Trouble in the First For Felix

So far in the season Felix Hernandez is having trouble getting out of the first inning. He has an era over twelve in the first inning.

On Thursday afternoon he gave up four runs in the first and none after that in which he pitched six innings. He walked only one batter and didn’t give a home run that he has done in games before. There are some fans wondering if he should start the game and come in the second inning or later. Other words have a relief pitcher start the game. I am not sure whether that will work at all anyway. Of course I am sure there are those who may think that Felix should be sent to the bullpen or not be on the team at all. The Mariners will still have to pay him for another season after this one whether he is on the team or not. Since he is pitching well from the second through five or six innings depending on how many pitches he throws pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and Felix will have to look at film to see what the problem is in the first inning.  We should know the problem can be corrected. At least we hope so any way. It is hard to know whether the problem is mechanical or mental. At least with the Mariners being nine games above five hundred at this time and the other starters seem to be doing well keeping Felix in the rotation a few more times should be fine. We just hope that he can work it out. The Mariners don’t have many other options in the rotation unless you bring someone up from Tacoma like Christian Bergman who had an outstanding outing when they brought him up recently.

On the positive side Felix retired sixteen of his final seventeen batters so this could be something to look forward to. We will have to wait and see. The Mariners scored a run in the first and second inning to keep it close. Also got another run in the eighth and had runs on base but were not able to score again in a 4-3 loss. Now it is time for the Mariners to go on another five game winning streak. Yes that is how many games the Mariners won in a row before Thursday.

 James Paxton goes for the Mariners Friday night in the first game of the weekend series against the Minnesota Twins at Safeco field. Paxton had another complete game in his last outing. The second one in his career both this month; of course his first one was the no-hitter. We hope again that he continues on this path of pitching outstanding games. The Mariners offense without Cano for a while along with Mitch Haniger and Nelson Cruz each nursing injuries and Dee Gordon on the ten day disabled list the Mariners will have to scratch for runs. A game like Thursday it will be important that the pitching does well. We hope that guys like Jean Segura keeps hitting well along with Ben Gamel stepping up and the continued success of Guillermo Heredia batting second. Also need to have the power come from Kyle Seager, Mike Zunino and Ryon Healy. Until Gordon gets back won’t see much at the plate from the second base spot. Whatever we get from Gordon Beckham and Andrew Romine will be bonus. On Thursday at least Romine got a hit and scored a one. Ryan Cook so far has done well since being called up for the Mariners in the bullpen. If he continues he will be a good asset coming in either the sixth or seven inning. Go M’s.