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G-Money sez,

It's a really big year for this team. I would not be surprised to see an extension for Felix, but if I were him I'd want to see what kind of team we deliver to him for the '13 season before he inks his name to that line. I want Felix's Mariners to compete for WS titles going forward, not basement standings. We've acquired a LOT of young guys. Time to move some of em for the RIGHT player(s) to enable us to take that next leap.

He's been sitting there in the middle of 93-loss seasons, and ESPN asks him on SportsCenter about going somewhere else, and he practically bursts into tears at the suggestion.  This is a guy for whom comfort and relationships are obviously number one ... and it's not like $20M isn't more than he can spend...

You'd think he'd be sick and tired of losing 2-1 games, of going out and battling his heart out and having zero to show for it.  Game after game, year after year, he goes out and performs miracles, and then gets kicked in the gut at the end of the three hours.  You'd think he'd have a quitting point.

But, inexplicably, Felix just doesn't seem to have that frustration point, and that's one more gigantic PLUS for Zduriencik as he shapes the final ballclub...

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

At field level, Jack's got to be near tears, so to speak, watching all those Felix masterpieces getting paint-splattered by vandals at the last second every time.  I bet you that was part of what came up in the discussions to change the fences.  What can we do about these Felix games.

For fans, it's a frustration.  But for the athlete, and his trainers, it's not acceptable.  By "Not Acceptable" we mean that the situation cannot be tolerated, and even if you were to try to tolerate it, the situation wouldn't tolerate itself.  The boxer puts in his dreary roadwork, morning after morning, does all the prep, goes out and fights like a lion, performs like an artist and a scientist, achieves pinnacles of success that are superhuman.  Then he wins the fight and the judges rob him and send him home with a loss .... 

If it happens now and then, you can get over it.  But if it happens every time?  It's no accident that you find so few great pitchers who were willing to compete their entire careers without postseason action.  The very thing that gets them through the tough innings, is their competitive heart and thirst for victory.  When ESPN asks Felix about where he's going next, that's because they've seen what champions do when they're stuck without the possibility of victory.  They go somewhere they CAN win.

Felix' 2-1 losses haven't merely been revolting.  They've been an unpossible situation, a situation that can't continue without something having to give somewhere.

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

But there's a mystery here.  Felix doesn't seem to mind.  He just goes out and battles like Rocky against Apollo Creed, and then after the game goes "Ah, no biggie.  Put on some music, guys."

Maybe with the fences coming in, 2013 will bring the onset of the 17-6 Felix seasons.

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