24-39, Game Thought

128. It's an alarming number. It's an alarming number for a guy we all want to see stay healthy more than we want anybody else to stay healthy. 128 is seven more than his previous high of 121. And 128 seemed unnecessary when he ended the eighth at 113.

But for the people who are going to criticize Don Wakamatsu for Felix Hernandez' pitch count - and there'll be a lot of them - understand that this was about more than one game for a last-place ballclub.

This was about developing trust, and about developing a relationship. We know Felix hates to come out. We know he loves to win, and that he hates having to leave his games in someone else's hands. We know that, if Felix had his way, he'd throw nine innings every start.

And we know that he wasn't too happy when Wak came out to visit him early on in Oakland a month ago. We know he's responded poorly to getting yanked sometimes, and we know that can put a strain on the player/coach relationship, especially when things are going poorly and Felix came in with only three wins.

Felix is here for a long time. That's the hope, anyway, given his long-term contract. And last Friday Z came out and gave Wak what came across as an actual, legitimate vote of confidence. The team would appear committed to Felix as an ace, and to Wak as the manager.

Given that, then, Felix and Wak have to do more than coexist. They don't need to be best friends, but they need to get along, to be on the same page and see where the other is coming from. It's hard to expect a consistent level of production if you've got an ace and a manager unhappy with one another.

So, today, we saw Wak hand the ball back to Felix when a lot of managers would've given it to somebody else. You know Felix didn't want to come out after eight. We all know Felix didn't want to come out after eight. So Wak gave him a chance. He gave Felix an opportunity to take this one all the way, and in so doing demonstrated a certain amount of trust and belief in his pitcher.

Wak, of course, took that opportunity away with one out to go, but at that point Felix had neared 130. That would've been pushing it. The important thing is that, when Wak handed the ball to David Aardsma, Felix knew he'd been given his chance. He knew that Wak had given him a shot and allowed him to throw longer than he's ever thrown. He couldn't be mad. Sometimes, when Felix comes out, he's upset, because he knows he's still got some bullets left. Today, Wak took him as far as any sane manager could take him.

It's a step. It's a step towards either improving or developing a relationship between Felix and his manager. I don't know just how important that is, but I know it isn't irrelevant. And while 128 is a considerable sum, Felix's last fastball was 95, and he should have an extra day of rest before he walks back up the hill. Leaving Felix in to face three hitters in the ninth probably didn't doom him to future pain.

Let me say right now that I don't like letting young starting pitchers throw 128 pitches. I think, when you do that, you're tempting things that shouldn't be tempted, and you're putting your pitcher at risk. I'm just explaining why Wak isn't insane. He had a reason for doing what he did, and the Mariners wouldn't have let Felix go as far as he did if they didn't think he could handle it.

The Mariners don't have a lot of important games left on the schedule anymore. But today's, I think, was one of them.

Let's hope Felix is fine.