King Felix

Going now into spring training with pitchers and catchers reporting on this Friday I decided to start with the Mariners number one pitcher Felix Hernandez.

I guess I can’t count however Felix is number one pitcher on the Mariners starting pitching staff once again. Just after the season starts Felix will be turning thirty years old. I have heard some writers and broadcasters wonder if he is getting close to being done or at least not as productive since he has pitched so many years beginning at the age of nineteen. At this point I still don’t see a  problem because every year Felix at spring training in better shape than the year before and this year should be any different. I know that his arm will wear out someday but I think this year still will not be yet. We do hope that TaiJuan Walker will be the ace of the Mariners when the time comes however I expect Felix will still be at either number two or three when that happens. If Felix is not at the top of his game this year at least the Mariners do have more depth in the starting lineup and we can hope that he can put in at least six or seven quality innings each time out. Remember in the old days which is only about forty years ago the starting pitchers went every four days instead of five like now. They pitched a lot more innings than Felix has done. Also remember that the Big Unit Randy Johnson pitched into his forties going on five days without getting arm trouble. Felix is a type of pitcher where he does not throw the ball hard as he used too. He has pitches like the change up and curve that are better than most any other pitcher in the major leagues.

The Mariners have the depth this year where they may go six deep in the starting pitching so the Mariners could give Felix an extra day off now and then if needed. I have said before that I don’t like the five man rotation anyway. I prefer the days where the rotation was four men. One of the main reasons is that the fifth man does not win very many games over the season and usually has a losing record. On the some teams the fourth man in the rotation has a losing record. I have mentioned before I think a team can go with a four man rotation at home and then start a road trip with a fifth man. This would especially help a team like the Mariners who travel so much. The fifth man could be the first man out of the bullpen on the days the number one man pitches. Of course, many of the number one pitchers pitch a lot of innings in their outings. In that case the fifth man could come in first for the second or third pitcher in the rotation instead. This would allow the teams to go either with more of a bullpen or less depending in the team. The guy who is right now considered the long reliever could start the season in triple A and be ready when needed. This would allow a team to carry an extra player like an infielder, outfielder or catcher. That is my thought anyway. Look forward to Friday when spring training begins. Go Mariners!