King Felix Hernandez

Though the Mariners have added two star players to their offense the last two years Felix Hernandez is still the face of the Mariners along with being the number one pitcher.  You just have to ask the players, media, fans, and Felix. Just kidding Felix.

This year Felix will become the Mariner’s number one strike out king by passing Randy Johnson. He needs only twenty-one wins to pass up Jamie Moyer with the most wins ever on the Mariners. With the added offense to the team we all hope that he gets those twenty-one wins this year. Adding to that he turns twenty-nine years old in April. I am sure not many teams have their all-time winner before the age of thirty. As a local announcer said last week it is going to take a long time for another pitcher to pass up Felix on the Mariner record books. The only one that comes to my mind currently would be Taijuan Walker; however though he is only twenty-two years old Felix was pitching for the Mariners at a younger age. What makes Felix special is that a lot of pitchers come into their prime at his age while he has been doing it for a long time. It is possible we have not seen Felix at his best year. If the Mariners make it to the World Series like a lot of media people think they will we may see this as the best year of Felix.

Though Felix strikes out at least two hundred batters a season; it will be his seventh in a row if he does it this season which is expected unless he gets hurt. Only Tom Seaver has thrown more consecutive seasons of two hundred or more strike outs. Seaver did it nine times. As long as Felix stays healthy he could pass Seaver by. Felix does not have overpowering fast ball that Randy Johnson had though he could throw it hard than he does. What makes Felix affective is that he has four quality pitchers and may add another one this season. He may have the best changeup in baseball. Unlike many other pitchers he throws his changeup only two or miles less per hour than his fast ball. Most pitchers throw the changeup at least ten miles per hour. What makes Felix changeup so effective along with all his other pitchers he has a lot of movement on them. All you have to do is ask those who face him along with his catchers.

So if you ever have the chance whether in Seattle or any of the cities that Felix pitches in I would do so. There are not many pitchers you can say that you want to see pitch. He loves having a lot of fun when he isn’t pitching but when he is pitching he takes it very seriously. Again enjoy him there is no other King around like him now.