What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

[bkrich83]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

From Curt Schilling's Blog:

"Felix Hernandez is good. Wow. I remember watching Dwight Gooden when he first came into the big leagues and this kid has better stuff. He throws harder and has 4 pitches. Doc had that HOF curveball to go with his fastball but Felix was throwing a 91-93 mph slider, late breaking too, an 80 mph power curve ball and a much better change up than I remember hearing about. All that to go with a fastball that was touching 100mph on different occasions. What he did was flat out dominate a pretty good offensive team from the first pitch. He looks like he has a great pitchers body too, tall and filling out. Pretty amazing outing from anyone much less a 20 year old ‘kid’."

Better stuff than Dwight Gooden? What a Seattle homer.

LOL, I think you feel you are really objective when talking about Seattle players and teams.

[mjb2124]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

LOL, I think you feel you are really objective when talking about Seattle players and teams.

LOL. Ain't that the truth.

Felix has filthy stuff....no doubt about it. I just want to see a guy be successful over a period of time I think I mentioned that earlier in the thread as long standing consistency is the sign of greatness. Look no further than the aforementioned Gooden. Gooden had some good seasons and filthy stuff, but he's not a great pitcher in the grand scale of things. Put it this way, the only way Gooden gets in the HOF is to buy a ticket.

[Scottdau]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

LOL. Ain't that the truth.

Felix has filthy stuff....no doubt about it. I just want to see a guy be successful over a period of time I think I mentioned that earlier in the thread as long standing consistency is the sign of greatness. Look no further than the aforementioned Gooden. Gooden had some good seasons and filthy stuff, but he's not a great pitcher in the grand scale of things. Put it this way, the only way Gooden gets in the HOF is to buy a ticket.

It is the same with Matt Cain if they can have better control and quit walking some many guys, then skies the limit.

[keRplunK]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

LOL, I think you feel you are really objective when talking about Seattle players and teams.

I think you should go on Schilling's blog and call him a Seattle homer. I mean clearly, that is an outrageous statement made by someone who is either a) emotionally invested in his team or b) has no idea what he's talking about. I mean if he had better stuff than Dwight Gooden why didn't he when the CY Young last year?

Doesn't he know what "stuff" means? It means really good stats.

Homer.

[bkrich83]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

I think you should go on Schilling's blog and call him a Seattle homer. I mean clearly, that is an outrageous statement made by someone who is either a) emotionally invested in his team or b) has no idea what he's talking about. I mean if he had better stuff than Dwight Gooden why didn't he when the CY Young last year?

Doesn't he know what "stuff" means? It means really good stats.

Homer.

Yes yes we know. Every Seattle player no matter the sport is awesome and is destined for HOF, and every team in Seattle is a Dynasty waiting to happen.

I can't wait till Felix pitches a no hitter, then joins hands with Tony Romo and cures cancer, aids, and solves the national deficit all in one shot.

[keRplunK]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

Yes yes we know. Every Seattle player no matter the sport is awesome and is destined for HOF, and every team in Seattle is a Dynasty waiting to happen.

It never gets old. Please go tell Schilling that Felix can't cure cancer, I'm sure he'll know where you're coming from.

I can barely stand watching the Mariners or the Sonics outside of a few players on either team. The Mariners have an outside shot at the Division but need Ramirez and Weaver to pitch OK, they have the worst #3 hitter in baseball, and a mediocre bullpen. The Sonics need Oden and Lewis to re-sign for them to ever make any noise. The Seahawks are getting old but they probably have a chance next year to do something.

Yup, you're right.

[bkrich83]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

It never gets old. Please go tell Schilling that Felix can't cure cancer, I'm sure he'll know where you're coming from.

I can barely stand watching the Mariners or the Sonics outside of a few players on either team. The Mariners have an outside shot at the Division but need Ramirez and Weaver to pitch OK, they have the worst #3 hitter in baseball, and a mediocre bullpen. The Sonics need Oden and Lewis to re-sign for them to ever make any noise. The Seahawks are getting old but they probably have a chance next year to do something.

Yup, you're right.

Yeah, you're real objective.

[keRplunK]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

Yeah, you're real objective.

And you're really good at saying the same thing over and over.

Felix's stuff hasn't gotten any better since last year, he just had problems locating his 2-seam fastball (he had a harder time than I expected). This year, so far, he has command of it. But his pure "stuff" was the best in the game last year, and still is.

But for some reason you think "stuff" means stats.

[cjonesfan921]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

And you're really good at saying the same thing over and over.

Felix's stuff hasn't gotten any better since last year, he just had problems locating his 2-seam fastball (he had a harder time than I expected). This year, so far, he has command of it. But his pure "stuff" was the best in the game last year, and still is.

But for some reason you think "stuff" means stats.

Liriano? Santana?

[keRplunK]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

Liriano? Santana?

They obviously, both have great stuff. Liriano had just about as dominating results as you can get over 121 innings last year. Santana has been the best pitcher in baseball the last few years.

They are a tough comparison because they are both left-handers and have a completely different style than Felix. Liriano actually reminded me of Randy Johnson last year. Liriano obviously has a few pitches that are so electric that he could run through the league with a 1.91 era over 99 innings with an amazing strike-out rate, that was at the age of 22.

During felix's first run through the league he wasn't allowed to throw, what most consider his best pitch (slider), went through the league with a 2.67 era over 84 innings and a good strike-out rate. That was at the age of 19.

Felix has a very good: 2-seam fastball, curveball, slider, and change-up. Nobody in the league has the array of dominate pitches that he has. And that is really where my argument is.

Some have a pretty similar curveball or a slider, but nobody has a 95+ mph 2-seamer, to go along with his off-speed pitches.

So to put it clearly: They both are very good with amazing stuff. I'd give the edge to Felix because of all the pitches he has, and he has a better track record through the minors. He's been dominating since he was 17 and had his first semi-failure in the major leagues at the age of 20.

Liriano was always talented and good but he just kind of went crazy at the end of his 2005 season (at 21) and carried it over into the majors the following year (at 22).

I just hope Liriano comes back the way he was.

[Seahawk76]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

LOL. Ain't that the truth.

Felix has filthy stuff....no doubt about it. I just want to see a guy be successful over a period of time I think I mentioned that earlier in the thread as long standing consistency is the sign of greatness. Look no further than the aforementioned Gooden. Gooden had some good seasons and filthy stuff, but he's not a great pitcher in the grand scale of things. Put it this way, the only way Gooden gets in the HOF is to buy a ticket.

Yeah, but that's not what Schilling was talking about. Cocaine abuse and other off-field issues took its toll on Gooden over the years but when he first came into the league he was absolutely brilliant. That's the Gooden that Schilling was comparing Felix to.

No one is nominating Hernandez for the HOF just yet, and any number of things could prevent him from ever reaching his full potential. But his potential is limitless and there's no reason to wait until he's been in the league for fifteen years to start talking about it.

[bkrich83]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

I'd give the edge to Felix because of all the pitches he has, and he has a better track record through the minors. He's been dominating since he was 17 and had his first semi-failure in the major leagues at the age of 20.
.

LOL, is that your completely unbiased opinion.

[bkrich83]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

Yeah, but that's not what Schilling was talking about. Cocaine abuse and other off-field issues took its toll on Gooden over the years but when he first came into the league he was absolutely brilliant. That's the Gooden that Schilling was comparing Felix to.

No one is nominating Hernandez for the HOF just yet, and any number of things could prevent him from ever reaching his full potential. But his potential is limitless and there's no reason to wait until he's been in the league for fifteen years to start talking about it.

Actually Mariner fans were annoiting him to the HOF, 2 years ago. Which was the point of this thread originally. The "King Felix" thing every other word out of Mariner fans got old.

You're absolutely right, he's got limitless potential, but how about we let him play some before calling him the greatest ever. Mariners fans are funny. As much boasting as they do, you'd think the Mariners would have had a lot more success than they have.

[Coug00]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

Mariners fans are funny. As much boasting as they do, you'd think the Mariners would have had a lot more success than they have.

If you say so. I see most of the M's fans on here as skeptical of the team as a whole.

[keRplunK]

Re: What's the scoop with Felix Hernandez?

LOL, is that your completely unbiased opinion.

Their minor league careers:

Hernandez: 2.59 , 306 innings , 10.67 k-rate

Liriano: 3.42 , 484 innings , 10.24 k-rate

Hernandez was performing better at a younger age than Liriano. Hernandez has had less time to learn pitching strategy. And Hernandez is going into THIS season a year younger than Liriano was when he dominated.

Going by their track records, and having watched both of them pitch I would give a slight edge to Hernandez when it comes to pure "stuff." But really when it comes down to it, when Liriano or Hernandez are "on" you can't hit them so what does it truly matter?

But you've probably seen Felix pitch...what, once or twice? Does Liriano have four top major league pitches? I'm sorry if you don't know what you're talking about.

And once agian, why don't you go leave Schilling a "homer" comment. It's clear he must be a biased mariner fan to say Felix has better stuff than Dwight Gooden did....