11/05/24
July 09, 2007
Blogger's Pitch Selection Letter Helps Mariner Throw Two-Hitter: On June 27, the U.S.S. Mariner blog wrote an open letter to Seattle pitching coach Rafael Chaves, telling him that talented young pitcher Felix Hernandez was getting shelled because he starts every game with fastballs and the rest of the league knows it. The letter found its way to Chaves and then Hernandez, who gave it some props after a win against the Oakland A's. "On the internet, they say when I throw a lot of fastballs in the first inning, they score a lot of runs," Hernandez said. "I tried to mix all my pitches in the first inning."
That's funny. Hernandez didn't believe it when Chaves tells him, but when it appears on the internet, then he mixes up his pitches.
posted by bperk at 01:18 PM on July 09, 2007
That's why Hargrove quit. He read on the internet that he looked fat on TV. As far as Hernandez is concerned, what exactly did they think would happen if he threw only fastballs in the first inning? That the opposing batters would fall on their backs and wet themselves?
posted by THX-1138 at 02:41 PM on July 09, 2007
Think the same thing might work if I wrote a letter to President Bush?
posted by holden at 04:00 PM on July 09, 2007
Sign your letter with the name Dick Cheney and it just might work.
posted by Newbie Walker at 04:26 PM on July 09, 2007
Dear Brian Sabean, Whenever the A's are willing to part with one of their key players, it usually means something is wrong with them that they know about and you do not. Just saying.
posted by igottheblues at 05:27 PM on July 09, 2007
To my first ex - I still don't miss you
posted by water1 at 12:54 AM on July 10, 2007
Hey T.O!! Stop dropping balls all the time, and the Cowboys might have a better shot at the Super Bowl!! Well, it's worth a try......
posted by NerfballPro at 07:34 AM on July 10, 2007
Dear Ray-Ray. Suck it. In other news, Ichiro's about to sign an extension. Sorry rest of the league who needs a leadoffhitterleftygoldglover. Go find your own.
posted by vito90 at 01:34 PM on July 10, 2007
it's about the equivalent of someone posting a blog telling a QB "you really should look off your primary reciever before throwing it to him" and then that QB later crediting that blog for helping him avoid interceptions Seriously, this is something the guy has done his whole life, had coaches tell him his whole career, and now he needs to be reminded of this stuff?
posted by bdaddy at 02:44 PM on July 10, 2007
I would think it would amount to common sense. If you throw the same pitch over and over and do it game after game unless you're the God of pitching you'll get shelled.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:49 PM on July 10, 2007
Seriously, this is something the guy has done his whole life, had coaches tell him his whole career, and now he needs to be reminded of this stuff? Well, up until this point in his career, his fastball was so nasty that most hitters couldn't hit it, even if he made an announcement on the Jumbotron before he threw it. He abused every minor league he was in, and his first go around in the majors was very similar. As well, the fastball is the easiest pitch for him to throw (both technique and strain on his arm). Finally, during his first go-around in the majors in 2005 (at age 19), he was told NOT to throw his slider (his best pitch) to preserve his arm, so going FB-FB-FB for the strikeout came naturally for him. That said, if he's finally "got it", it's lights-out time.
posted by grum@work at 07:53 PM on July 10, 2007
As a Seattle fan, (stop laughing), I have been salivating for this kid to get started. And to Vito, after last nights performance, if Ichiro signs at 100 mil for 5 years, the M's got a bargain.
posted by THX-1138 at 02:16 PM on July 11, 2007
That home run was something else.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:31 PM on July 11, 2007
How much do they pay the pitching coach?