Seattle Insomniac
Sports Musings and Commentary–With a Great Northwest Slant
Archive for April, 2007
April 18, 2007 at 8:39 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
21 year old Felix Hernandez followed up last week’s one hitter at Fenway Park with being removed from the game in the first inning tonight with "tightness" in his pitching elbow. He was replaced by LHP long reliever Jake Woods.
This after not being able to get the ball over the plate, and allowing hits to all three of the Twins’ top of the batting order. The final number of runs credited to Hernandez was 5 through the end of the first inning (well, there goes the 0.00 ERA, and not at all in a good way).
Further diagnostic studies will be completed tomorrow, and the removal from the game has been labeled "precautionary" by Mariners training/medical staff for the time being.
It is almost coincidental (or is it?) that Hernandez’ best friend, Francisco Liriano of the Twins, had almost the same thing happen to him last year, and will not be pitching this season at all, after Tommy John surgery.
Pitchers all over the league (both of them, actually) seem to be falling like flies early this season, which can’t be good for anyone.
More information to follow as soon as it is released.
April 13, 2007 at 6:12 am · Filed under Uncategorized
The issues of the day were to have been Daisuke Matsuzaka’s home debut in Fenway Park and the matchup of Dice-K versus Ichiro.
Dice-K debuted, and managed not to be booed by the Fenway Fanatics (don’t worry, Dice-K, that will come and probably sooner than later, given their inclinations). Dice-K versus Ichiro was neither particularly good or bad for either man. Ichiro went 0 fer, but he often does that in April, especially after a five day lay off.
On the other hand, Matsuzaka’s other countryman, Kenji Johjima continued his streak of good hitting off of the right handed pitcher.
None of these, however, were the true story of the night. That belonged to young, now 21 year old Felix Antonio Hernandez, just 21 years and 4 days of age. He came “this close” to pitching a no-no tonight. He held the Sawx hitless until the eighth inning, and they might not even have gotten that one if the infielder had been able to dive about 6″ further to smother the ball.
As it is, he pitched a complete game shut out, one hitter; the first one hitter by an M’s pitcher since Gilly Meche did it during the 2000 season.
I never saw one of Matsuzaka’s so called gyro balls, but I saw plenty of heat and crisp breaking balls from young Mr. Hernandez. I foresee these two young pitchers having a healthy competition this season, in terms of wins and reputation throughout the American League.
Watch out, Johan, those footsteps you hear behind you are future Cy Young candidates…..
And, for Felix, a gift
“All Hail King Felix” ….
April 11, 2007 at 9:04 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Now, honestly, tell me…who didn’t see that one coming?
- Nearly five full days off due to snow delays/snow outs
- The opposing team playing every day while the M’s sat in Cleveland doing not so much
- Practicing in batting cages under the frozen tundra of the Jake
- Letting this guy pitch
- All of which led to this…..
RRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTT………and being on the wrong end of a 14-3 drubbing.
Can things change on Wednesday? Can this one
outlast and be better than this one?
Well, geez, let’s hope so, or I may just have to head for KP’s panic button a tad earlier than I had planned to.
And, this time, do it like you mean it…and no more of these
And, now, for my final words in this “long-winded” photo essay: (Take it to heart tomorrow, gentlemen and Mariners……)
So get out there and turn the tables on them.
(OK, so I prevaricated. This is REALLY my last words on the subject. NOTE TO SELF:)
