Game 76, Mariners at Mets
Santana vs Hernandez, 4:10 pm.
In a season of haystacks, June 23rd is a needle. It is the oasis in a dry land. It is Shindler’s List in the middle of a Ben Affleck marathon. It is Johan Santana versus Felix Hernandez.
At 29 years old, Johan isn’t quite what he was a few years ago, but he’s still one of the game’s elites. He dominates with a change-up-of-doom, impeccable command, and a knowledge of how to pitch. He’s won the Cy Young award twice and has finished in the top seven in each of the last five years. He is what we want Felix to become.
Felix, at just 22 years old, is already one of the best pitchers alive. We’ve talked about his inconsistency a great deal, but his talent continues to overwhelm his inexperience. In his last start, and the only game I’ll get to attend at Safeco this year, he did this.
Top of the 4th
Jeremy Hermida batting.
1. Changeup, called strike, 0-1
2. Changeup, called strike, 0-2
3. Curveball, swinging strike, K
Jorge Cantu batting.
1. Fastball, called strike, 0-1
2. Fastball, swinging strike, 0-2
3. Fastball, swinging strike, K
Mike Jacobs batting
1. Curveball, called strike, 0-1
2. Fastball, swinging strike, 0-2
3. Slider, called strike, K
When Felix is mixing his pitches and hitting his spots, it’s like watching Mike Tyson in his prime. You can’t hit him, and you probably can’t even make contact. We’ve seen glimpses of the special pitcher that he could be, and when he’s been given a stage, he’s generally stolen the show.
The Venezuelan legend goes up against the kid who threatens to steal his throne. Felix vs Johan. In a season of misery, we have the light of excitement. I can’t wait. Go M’s.
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Is there room for a drool button on the toolbar……
Felix Hernandez, your the bee’s knees!
You’re…. Grammar police be damned, it’s freakin’ Felix Day!
Strike one, strike two, strike three, you’re out…who does felix think he is? Bugs Bunny?
Happy Felix Day! Long live the King.
YAY FELIX DAY
Derek, I read this to my wife to help her understand how important this game is. This was her response:
“Those guys are a like baseball geek poets on there”
Thought you would appreciate that.
You know it’s a gloomy season when Schindler’s List is being mentioned as a cheery diversion.
Is that Dave writting under Derek’s log in?
Have you seen “Daredevil”??
I can’t take credit — this was Dave, updating the modest game post I had in place already. I’ve switched authorship so he gets his due.
A more apt boxing metaphor would be Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his prime. Tyson was never a guy you couldn’t hit.
Like the great Red Smith wrote of Lefty Grove, “he could throw a lamb chop past a wolf.”
Fun fact: As seen on LL, Felix and Johan to date have the exact same number of both runs allowed and strikeouts and are only one off in hits.
No question about it (my Blowers impression) Schindler’s List is a great movie… but couldn’t we get something else for the needle in the haystack anology? The Godfather? The Shawshank Redemption? Pulp Fiction?
I like Dave’s taste in movies – a great contrast.
I was torn between watching this game or doing the Dogma/Bill and Ted Carlin thing.
Knowing the way this season has gone, probably one of them will be knocked out of the box in the 3rd and I can switch, but until then, here’s hoping it lives up to expectations.
ah well, off to endure Rizzs reading the Mets Media Guide as I walk …
Here is a little thought to ponder with Felix. At this point, his season hasn’t been great. He has had flashes, but just hasn’t been consistant. And with all that, he is just under 7ip per game, stiking out nearly a batter per inning, and is hard to score on. Felix is a very good pitcher right now, and has the promise to get even better. He is definately a bright spot in this terrible season!
And hey, line up isn’t terrible. It’s not good, but it’s not terrible either!
But gawd, Bloomquist then Felix? Ugh. No Ribbie’s for Ichiro today.
And I thought my old team had ceased to exist, but the roster from its dying days is reincarnated for this great matchup.
Chavez, Wright, C. Vargas, Schneider, Tatis … your Minaya Expos!
Maybe Minaya would like Vidro back as well.
I am going to half expect Lee Stevens to appear on deck to pinch hit.
Oops – that should’ve said Church – not Wright.
Ouch, it’s gonna be hard enough to get baserunners in this game. Bad move J-Lo.
M’s-Mets bonus coverage on ESPN right now.
Since the M’s are cleaning house, can we go ahead and get rid of Dave Sims too? or did Bill give him a huge contract that we can’t do anything with?
I am pissed off. One of my favorite parts of baseball is watching AL pitchers try to hit in interleague games, and not only have I not gotten to see any of the few NL-stadium games so far, but this is the only one where I actively want to see our pitcher at the plate.
Stupid work.
20 – Thanks for the hope Please Omar take Vidro back..pretty please!
So anyway, about Ichiro and his “fifty-points-below-career-average” (or whatever) batting average. I haven’t seen the USSM authors say anything about this, so I’m guessing either it’s nothing to worry about or we simply have too much else to worry about. I see on Fangraphs that his BABIP is lower than it’s ever been. Does that mean he’s being the victim of bad luck, or… can declining speed (if that’s the case) have an effect on BABIP?
What a happy inning!
Adrian and Jeffrey both get hits.
Where could I find a stat of average attendance per game among all MLB teams so far this year? I’m in a discussion with a coworker and can’t find those stats.
Clement really has a pretty swing. Glad to see him finding some holes finally.
Total Grit
OMG, can Felix win this on both sides? Stay tuned…
You have GOT to be kidding me.
OHMYDEARGOD FELIX WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!11
#25 Hope your tivo was running Lauren…
Play hookie, NOW.
Just when I think I cant love him anymore…. THE KING!
Also the site has exploded.
Felix for DH!
Trade him tonight. After that we ought to be able to get Boston’s entire starting line up plus half their farm system.
Sweet Zombie Jesus, that was amazing.
So, can we DH Felix now?
Man, the site ate my “HOLY SHIT. No way.” comment. EEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEek!
I like how Dave didn’t even know how to call the play. He didn’t seem to understand that that was possible.
We can all thank Bloomquist’s scrappiness for making it possible I guess.
If you go over to mlb.com and get Gameday up, you can go back to the 2nd and see a “play” arrow next to Felix’s at-bat, and you can watch the grand slam like I just did.
Six times.
Damn, there goes the no hitter. I was thinking that would be the most amazing game ever.
The site ate my comment like 4 times. Then it kicked me out for 10 minutes. I think we nuked the server.
But that was perhaps the most awesome thing I have ever seen in my life.
GO FELIX!!!!!!!!!!!
I just about crapped a brick when I saw this(late to the game).
I think we should hold an official ceremony at Safeco Field and officially give young Mr. Hernandez a crown befitting of his long-held nickname.
Listening to the game on the radio at work – had to grab one of my coworkers and run to the TV in the lobby to chatch the reply.
Way to go, Felix – show the team how run support is supposed to look.
Who said that we can’t call him the KING?
zzyzx – I was secretly hoping for the same thing. How awesome would it be to pitch a no-hitter and hit a grand slam in the same game?!? If anybody could do it, it would be King Felix!
The Venezuelan legend goes up against the
kid who threatens to steal his throne.other Venezuelan legend.Ok here comes our cleanup hitter!
Felix now leads the team in batting WPA at .297
27- Speed and BABIP. I don’t have lots of answers but speedy players who put the ball on the ground (Ichiro. Jeter, Crawford) do put up higher BABIP than speedy players who don’t put the ball on the ground (Rollins, Reyes).
Bunting with our best power threat. Typical!
(emerging from the bowels of USSM, covered in soot and grime)
I hate everyone that attempted to access the site in the last, oh, hour.
Rack up that run to the King’s power bunt!
Woo hoo! Way to go Jose! Way to go Mariners!
I would like some karmatic credit here:
That’s why they’re so pleased with Ibanez’s defense. He doesn’t give up the first or even the second time he bobbles it. No, he keeps after that ball.
Good, I wanted a real hit so the only hit wouldn’t be off of Beltre’s glove.
I’m late, Dave, so don’t blame me; I was out walking my dogs and missed the GS. Felix is indeed amazing; if he can stay healthy and fully learn how to pitch (2 big ifs), he could go to the Hall. I just hope he doesn’t flame out like Doc Gooden did.
Met’s Announcers – “Ibanez is the..greatest of fielders…”
Wow, that was a serious jump.
dammit. supposed to be “isn’t”.
[should be "too". Also, not a proper attribution]
That strike three was just NASTY!
And now the servers are going to crash again…
too bad.
highs and lows.
numb… just numb. Does God hate the Mariners?
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
I don’t know just who did what to thoroughly piss off the Baseball Gods, but they need to figure out what will apprease them.
Obviously sacrificing the three so far hasn’t done it.
Well, there goes our best offensive player.
um, appease.
probably nothing will apprease them.
Send virgins. Busloads of virgins. And some goats. Can’t be too careful.
sprained left ankle, for Felix. At least the knee is ok.
you know the air has all gone out of this game when the on-air commentaors have moved to discussing hockey.
Rapidly approaching the winter of our discontent.
Endpoints of a very wide spectrum: Bedard’s reaction to injury (”I feel a twinge. See ya!”) and Felix’s.
which, up to an inning ago, was made Glorious Summer by Felix.
Let’s see…
Putz on the DL.
Morrow with back spasms.
Bedard with back spasms.
Hernandez DL-bound with a sprained ankle.
Vidro disgustingly healthy.
Long summer ahead.
This AB is to move into a tie for 26th!
Could’ve been worse – a rainout before the end of the 5th.
PS…best game by a pitcher….Rick Wise, June 23, 1971. No-hitter and hit two HR’s.
ok, I’m not happy with Bedard, but back spasms? not a twinge.
Agreed. I have seen what back spasms can do to someone.
Extreme pain. Have to crawl to bathroom. Can last two weeks at a time.
But also curable with good physio and strict adherence to stretching/pilates regimen.
on the radio side they were discussing how the word around NY was that Delgado’s bat had slowed– no one made the correlation to Richie’s bat, however.
At any rate, it’s a good thing we’ve got Baek for these situations…
oh…damn.
Hitting fifth is our power source, 6′7″ Big Richie earning gobs of cash with ZERO EXTRA BASE HITS in 20 games!!!!!
First off, I do not believe for a second Bedard has back spasms. Part of it is his hip. Look at his wind-up last year vs this year.
Secondly, a left ankle injury to a right-handed pitcher is horrible. You have to wait forever to heal or else it just keeps coming back. The main question is ligament damage. Let’s just pray that isn’t the case. Minimum, witha sprained right ankle, even grade 3, he will be out 4-6 weeks. I would take that in a heart-beat.
Ok, when I said I hoped Felix could stay healthy I was NOT trying to jinx him. As a veteran of many, many sprained ankles I cringed when I saw him try to pitch; I understand that he wanted to get that 3rd out to qualify for the win, but coming down with one’s weight on a sprain is excruciating. I was really glad when the management yanked him off the field (sure wish Box of Rocks had done that with Bobby Madritch). No point in risking the franchise’ most important player in a lost season.
What’s the other part, and as Bedard’s physician should you be disclosing this information publicly?
Why can’t Vidro and Sexson get hurt?
Weren’t the Mets supposed to be the favorite to go to the WS?
The descriptions I read said Bedard could barely walk the ramp into the clubhouse and needed assistance. Sounds like a back spasm to me.
But I’ll just revise my understanding based on your hunch.
Well, RRS has been looking good. (must…stay…positive…)
Why can’t your typing fingers fall off?
(Wishing hurt on bad players doesn’t add light to firmaments of discussions.)
Felix now has as many RBI’s for the season as Willie. And one more extra base hit.
But, he’s not much use as a pinch runner for the forseeable future, so I guess we’ll need to keep Willie.
RRS is having a nice year.
Has he ever started, at least in the minors?
Willie’s moved up to a tie for 24th on the most AB with no SBH list. He’s got the most in over a decade.
#72 msb. couple weeks back Dave Valle & that other guy post game radio were doing golf voices and covering Tigers game on the post game show for about 20 minutes, day game. A few nights later they were watching NBA playoffs, and totally forgot about the radio show for about 5 minutes, it was hilarious.
In another note, Willie scored 2 runs tonight so far, of course 1 was unearned due to error, so maybe it shouldn’t count.
Who didn’t see THIS coming. Look, I know the season is a lost cause but I really want this win just because of how the game has gone.
Was Felix really asking for 1 more pitch?, or was that the radio guys getting all gushy? If so, he’s got guts. Sometimes guts are enough. Take note Bedard, stuff like that, (and exploding birds w/fastballs, wearing mullets long after fashionable, striking out 3 w/9 pitches, hitting GS) are how you become legend….
He definitely asked to try 1 more pitch.
There’s nothing to fear, they’ve got Rhodes in there. Lefties are only hitting .261 against him.
Well that was not what I was hoping to return to after my bus ride home. I mean, we’re winning at the moment, but…
Low slider – in the dirt please
That works! Game.
Well, I’m feeling a little better after Rhodes’ close job but seriously folks: if Felix doesn’t hit a grand slam, we lose 2-1. How pathetic is that? How pathetic is the remainder of a season where we might not even see him? I’m depressed again.
argh – well we WERE facing Santana…
Oh my god, can we get Dan Wilson to replace one of our regular guys? Granted he’s a little flat, but we can work on that.
Erm. Sorry. I meant “replace one of our regular broadcasters.”
No, no — let him hit. That would be better too!
Heck, I’d take a retired Wilson over two or three of our regulars at this point.
I come home, turn on FSN, and see highlight of Felix hitting Grand Slam, and I think “oh my gawd, this cannot be happening.”
Then I see Felix get injured and think “Oh my gawd, this cannot be happening”
You can imagine the looks on my face would be different when those two events happenend, though.
if you get him over on the radio side, tweaking Rizzs, he perks right up.
How come I’m seeing that Corcoran is not getting the win? Didn’t he pitch the 5th with a lead??
Why did RRS get the win instead of Corcoran?
Whoops, duplicate question. Didn’t refresh before I posted.
In a case like this, it’s scorer’s discretion as to who deserved it the most.
I never understood why the starter can’t be included in that discussion. Felix pitched more innings than RRS – it would make more sense to give him the win.