Seattle Mariners: An end of an era with Felix Hernandez
By David Hill
On Thursday, Felix Hernandez walked off the mound as a member of the Seattle Mariners for one last time. He leaves behind a mixed legacy.
It is easy to see why Felix Hernandez is not just one of the greatest players in the history of the Seattle Mariners, but arguably their best pitcher. He put together an impressive resume over his 15 years in the Pacific Northwest – a six time All Star who won the 2010 AL Cy Young award and finished second twice. Hernandez threw a perfect game in 2012, the first no hitter thrown by a Mariners pitcher at SafeCo Field.
However, after a respectable 2016 campaign, Hernandez battled injuries and his own woeful performance. This past season was particularly dreadful, as Hernandez posted a 1-8 record, along with a 6.40 ERA and a 1.535 WHiP, striking out 57 batters in 71.2 innings. Following his emotional following start on Thursday, when he allowed just three runs in 5.1 innings, one could understand if Hernandez was ready to walk off into the sunset.
Instead, that will not be the case. Hernandez is planning on pitching again in 2020, provided he can find a team that is willing to bring him in.
Given his performance this season, one can understand why Hernandez is hedging his bets. He has not aged gracefully, as his 2415.2 innings through age 30 have caught up with him. If he is going to get an offer, it may well be a minor league deal where he has to earn a place in the rotation during Spring Training.
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In a way, these final three years are another part of his legacy. Pitchers like Justin Verlander and Bartolo Colon were able to get past their struggles in the early part of their 30s, reinventing themselves on the mound to remain viable major league starters. Hernandez, however, did not.
Instead, Hernandez tried to remain the same pitcher he had always been, relying primarily on his sinker, curve, and changeup. That combination worked in his heyday, but the difference in velocity between his fastball and change has gradually dissipated. Hernandez needed to vary his arsenal, and change the pitcher he was.
He refused to adapt. Whether from stubbornness or a lack of trust in his other offerings, Hernandez was the same pitcher he had always been. It was the same pitches, only slower. And in the end, the results were not there.
Perhaps, with a different coaching staff and having to prove himself once again, Hernandez will change his approach. It is possible that he can resurrect his career, just as Verlander and Colon were able to. Of course, it is also possible that Hernandez has thrown his final major league pitch at just 33 years of age, a victim of his own earlier success.
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It is the end of an era for the Seattle Mariners, and Felix Hernandez has thrown his last pitch in their uniform. He may take the mound in Seattle once again someday, but it is likely to be with a different team if it happens at all.