Hernandez shows the kind of fight the Mariners need

Just when you thought the Seattle season couldn't become any more depressing ...

The sight of Felix Hernandez limping off the field with the assistance of trainers Rick Griffin and Rob Nodine after a freak injury in the bottom of the fifth inning was one of the more depressing moments in an already depressed Seattle summer.

The right-hander had hit a grand slam off Johan Santana to give the Mariners the better part of a 5-0 against the Mets. And, coming off four consecutive starts, all wins, in which he'd allowed just a total of three runs, he was dominating the Mets.

But Carlos Beltran, trying to score from third base on a wild pitch, slid into Hernandez, causing a sprained left ankle.

Hernandez, one out away from having enough innings for a win and pitching against his idol, Santana, wanted to stay in the game. He threw one pitch, hopped around in obvious misery and still had to be forced off the field.

One wonders what the man who got the opening day start ahead of Hernandez, Erik Bedard, would have done.

I think, based on what Seattle has seen this year, the difference is that Bedard, who will miss Wednesday's start with back spasm problems, is a pitcher. Hernandez is a fighter who also pitches.

Maybe Bedard is a fighter, too. But we haven't seen it yet.

Posted by at June 23, 2008 5:35 p.m.

Comments

#142706

Posted by Mariner Housewife at 6/23/08 5:39 p.m.

I think I nearly lost my stomach when I saw that. And yeah, thank you- interesting to see the difference between Felix and Bedard. Scary.

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#142707

Posted by boydman at 6/23/08 5:53 p.m.

He has talent, and has learned that by working hard, he can take that talent places most pitchers can't. Such a difference from the young kid he used to be. It'll be a shame when he leaves this team.

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#142711

Posted by EdgarEstaCaliente at 6/23/08 5:58 p.m.

As I said in the other post:

The way Felix tried to stay in there was impressive. I just hope Bedard felt some shame standing on the sidelines, after asking to be called out three games in a row, while Felix begged for a second throw.

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#142735

Posted by Ted Fleming at 6/23/08 7:17 p.m.

Erin Bedard should be ashamed to share the same locker room with King Felix.

I agree, it will be a sad day when Felix goes to another team.

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#142739

Posted by Hoft at 6/23/08 7:26 p.m.

Oh, get off Bedard already. Seriously, this whole "100 pitch limit" thing has been such a joke. Do you know what happens when pitchers stay in after they're out of gas? They get hurt. Simple as that. Enough with the machismo already.

Has Bedard been a disappointment? Yes. Is it awesome to see the passion that King Felix has for competing? Absolutely. But everyone needs to get off the anti-Bedard high horse and recognize that the real problems on the Mariners staff are Silva, Washburn and Batista. It doesn't make a shred of difference whether they're "gamers" or not, whether they "pitch through the fatigue" or not -- they're wretched bags of suckage all the time.

End rant here. Lord, what an awful evening of baseball.

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#142742

Posted by Ted Fleming at 6/23/08 7:29 p.m.

Posted by Hoft at 6/23/08 7:26 p.m.

"End rant here. Lord, what an awful evening of baseball."

Maybe for you, not for me. We will only have 60 or so of these nights, so lets enjoy them.

I agree, Washburn sucks too.

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#142785

Posted by tevvy at 6/23/08 9:45 p.m.

I thought Freddy Garcia was Felix's idol??

The look on Bedard's face when Felix hit his grand slam was priceless.

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#142824

Posted by jmb13 at 6/24/08 1:04 a.m.

Bedard doesn't show emotion, or any type of fight. Be he is still a talent. He also has given up on the season, which scares me because I'm afraid he's just a two year rental. Felix is still the future. It's scary that he's only 22.

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#142909

Posted by The Unrepentant Lib at 6/24/08 9:51 a.m.

Felix just might turn out to be the "In your face" kind of leader this team needs for the future. I think at this point he must realize that he is "The Man" on this team and that many of his team mates are woefully inadequate in terms of talent and will soon be history. This leaves him as the centerpiece of this franchise and it will be up to him to establish the "run over your grandmother for a win" type of intensity in his team mates as he showed in the game yesterday.

At least the M's have one asset they can build on.

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#143082

Posted by EdgarEstaCaliente at 6/24/08 5:51 p.m.

IF he resigns with the Ms, something he has not yet done.

Who would want to at this point?

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#143459

Posted by The_Ghost at 6/25/08 10:52 a.m.

I agree, it will suck when Felix wants out of here to go play for a winner when his current contract is up.

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