Finally! Mariner Bliss!

-          Thanks to ESPN.com and Directv I caught and recorded the last 4 outs of Felix Hernandez’s perfect game Wednesday.  As I watched him do what only 22 other pitchers have done in MLB history a few thoughts came to my mind.  First, what a day for Mariner fans.  Not that I’m a huge Mariner fan, but if they were playing anyone I’d root for the Mariners.  So I’m a “small” fan.  And let me tell you it is difficult to even be a “small” fan.  Since 2001 the Mariners have been horrible.  Okay, to be fair in 2002 and 2003 they were actually pretty good.  And in 2007 the team was doing really well but Mike Hargrove decided to part ways mid-season and again all fans, even “small” ones were disappointed.  That’s 11 straight seasons without playoffs!  It’s sad when the “small” fans like me browse the MLB standings looking to see how far from last place in all of baseball the M’s are.  So watching the end of a perfect game by Felix, the only one in Mariner’s history, was basically like watching the M’s win the World Series.  If they don’t win another game all season, who cares?  In fact those of us that are “small” fans don’t watch right now anyway and we won’t start.  Let’s just soak up the greatness of the perfect game.  Another thought rolling through my mind as Felix was mobbed was thinking about him individually.  The guy was heralded a dominator from the get-go.  And even though it seems like sometimes he should do more, he hasn’t disappointed.  I mean what can he do?  He pitches for the Mariners!!!  Felix has won 57% of his games since joining the M’s in ‘05.  At the foul line that’s no good, but in baseball it’s better than decent and when you are playing for the cellar dweller continually 57% is Grand Coulee Dam good!  Forgive me if I get a little riled up tonight, I stunk it up at city league softball and I don’t know how to spell riled.  Since 2005 the M’s have won a surprising 45% of their games so Felix is 12% above his team’s winning %.  Case closed.  And lastly, I couldn’t help but think only a few weeks back I was actually “finking” the M’s may need to part ways and hit the jackpot with a blockbuster trade.  See, this is why I’m not a “die-hard” and now you may never “fink” again because you’re probably thinking “traitor!”  A “die-hard” would never consider letting King Felix go.  Plus when the M’s trade they get guys like D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar.  Seriously???  Who the H-E-double is that?  So the season is lost and the future isn’t bright but at least we can always remember the day King Felix, with those gold king K signs in the backdrop, pitching a perfect game.  Even the “small” fans of us.