Felix Hernandez's 1-0 perfect game against Tampa Bay on Wednesday was easily the highlight of the year--and beyond--for Seattle Mariners baseball fans. What an incredible feat, especially compared to the team's many disappointments in 2012.
I'm very excited about the future of baseball in Seattle, but I'm also realistic; we haven't had many good teams in the last ten years.
Catching this masterpiece brought tears of joy to my eyes. And it was fun to spin around the TV dial afterward and see what others were saying...except for a few idiots on an NBC sports talk show. Two of the three of them thought Felix should try and hook up with a better team. One based their comments on the "fact" that in the Fantasy Baseball game that's popular with sports fans, the only Mariners name anybody knows is that of
Felix Hernandez.
Hey, if the Mariners don't start winning a lot in a few years, of course King Felix should find a team that's in contention; he deserves it. But the Venezuelan is so loved in the Emerald City, and by his teammates, while giving back to his adopted community--the day after his perfecto, Hernandez visited young patients at a children's hospital. He's a huge part of the team chemistry that's brewing here.
Anyway, two of those NBC folks really don't know what's going on in Seattle. We are the third youngest team in baseball, with all sorts of talent already here in the big leagues, not to mention bubbling under in the minors (especially our pitching). Just a few years back, our minor league system was in shambles, and the veteran major league players Seattle acquired from other teams were usually past their prime. The commentators showed no sense of this and they also didn't mention that the Mariners are currently the best fielding team in the American League and one of the best teams on the road; even when losing, it is so much fun to watch this team develop. They've had some terrific moments this year, last place or not.
Another great thing about the perfect game was that a woman I work with was in attendance. We were both at the library Wednesday at 8am, and then at 9:45, she left to head north to Seattle for the game. That's the life, eh? Work 105 minutes and then drive to the ballpark for one of the most treasured moments in Seattle sports history.
I'm very excited about the future of baseball in Seattle, but I'm also realistic; we haven't had many good teams in the last ten years.
Catching this masterpiece brought tears of joy to my eyes. And it was fun to spin around the TV dial afterward and see what others were saying...except for a few idiots on an NBC sports talk show. Two of the three of them thought Felix should try and hook up with a better team. One based their comments on the "fact" that in the Fantasy Baseball game that's popular with sports fans, the only Mariners name anybody knows is that of
Felix Hernandez.
Hey, if the Mariners don't start winning a lot in a few years, of course King Felix should find a team that's in contention; he deserves it. But the Venezuelan is so loved in the Emerald City, and by his teammates, while giving back to his adopted community--the day after his perfecto, Hernandez visited young patients at a children's hospital. He's a huge part of the team chemistry that's brewing here.
Anyway, two of those NBC folks really don't know what's going on in Seattle. We are the third youngest team in baseball, with all sorts of talent already here in the big leagues, not to mention bubbling under in the minors (especially our pitching). Just a few years back, our minor league system was in shambles, and the veteran major league players Seattle acquired from other teams were usually past their prime. The commentators showed no sense of this and they also didn't mention that the Mariners are currently the best fielding team in the American League and one of the best teams on the road; even when losing, it is so much fun to watch this team develop. They've had some terrific moments this year, last place or not.
Another great thing about the perfect game was that a woman I work with was in attendance. We were both at the library Wednesday at 8am, and then at 9:45, she left to head north to Seattle for the game. That's the life, eh? Work 105 minutes and then drive to the ballpark for one of the most treasured moments in Seattle sports history.
RSS Feed