After the M's got Felix five runs and lost the game to their division rivals, Wakamatsu was furious.  Give him credit for his professional social veneer, but his anger was palpable even on the radio.

One of the things that Wok talked about, was Felix putting little or no effort into holding runners -- and it was exactly this same frame-of-mind that had Felix grabbing the ball and throwing it without an idea.  He was evidently in a lazy-brain mode. 

Felix had no "pitchability" -- no capacity for, and no interest in -- throwing the Angels the pitches that might cross them up.  He grabbed the ball and threw it mindlessly.  Read between the lines and you will see that general (lack of) interest in the game is what had Wakamatsu apoplectic.

As an organization, the Mariners have believed that pitchers should execute their own favorite pitches (Jarrod Washburn), as opposed to attacking the hitters' weaknesses (Jamie Moyer and Kenji Johjima).  But Zduriencik and Wakamatsu aren't encumbered by this institutional syndrome.

By the way, on the radio, somebody asked Felix what his approach is towards Torii Hunter:

"The same as it is to everybody."

Direct quote.

Now, Felix isn't as simple as THAT.  It would be naive to interpret that as meaning that Felix hasn't even seen the hot-zone charts.  But the quote illustrates an unfortunate mindset:  who really cares who's up. 

...............

I don't know what the Boston Red Sox would do, with a very talented pitcher who simply refused to bear down, half the time.  I don't know what Epstein & James & Co. would do, if they had a guy with a 96 fastball who just refused to seriously read the scouting reports on the enemy lineup.

My guess is that they would go with somebody else.

.

=== I'll Throw 'im A Bone, Dept. ===

When Randy Johnson was young, this was precisely the complaint against him too.  That he would lose interest in the game, if he didn't like the way things were going.

"I've seen him just completely lose interest in the game, after a hit goes through.  Like, the no-hitter's gone, what's the point?" 

That's a verbatim quote from an AL scout on the young Randy Johnson.  Many times the difference, early on, was simply that Johnson was flinging the ball mindlessly.  It was a "pitchability" issue.

Whatever the hitters want to hit, wherever they want it, whenever they want it, you've got to throw them the opposite.  That's pitchability.  The mature Big Unit had it.  The young Big Unit wasn't interested.

Right now, Felix' pitchability "comes and goes."  Because some nights he is motivated, and other nights he takes off.

When will Felix' ability to focus jell?  Take your pick:

1.  Never

2.  Tomorrow

3.  Somewhere in between

We can tell you that a Whitey Herzog, Billy Martin, Lou Piniella or Dick Williams wouldn't wait for #3.  But of course they're not the only guys who ever managed.

.

=== Crossroads Dept. ===

I'm not down on Felix.  My son wears his jersey, and it's part of our family groove that he and I root for Felix together.  On a personal level, I like the guy, and believe that he could become the best pitcher in the big leagues.

The only reason we're writing that Felix is at a crossroads, is because he is.

...............

Wok, on the radio, said that Felix' and the Mariners' concentration "comes and goes."  Which is why he knows it is a question of effort.  And he said as much.

Felix had the concentration, and the pitchability, in that 1-0 shutout vs Tampa.  Last night, he didn't bother.  Capt Jack and Wok have a problem there.

................

Baker, with his feel for the game, accurately reports to cyber-Seattle that the early attitude and effort are in danger of going away.

Capt Jack and Wok have done everything short of burning down the roster and completely replacing it.  That's what would be next.

They're able.  They might need to be willing.

Cheers,

Dr D