front of 21,889 against Tampa Bay last Thursday.
Since Felix has been a Mariner, they’ve almost exclusively been bad, and the park has been getting emptier and emptier. Most of the memories Felix has had of pitching huge games in front of packed crowds have come on the road, when he travels to New York or Boston or Texas and shoves the ball down their throats. Giving him that kind of atmosphere in a home game is the right way for the fan base to say thank you, and that’s what the Mariners are doing tonight.
As of this afternoon, reports had the M’s selling 35,000+ tickets for tonight’s game, and there’s probably going to be a decent walk-up crowd. You’re looking at potentially having 40,000 people in Safeco Field on a Tuesday night to watch the Indians. This is not going to be your normal Safeco Field crowd. There’s going to be yelling. There’s going to be cheering. There’s going to be a lot of “K, K, K, K” chants.
It’s going to be awesome. And it’s the kind of night that can convince everyone that this is a good thing that should continue. This is the kind of night that could re-energize portions of the fan base that have been more or less ignoring the team for the last five years. This is the kind of night that could remind people that coming to Safeco Field can be a great sporting experience.
Felix doesn’t have to throw a perfect game tonight. The Mariners don’t have to win. Tonight is about appreciating Felix, and showing him what Seattle can be again. Tonight is about convincing Felix to sit down with the Mariners and say “hey, sign me”, just like Jered Weaver did with the Angels. He already loves the city, but he could use a reason to love the atmosphere at Safeco.
Felix loves big crowds. For the first time in a long time, the Mariners are going to give him a loud, enthusiastic crowd. If he destroys the Indians and throws another gem, it will go down as one of the best moments in Mariner history. If he doesn’t, it will still go down as one of the best moments in memory, because it will be a celebration of the fan base’s appreciation for an all-time great.
If you’re in Seattle tonight and you don’t already have tickets, you should really go to Safeco tonight. This is one of those days when I’m really annoyed that I live 3,000 miles away. I briefly thought about flying across the country just to be there. Safeco hasn’t been raucous in a long time. Safeco is a lot of fun when it’s raucous.
Felix has given the city a reason to make Safeco a fun place to go again. Put 40,000 screaming people in the seats tonight, and remind everyone about what Seattle can be. Remind ownership what the place could feel like. Remind everyone that this place can support their baseball team. And show Felix just why he should spend the rest of his career in a Mariners uniform.
I talk about baseball in a very numerical way, but baseball is best when it’s emotional. Tonight is going to be emotional. Tonight is going to be what baseball in Seattle should be.
Well, Delabar has struck out 17 and allowed 3 earned runs in 10.1 innings for Toronto so far (.179 BAA), so I doubt they’re really complaining either. Seems like both sides got what they wanted.
And dont discount the fact that Thames also provides the added bonus of preventing us from ever having to see Peguero again.
Oh, yeah, Thames definitely has more value to us than to Toronto! I know he’s out, but they do have Jose friggin’ Bautista…
Well Toronto wanted to be in playoff contention
I wonder if any pitcher has ever won back-to-back 1-0 games. Another day at the office for Felix.
I agree – win win for Seattle and Toronto (so far). I wonder if the Dodgers got what they wanted – with League.
Landry is lighting up High A ball. Granted, it is only A+ ball, but at least he is a prospect who provides some hope. League provides none.
I think there have probably been many back to back 1-0 games for an individual pitcher, but I don’t think there has ever been a complete game shutout following a perfect game … By an individual pitcher.
And we need some help, or there won’t be one here, either.
Time to spin a DP
Shit!
Crap, suicide squeeze and they didn’t pick it up on camera!
Hahaha, another bunt got pulled back in a suicide squeeze! And it wasn’t by a Mariner!
Phew! OK I think more runs are needed guys.
Lets get some runs and a W for the King!
All right! Let’s move!
Seager and Montero are due. This is good.
I’d pull Felix here, after 7.
YEAH! JASO!
Jaso!!
Sweet!
“And dont discount the fact that Thames also provides the added bonus of preventing us from ever having to see Peguero again.”
That get’s a plus 1
MONTY!!!
Jesus!!
Think they want to get Felix the W too!
Off a righty, too. Nice.
It’s nice to see the Serfs support their King.
hehehe Mike
Justdave: ^ Good Call, Buddy!!!
Damn!!!!!!!!
So, even if you are going to pull him, do you bring Felix back out, have him warm up a little, then pull him so he gets one more round of applause?
Well that sucked, Ryan.
All of a sudden the M’s can hit homers in Safeco and the opponents can’t. That’s a nice change.
Man, lots of sloppy play in this game.
Maybe pull him with two outs.
HA!
Thank the diety of your choice we’re in Safeco field for that last one.
What an game by Felix tonight!! Glad we put some runs up for him. Now it’s hang on time!
Woooooooo – Ackley!!!
Nice play by Ackley there! Not particularly graceful, but a good job!
Man, we keep coming up against ex-Mariners.
Great play by Lillibridge – hope it was worth the concussion.
Cleveland likes our cast-offs … And they really, really like the ones we cast off when we shouldn’t. No need to name names. Everyone is familiar with the roll call.
You’re thinking of Kotchman, aren’t you Mike? 😉
If you squint really hard, you can start to see a playoff team.
Man, I’m starting to get some hope. I’m going to have to drink that away.
Especially Kotchman, yes!
Hey, they were definitely further back than this in ’95 (at least, I think so)… although fewer teams to leap, plus that team was actually good instead of just “better than we’re used to.”
That is some pretty serious rose colored squinting. Kuau’i must be working its wonders.
POSITIVE RUN DIFFERENTIAL!! WOO-HOO!!
Oh, and they won too.
It would have been tough for them to get to positive from even in run differential without doing so!
Okay…
Thames/Wells
Saunders
Good FA
Seagar
Ryan
Ackley
Smoak/Montero
Jaso/FA 1-2 win catcher
Felix
Good FA SP
Vargas
Wilhelmson
Hultzen
Okay, I’m 2 Mai Thais in…
But damned if I couldn’t see this team competing with a 100M budget. Stupid brain. Be less positive.
I’d rather see Iwakuma stay and Wilhelmsen say in the bullpen. There is no guarantee that he will translate very well to starting, and we know he’s good at this.
If he fails to turn into a starter, he can always go back. But with 3 pitches, he could really be a good starter, which is worth 2-3 times as much as a good reliever.