Game 117, Royals at Mariners
RHP Runelvys Hernandez vs. RHP “King” Felix Hernandez, 7:05pm. FSN & KOMO.
When these two Hernandezes (or is that Hernandi?) get together, you may as well throw out the record books — they flatout do not like each other.
Runelvys, who I still think of as a “young pitcher” despite that we’re the same age, is eight years older than Felix. When he was Felix’s age, he hadn’t even signed his first professional contract with the Royals yet. Think about that. After signing in December 1997, he spent three years in the Dominican Summer League before breaking into full season ball in 2001, at the age of 23. By the time Felix turns 23, he’ll probably have 50 big league wins under his belt.
RF Ichiro
3B The Ignitor
LF Ibanez
1B Sexson
DH Beltre
CF Reed
SS Morse
2B Betancourt
C Torrealba
One of the weirdest lineups of the season, for reasons we’re beating to death in the comments.
Roster moves: C Miguel Ojeda and OF Jamal Strong are up from Tacoma. C Wiki Gonzalez is back to Tacoma.
“You know you’re having a bad season when…” Department: 3B coach Jeff Newman is out for the season with a torn ACL. 1B coach Carlos Garcia will take his place the rest of the way, with minor league roving instructor Mike Goff “called up” to take over at first.
Comments
513 Responses to “Game 117, Royals at Mariners”
For this pitcher do the M’s bid for the right to sign him (like Ichiro) or is just a free agent?
#490 I agree. I’ve being saying for awhile that Jojima is the best FA catcher the M’s can get. I’m sure he will feel more comfortable with the M’s here than with any other team. He has said he’s worried about going to the states because of his children but I bet Ichiro could give a talkiin’ to him. And if we could get Matsuzaka that would be doubly great because Matsuzaka could pitch to him. That would be something.
Jojima’s page: http://bis.npb.or.jp/players/31733880.html
I think Jojima could hit .250 or better with at least 15 dingers a year His home park is a pitcher’s park. He won’t be expensive. He is also a gold glove. I think he is the best option the M’s have. And you needn’t worry about language trouble. He has caught foreign pitchers on his staff.
#501
The M’s would have to bid for Matsuzaka but Jojima is a straight FA. With money coming off the books I think the M’s could easily outbid any other team.
Hey guys, back from the game. I’ll have some pictures for everyone to see soon. I also have a picture of the KKKKing sign if anyone wants to see it. Soon 🙂
Go Felix!!!
What a great time tonight. Safeco was fun! An Ms pitcher was dealing heat. The offense pounded out runs. And my little girl went home with a foul ball . . . that the King pitched. Tonight, all is right with the world.
Actually, Daisuke still hasn’t been posted, and there are no guarantees that he will be. So IF the M’s were to acquire him this offseason it would be via bidding, but it’s not like the M’s can just decide they want to place a bid. His team in Japan has to post him first.
As such, there are so many ifs (will they post him, would we even want him given his crazy pitch counts, how much would we bid for him, would our bid be big enough to gain his rights, could we sign him after that), that speculating about him at this point is a bit silly I think. The odds are certainly stacked against seeing JoeJessica catch the next year.
And I really hope we don’t sign a catcher, Japanese or otherwise.
506 should read, “catch THE GYROBALL next year.” Sorry about the deletion.
If you’re up at 2am Pacific, you can watch Lions games over the internet. When I was unemployed earlier this summer I caught a couple of Matsuzaka’s starts. Scary stuff.
(media page: http://baseball.yahoo.co.jp/npb/teams/movie/7.html)
If I had to guess from their rotation, I’d say his next start will be at 6pm on the 17th over there, which is 2am Wednesday morning for us.
However, given how Seibu fell from Japan Series chapmions to second division this year, I find it unlikely they’ll post Matsuzaka unless they really need the money. And I’d hate to see Johjima come over here — he’s like the next Atsuya Furuta, only better. It makes me sad when the teams over there hemorrhage all their star players.
497
Doesn’t it tax his arm tremendously? Sounds like it…
Also, “Scouts have been drooling over the kid since the 2000 Olympics when he was doing great on the Japanese team.”
Kind of like Franklero…
I just got back from the most enjoyable game I’ve seen at Safeco in over two years. Two things struck me:
The King is an absolute phenomenon. To write more would oblide me to swear to an unacceptable degree.
Betancourt is a defensive wonderworker whereever the Mariners put him. He made three outstanding plays in the game, playing out of position.
I took two friends to the game, neither or whom has been there in years. Their verdict om Felix: “As advertised”.
496. I was thinking the same thing Jim. Torrealba looks as though he has an idea what he’s doing at the plate, a quality we have not expected from a Mariners’ catcher in many, many years.
Last game I was at, Gil Meche got pounded in the first by the Indians. Game before that, Bobby M blew out his shoulder. Needless to say, I was a bit nervous prior to the start of tonight’s game. I didn’t want my bad luck to touvh Felix. As soon as David DeJesus walked back to the dugout shaking his head in the first, I knew this game would be different. Felix is amazing, and he alone is reason to watch the M’s this year and beyond. Not even the meathead frat boy Red Sox fans sitting in front of me, swilling liquor out of a flask, swearing up a storm in front of little kids could dampen my enthusiasm. This kid is the real deal, and we’re lucky to have him.
So do we think Felix will be able to touch 100 mph in a few years? I mean he is only 19…
On the flip side how likely is it that he’s going to blow out his arm? I just can’t believe what he is doing at such a young age. It’s not natural!!! I can’t see his arm holding up without extremely strict pitch counts. But I’m sure he’ll still be able to toss a no-no without going over 100 pitches.