Felix Hernandez was simply awesome last night. The Royals are awful but everything about last night was real.
Here is how real. One of my best friends is playing with the Royals and I went to lunch with him today. I asked him what the guys were saying. He told me that he asked one of the guys in the clubhouse, a guy who has played around 8 years in the bigs both in the AL and the NL, what he thought of Felix and after a pause he called him the best right hander he has ever faced. The best right hander he has ever faced. That is insane.
He is that good. A few things that jumped out a me really watching him last night.
First, his back side. He is girth is impressive. Furthermore, he really uses it. He gets down and drive and his hips explode to the mound. That is a lot of his power and you would hope that would keep his arm healthy.
He is down in the strike zone. I mean he may have come about the belt once or twice in the game. I was talking to a former big leager today who was explaining to me that on a hard thrower you have to focus on the top of the ball because it will rise up at contact. But Felix is already bringing the ball on a downward plane so that you have no choice but to hit the top of the ball, which is why he is not allowing extra base hits and why he is not allowing fly balls.
Gil Meche still hasn’t figured how to get on a downward plane the way the 19 year old Felix has.
Another item that jumped out was his command of both sides of the plate. Most young pitchers are able to take one side of the plate and they live on it. More often then not for a right hand pitcher it is the outside to a right hander hitter and the inside corner to a left hander. Felix is commanding both sides of the plate no matter if the hitter is left handed or right handed.
Finally it a post game interview with the Torrealba, Torreabla was asked about a 3-2 pitch and what he decided to throw and Felix told him put down whatever you think is right and I will throw it. That is tremendous confidence.
The dude is real. This beyond hope. The are more steps to be taken but this guy is the unattainable #1 starter that every franchises dreams of.
Seed Newsvine
12 comments:
So funny! "First, his back side. He is girth is impressive. Furthermore, he really uses it. He gets down and drive and his hips explode to the mound." This is probably one of the gayest blog posts I've every read. Classic.
Like I said let's not fall in love with this guy (Felix) too much because he'll probably be gone when he's due the big money contract. Let's just ride this puppy while we can!!!!
Black,
It's funny that most of your comments have been deleted on the past blogs!!LOL!!!!!
Its funny. The last time an M's teenager got this much hype he was also compared to a member of the Dynamic Coke Duo of the mid-80's Mets.
The main comparison with Junior was Darryl "Coke in my Straw"berry.
Now Felix is being compared to Dr. K"oke" (Doc Gooden).
Let's hope this time - like the last time – he completely out performs the senior player he is drawing comparison to.
Wasn't David the only one at KJR who ripped Moyer when the story came out just before the deadline? Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how I remember it.
This guy is the real deal! I sure would like to know who his pitching instructor was in Venezuela. His form is text book Dick Mills. The leg movement falls down (way down), while he keeps the weight back. His balance , long wing span on the break away, and head control produce strikes on both sides of the plate. Given his mechanics and confidence, this kid will go far. But most importantly, he doesn't tip his pitches. That's why you are seeing the batter's knees buckle. I would imagine that his off days, and he will have some, will be a result of too much movement on the fastball. That's a problem I can live with.
--JohnN
My dream is for the Mariners to be the Yankees of the new century. With Felix, we can dream and hope.
Here is a take on Felix off one of my favorite blogs.
A Ray of Sunshine
The Seattle Mariners season has been as dismal as the Seattle weather in June. To say we have been playing like a Triple A club would be far too kind. But like a rainy day, a little sunshine has shown through in Felix Hernandez. Hernandez pitched at the Mariners farm team in Tacoma most of this season, he is only 19. He was called up in late July and has been nothing short of brilliant. He has a 98 mile an hour fastball and a variety of pitches. You would need a microscope to see his Earned Run Average. Hopefully Felix Hernandez can develop into one of the great pitchers of the decade.
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As far as Jamie Moyer, he played it smart. If he went to a contender and was a bust, his market value would drop like a rock.
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