Felix' return to the mound after a couple of months rehabbing on the IL went quite well. He made it deep into the 5th, gave up only two runs on three hits. He's not the same power-pitcher he was and, finally, seems to recognize that changing up his pitches and relying on his breaking ball are what he needs to do in the latter stage of his career.
But the real story is how the game ended. He left with a three run lead, only to watch the bullpen blow it, leaving him with a no decision and the M's with a loss. His whole career with the Mariners was encapsulated in this one game. Whatever unlucky star he was born under sentenced him to pitch for a team that, for years, couldn't score runs for him and wasn't able to hold leads.
As he left the mound, to a deserved standing O, I'm sure his thoughts were the same as the 414 starts he made: "I gave it my all, that's all I can do." That thinking it what has caused such fan support for the King. He just worked so damn hard for his team and the fans of Seattle and he couldn't get the wins.
In the last couple of seasons his popularity waned, probably because he seemed to resist making the changes in his pitching style as the velo and effectiveness of his fastball declined. He seemed stubborn and petulant last year, reluctant to try pitching out of the bullpen. That's too bad, because, at his best, he is up there with Seattle's top pitchers ever, Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer and Mark Langston.
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