Pineda walks the walk

For many kids entering their 20's life can seem pretty stress free. This is time of your life when you've mastered the art of getting through college successfully without sacrificing it's greatest draw, lots of socializing with little rules. College is allows students to enjoy freedoms away from their parents watchful eyes. In other words, it is their last chance to be immature and naive without much repercussion. Eventually a 21-year old has things to worry about in this sad job climate but it's rarely that scary because there is plenty of time to grow up.

Well what if you weren't allowed to take your time becoming who you were meant to be? What if the powers that be in your future career wanted you act like a professional today? Would you grab that opportunity by the reigns and giddy up? Or would you back away from your big break because you just weren't ready for the responsibility?

I know one person's answer to that life-altering question. Last night, the Mariners' Michael Pineda went toe-to-toe with one of his organization's greatest competitors and flashed his grand potential. The rookie had the high-scoring Texas Rangers hitters wrangled for the first 5 innings by allowing one run with 4 strikeouts. The next inning Texas broke through Pineda's brilliance by scoring 2 more runs, effectively ending his first start while leaving him with some remaining confidence.

At the age of 21, Pineda is expected to grow-up rapidly and help carry the load of a floundering franchise on his back and more specifically, his left arm. Standing at 6'6, 250 pounds, he already has the build of a great Major League pitcher.

The path to prosperity in the big leagues was blazed by Seattle's own, Felix Hernandez, whom has been in the organization since the age of 17. Pineda will learn how to handle the pressure from a perfect role model and Cy Young winner. With those two leading the future pitching rotation, it's safe to say the Mariners will return to respectability and then some.