Cy Felix

Few nicknames truly fit the player they're given to. Even fewer players exceed the hype bestowed on them. Phenoms are one of the most interesting dynamics about sports to me. I love when a player has the weight of the world lumped on them and then rises up to the challenge and proceeds to smash even the highest ceiling predicted as a rookie.

Ace pitcher Felix Hernandez is unbelievably fantastic. The nickname "King Felix" was bestowed upon him as an 18 year old rookie and ever since that day, the 'King' has ruled.

Hernandez, at the age of 24 is finishing his sixth Major League season and he has the brightest future of any pitcher in baseball. Unfortunately, few really understand this because he plays for the unbelievably horrible Seattle Mariners.

Over the years, in all sports, great talents get lost on hapless teams. Barry Sanders on the Detroit Lions. Dan Marino with the Miami Dolphins. Patrick Ewing in New York. Even Hernandez's current teammate Ichiro suffers the same fate.

Felix is just the latest victim of circumstance. The man cannot get any love from his "offense". In his 12 losses, the Mariners have scored a total of eight runs while he was on the mound -- and no runs in his last five losses since mid-July. Are you kidding me?

Many people in the mainstream media will point out CC Sabathia (21-7) or David Price (19-6) as the American League Cy Young favorites because their team's made the playoffs and those two led them there. This is true but how can you deny Hernandez (13-12) just because he has six less wins than Price and eight less than Sabathia?

Felix is a pitcher. The Cy Young award is presented each year to the best pitcher, not the guy who can accumulate the most wins and playoff berth.

Math was never my strong suit but I'm pretty sure these numbers are untouchable:

232 Strikeouts; 2.27 Earn Run Average; 1.06 WHIP (Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched)

Those insanely great numbers are all rank first in their respective pitching categories. If that doesn't somehow convince you; how about this?

Hernandez has pitched at least seven innings in 25 consecutive starts, a Mariners record, and is only the seventh pitcher in the majors since 1980 with 30 quality starts (three earned runs or fewer while pitching at least six innings).

That means he gives the Mariners a high chance to win every time he takes the mound but the Mariners hitters steal his glory practically every start.

Hernandez finished second in AL Cy Young voting last year and his numbers were almost better than this year. The first line of numbers are Hernandez's 2009 stats and the following set is 2009's winning numbers by Kansas City's Zack Greinke:

19-5 W-L; 217 SO; 2.49 ERA; 1.13 WHIP

16-8 W-L; 242 SO; 2.16 ERA; 1.06 WHIP

The point is that Hernandez had great numbers last year and he was denied by a pitcher with better numbers but a worse win/loss record. So if the Cy Young voters are sticking to the same criteria, they cannot deny Hernandez the award this time around.

This Sunday the Mariners close up their season at home against the Oakland Athletics and guess who wants the ball? Instead of Fan Appreciation Night, the Mariners should reconsider and rename it Felix Appreciation Night.

Long live King Felix.

2010 Seahawks: the young and the fearless

Fill in the blank: yesterday's Seahawks win made you feel _____

Excited? Optimistic? Satisfied?

Try alive. That was easily one of the more thrilling games the Seahawks have played in years.

Seattle's 27-20 win over San Diego was explosive. There were two kick returns for touchdowns; 675 yards combined passing and a total of seven turnovers.

The Seahawks defensive line was all over San Diego's quarterback Phillip Rivers. Defensive ends Chris Clemons and Red Bryant consistently collapsed Rivers' throwing pocket which allowed defensive tackles Colin Cole and Brandon Mebane to penetrate the running lanes.

Once again, the Seahawks shutdown the run. They gave up 89 yards rushing with no touchdowns. This trend is becoming more and more a staple as the weeks go by. After yesterday's dominance, the Seahawks run defense ranks fifth in the NFL at 67 yards allowed per game.

The difference between the defense last year and this year is pretty obvious. The line is pressuring the quarterback which is giving the linebackers opportunities to fly around the field and make plays. It also cuts down the time that the cornerbacks and safety's have to stay in coverage. That pressure is vital because if the quarterback has all day to throw then the secondary will inevitably get burned by the receivers.

As ferocious as the Hawks defense looked at times, they still blew plenty of coverages at the end of the game. Rivers threw for 455 yards with 109 of those going to All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates. Shockingly, the Seahawks constantly left him wide open in the fourth quarter. It's hard to believe San Diego's most dangerous weapon didn't even appear covered on many key passing downs. That is completely unacceptable, especially in a tight ball game.

It seems like the defense is becoming Seattle's identity but because they are so young and inexperienced, they will still get shredded by veteran studs like Rivers and Gates. On the other hand, they looked hungry and fearless. The Seahawks sacked Rivers four times and rookie safety, Earl Thomas intercepted him twice.

Seattle's offense relied on a lot of short passes and the occasional running play. It is very apparent that head coach Pete Carroll doesn't think he has any weapons that scare defenses. The Hawks don't throw deep or even threaten to which allows the defense to cheat up on every play. This needs to change soon or the offense will only digress further.

Lastly, and absolutely not least, Leon Washington deserved the game ball for his highlight reel performance returning kicks yesterday. Washington delivered a shot to the mouth of the Chargers coming out of halftime by returning the kick 101 yards for the score.

Then just when the Chargers tied the game at 20-20 late in the fourth, Washington took the following kick return 99 yards to the house. Washington was brought in this offseason for that exact thing. The electricity he generated at Qwest Field makes one think; are you sure his name isn't Neon? Either way, his name certainly deserves to be in lights after those game-changing plays.

So what did we learn this weekend?

The defense is having fun. The offense is desperate for a deep threat. Special teams looks well, special. The 2-1 Seahawks sit a top the NFC West with a winnable game in St. Louis on Sunday.

Can you feel it?

San Diego's high-flying air show lands at Qwest

This Sunday Qwest Field will be buzzing like the electrical transformers your parents warned you as a kid to stay away from.

Caution: High Voltage!

The electricity generated from the match-up between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Diego Chargers, all obvious puns aside, will be palpable.

The Chargers enter this week beat-up at runningback which means it is up to star quarterback Phillip Rivers to shred the already questionable Seahawks secondary. San Diego's first round pick, Ryan Matthews, has a high ankle sprain and is out for Sunday. Despite the lack of a solid running option, the Chargers would look to pass often anyhow.

San Diego will pass early and often for two reasons; the Seahawks have proved they can stop the run and the Chargers wide receivers all stand at least two inches taller than any Seahawks defender. Their top two receivers, Legedu Naanee and Malcom Floyd are 6'2 and 6'5 respectively and San Diego's dynamic tight end Antonio Gates stands at 6'4.

Did I mention that the quarterback Rivers is 6'5? That height is very impressive and a huge challenge for the vertically challenged Seahawks secondary who can't boast anyone over 6' tall. Look for lob passes and routes where Chargers receivers can use their athletic ability to jump straight up and snag the ball out of the air over helpless defenders.

Much of the electrical current will pulse from the stands at Qwest Field. The Seahawk players are fortunate to have the best fans in football because they literally provide energy to the team for all four quarters. Seattle fan's impact on the game is no joke considering the team's high home winning percentage and the excessive false starts incurred by the visitors (3.2/per game).

An interesting side note to San Diego being in town this week is their recent trade with Seattle involving the much-ado-about-nothing, Charlie Whitehurst. The Seahawks traded for Whitehurst during this year's NFL Draft as an insurance policy for oft injured quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck.

The timing is quite dramatic because of Hasselbeck's struggle to pass to the right colored jersey recently. The easy answer for fans is to call for a change at quarterback but it is hardly that simple. Smartly, head coach Pete Carroll said this week that "Matt is our guy". You just can't convince me that Whitehurst should step in when Hasselbeck is healthy.

Fortunately for the Chargers, their quarterback is young and capable of great things every time he steps onto the field. Thus, they didn't sweat the "loss" of Whitehurst to a desperate team like Seattle.

The Seahawks have their hands full this weekend but as it's been proven time and time again; Seattle is capable of short-circuiting opponents at home behind an electric crowd.

Hasselbeck under fire

Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.

Everyone knows what results from them. Coaches have that word on automatic response when the media inquires on what the key is to any win or loss.

Turnovers either make you or break you.

The Seattle Seahawks looked broken on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. It wasn't as if the Seahawks couldn't move the ball; the Seahawks just gave back the ball after driving into Denver territory three times and once more on a muffed punt return. They gift wrapped these turnovers as if they were just trying to be polite guests in someone's home. Denver being the gracious host that they are, showed their gratitude by handing Seattle a 31-14 beating.

Last week's hero, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, rushed for a touchdown and threw from another along with three interceptions. For those of you counting, that is 14 interceptions in his last six regular-season games. Ouch.

Hasselbeck has never been so inaccurate in his career. He has also never had such a threatening backup. Second-string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst will hear his name mentioned increasingly more each week that Hasselbeck struggles.

Head coach Pete Carroll has a number of mantras he lives by and Carroll demands his football team to adhere to as well.

Earn Everything. Always Compete.

Hasselbeck knows these words apply even to him, the longest tenured Seahawk. Job security at the quarterback position has really never been in question in Hasselbeck's time with Seattle.

Since becoming the starter in 2003, Hasselbeck has led Seattle to five playoff appearances and a Super Bowl appearance as well as being selected three times for the Pro Bowl. Pair those accolades with a "lifer" backup like Seneca Wallace who sat behind Hasselbeck every season till this year and you get very strong job security.

During Hasselbeck's dominant years he had reliable players around him. First and foremost, he was protected by arguably the greatest left tackle of all-time in Walter Jones. Jones' utter dominance gave Hasselbeck a quarterback's dream gift, piece-of-mind that his blindside was protected. When a quarterback feels comfortable in the pocket he will inevitably play with more confidence and find the open man.

Hasselbeck is trying to do too much. I don't blame him for taking risks when his receiving core doesn't scare anyone and the treadmill running game is going nowhere. But these are the toys he has to work with and a change in quarterback will not add talent to the offense. Despite the interceptions, Hasselbeck is the only player on the Seahawks that I trust.

Yet, the fans and media are crying out for answers and the only one that comes to their mind in Whitehurst. I get it. But do you really want a guy who has never started an NFL game to lead your team when Hasselbeck is healthy?

Let me breakdown Mr. Whitehurst for you. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2006 draft after two average seasons at Clemson University. You think you hate interceptions now, check out Whitehurst's decision making skills back then:

2004: 2067 yards, 7 TD, 17 INT
2005: 2483 yards, 11TD, 10 INT

Yeah, I'm sure collegiate defenses play similar to NFL defenses....

Critics of the Seahawks need to look outside the box for once and not latch onto the easy answer for the team's problem. How about the soft running game or inexperienced, injury-plagued offensive line?

The Hawks head home to their haven, Qwest Field, this weekend where they will take on the high-octane San Diego Chargers. Seattle always plays their best ball at home so I won't be surprised if the Hawks bounce back with a strong performance against the Chargers.

Expect a see-saw season from 2010 Seahawks and know that it is never just one problem.

Week 2 preview of Seahawks and Broncos

Momentum. It's a funny thing. In sports, momentum can often trump talent. It serves as a intangible force that drives a team to victories and performances that didn't seem possible just weeks earlier. The Seattle Seahawks look to build momentum off last week's blowout of division rival San Francisco 49ers when they fly into Denver this weekend.

The Denver Broncos know first hand what momentum can do for your team. Coming into last season the Broncos were in flux. Long time head coach Mike Shanahan retired and was replaced by rookie head coach Josh McDaniels. Their budding quarterback, Jay Cutler was traded and they were starting a rookie at runningback. The Broncos defense was full of unknown players with no real identity. Needless to say, the Broncos were not picked to win the AFC West.

But a funny thing happened. They won their first game in dramatic fashion on a deflected pass that landed in the right receiver's hands and he dashed for a game winning touchdown with time expiring.

Denver built off that crazy win by dominating their next two games in which they only allowed nine points total. The defense was rolling and the team's confidence was a mile-high in Denver. The Broncos entered their week 7 bye with a 6-0 record. Pretty amazing considering their preseason outlook.

Seattle has momentum and confidence entering this Sunday's battle with their old AFC West division foe. The Seahawks need to replicate their high energy performance from last week to keep this intangible monster unleashed on the unsuspecting NFL.

The key to the Seahawks win last week was their ability to wrap up on every tackle and fly to the ball on every snap. The performance against the 49ers was exciting for Seattle fans because they showed so much of the intensity that last year's team lacked.

That passion was ignited by head coach Pete Carroll, a man who doesn't know the meaning of indifferent. Carroll will do everything he can to raise his players to his heightened energetic level.

Carroll was so visibly fired up after each defensive stop and offensive score that I got chills watching from home. You see, there is an difference between a positive, player friendly coach and a professional motivator, player friendly coach.

Carroll demands accountability from his players. He won't let his men slouch or play any other way but full-throttle. Carroll has proved that by cutting and trading half of last year's roster.

The Broncos are coming off an opening week loss to the hapless Jaguars and once again look mediocre. But as the Broncos proved before, looks can be deceiving. Led by 'average Joe' quarterback, Kyle Orton, the Broncos feature a balanced offense with an above average defense.

Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck proved to the critics that he has some gas left in the tank by throwing two touchdowns and scrambling for another. Hasselbeck will need to keep his team focused on the field this Sunday because the Seahawks typically do not play well on the road. A couple early Seahawk defensive stops will calm the schziophrenic offense.

Both the Seahawks and Broncos enter week two trying to assert themselves and find an identity.

They stack up pretty evenly on paper; except for one thing, momentum.

Hawks D Shocks Niners

Their defense can scare you. They hit hard. They wrap up on tackles. Running backs hit a unforgiving wall. Receivers struggle to get open. Their coach is a defensive genius.

That is all the media could talk about leading up the San Francisco 49ers opening day matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. The word on the street was that the Niners would cripple any Seahawks drive. Most everyone agreed that Seattle was simply overmatched. But after yesterday's 31-6 49er drubbing, the Seahawks were the team that deserved the aforementioned defensive accolades. At least for week one.

Coming into the 2010 season the Seahawks were full of question marks. No bigger question mark was the how the defense would play after finishing the last two seasons ranked 24th and 30th in total team defense. Those stats don't conjure up much optimism for 2010. Yet, for the first game, the Seahawks defense dominated the Niners in all phases.

The obvious key to a Seahawk win was to shutdown running back Frank Gore and boy did they come through on that one. Gore was limited to an incredibly low 38 yards on 17 carries. The Hawks defensive line, supposedly the worst unit on the team, would not allow Gore to get going at all. As a unit they played like an absorbing solid. Gore would hit the hole and the line would give a little, then push him back with the help of the Hawks linebackers.

The most telling stat of the day was 1-15 for the 49ers offense on 3rd down. The Hawks dominated 3rd down which dictates the overall effectiveness of an offense. Seattle even stood San Francisco up on 4th down near the goal line. All those stops had the Hawks defense pumped up which then allowed the home crowd at Qwest Field to impose their vocal will on San Francisco.

Although the score was only 14-6 Seahawks at halftime, it was obvious that Seattle meant business. Usually the Seahawks are the team that sputters on offense and only scores field goals but not yesterday. Head coach Pete Carroll kept his men focused throughout the second half; Seattle forced the 49ers to punt on every drive except when cornerback Marcus Trufant intercepted Smith and proceeded to run it back for a 'nail-in-the-coffin' score.

Another improvement displayed was the Seahawks' ability to rush the quarterback. The defense repeatedly hit 49er quarterback Alex Smith, forcing two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and two sacks. Defensive ends Red Bryant and Chris Clemons will haunt Smith's dreams after combining for 7 hits on the QB. If the Seahawks expect to continue this type of performance they will need the defensive line to control the point of attack. If that happens, the secondary will continue to feast on rushed passes.

This was the type of performance that a football team can build momentum off of and carry throughout the season. Not much was expected from Seattle this season and deservedly so; but if the defense brings the intensity they showed against their biggest rival, maybe the Seahawks can break some more hearts.

Rhymes With Hawk

Let's play the latest craze sweeping the Northwest, "Name That Hawk!", with Pat, your reluctant host.

During the week leading up to the first Sunday of the 2010 NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks are experiencing an identity crisis. The roster demolition couldn't have come at a worse time. It appears that Seahawks management just realized their roster isn't worth a damn after sticking with these guys through all of training camp and 4 preseason games.

Still, I don't believe the team cut that much talent. They cut dead weight. Every player that was cut or traded was on the team last year and if you will recall, the team lost 11 games.

Head Coach/Team President, Pete Carroll and General Manager John Schneider seem to be embracing the "what do we have to lose?" approach. They weren't around for last year's debacle and that is to their benefit because they have zero loyalty to tenured Hawks.

Whether fans like it or not the Seahawks are starting over.

Yes, there will be many new faces on both sides of the ball but the shake-up is vital to Carroll's vision of the future. Owner, Paul Allen has obviously given Carroll a leash of at least 3 years to shape the Hawks to his liking. Carroll knows talent. He proved that at USC for many years. He has a plan but Hawks fans are going to have to be patient.

Fans shouldn't freak out over the drastic changes made. Can someone please tell me what was so great about the team last year? They failed. Repeatedly.

The silver lining to the Hawk's locker room culture shock is that the NFL teams have a funny way of bouncing back quickly. The NFL is known for it's parity and rags to riches stories. Ever heard of the New Orleans Saints?

Long story short, the Saints didn't win a playoff game until the year 2000, then in 2005 Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and their fan base. Their home stadium, the Superdome, was damaged so badly that the Saints played the whole 2005 season away from New Orleans. The following year the Saints soldout the revamped Superdome for every home game and made a deep run in the playoffs under new head coach Sean Payton and budding quarterback Drew Brees. Finally, last season the Saints dominated the NFL all year and ended up winning the Superbowl. Thus, if the Saints can overcome insane obstacles like that so can the Seahawks.

The Seahawks are not without talent. Actually, I believe the Hawks have a number of great young players that will serve as a foundation for the next decade. With that said, I think this season will be rough to watch in terms of wins so I will be focusing on the growth of individual player performance.

This is an important crossroad for the Hawks. Fans need to decide if they're in or out. I don't want to hear the whining from fans all year about the direction of the team. Seattle fans gross me out by being so fair-weather and bandwagon jumpers.

I consider myself to be a logical person. I've stood behind the Hawks since 2002. I watched them when they sucked. I watched them when they were a couple bad refs away from a Superbowl win. I argue on their behalf, in the most logical manner I can, when I get flak from friends that don't believe in them. Of course these friends were clambering for a seat on the bandwagon on the 2005 Superbowl run. Typical Seattle fans.

We were spoiled under coach Mike Holmgren for 10 years. Only a few teams could say that they won their division 5 seasons in a row in the 2000's. I don't care that the NFC West wasn't the hardest division ever. It is the NFL. You either win or you don't. The Seahawks were winners for many years.

Reasonable expectations for the 2010 season is for these guys is to prove to Carroll and to the fans that they want to compete. They need to show grit and intensity. I want to see hard hits and play execution.

The opening day roster doesn't have household names. There are no imminent Pro Bowl players. Don't judge the Seahawks yet. Management has a plan. Just because you don't recognize the jersey selection when you're at the Seahawks Team Store doesn't mean there isn't one worth purchasing.

Buy low now because the 12th Man doesn't want you coming 'round when the gettins good.