Well that was fun. When you watch 162 games a year you have to appreciate something different. We saw it coming and that was part of the fun. Vidro was unavailable because of the back and with Sexson suspended that left just a two person bench. The bullpen was in not much better shape. We knew before the game that Baek was not ready so when JJ started warming up, we wondered when he would come in and who would follow him if necessary.

The answer was Jarrod Washburn who was positively giddy on the field after picking up his first career save. First smile we have seen on his face after a rough few days. Last weekend he told a reporter that there were times when he and Joh were not on the same page. It was a candid comment and one that caused a sizable firestorm both here (in Texas) and in Seattle.

When we arrived in Texas the weekend story became “the” story. Reporters spoke to Mac and Joh about the comments but curiously enough, did not speak to Jarrod. Their rationale was that they didn’t need to because the story was out there. Well shouldn’t you hear it from the horse’s mouth? Jarrod saw the reporters talking to Joh and was irritated when no one approached him. He let a PR person know this and the word was passed on. The group finally spoke to Jarrod after the ballgame.

Jarrod, from my understanding, got hammered for his honesty in the original story. When he spoke to us Tuesday night he pointed out that there are times all pitchers and catchers get out of sync. While I believe that you cannot blame a catcher for your performance, (and I do not believe Jarrod was doing that, he was just stating that it was a factor in that game) I do believe that the relationship is important and in this case, I know that Jarrod has worked hard at it.

When Kenji first came to the Mariners, from what I saw that spring, Jarrod was the pitcher who most went out of his way to get to know him and help him assimilate to the American game. I was pleasantly surprised by this and it was one of the interesting things that could only be seen in a Mariners clubhouse. Jarrod spent a lot of time at Kenji’s locker with the interpreter. He, like most of the pitchers went to dinner with Kenji so Kenji could get to know them as people, something that was very important to him. Jarrod was patient as Joh tried to learn him and supportive of him when talking to the press. It was not an easy thing for any of the pitchers. So much that was automatically there for them in their catchers, was not in this case. It took work and Jarrod put in more than anyone that I observed.

He has continued that this year going so far as to invite Joh on a fishing trip on an off day as both are avid fishermen. I hope you get the picture. If Jarrod was frustrated, it was not for lack of trying and in his words from Tuesday night, it is not a huge deal. It happens.

Okay, on to another pitcher who got bashed this week. Felix. A big deal was made out his perceived reluctance to talk with the media last night. I say perceived because that is not how I saw it at all. It has also been implied that he has been difficult with the media this season. I have to flat out disagree with that. He has never refused to do an interview with me. He didn’t talk after the brawl with the Rangers, but that to me was understandable. First off, his outburst on the sidelines of the fight was not the story. Richie tackling Gabbard was. Felix was smart in not talking about the fight because what good was that going to do him? If anything, there was a good chance he could say something that could get him in to trouble. Sometimes it is smart just to keep your mouth shut.

He has been criticized for his antics during the brawl, his tough guy “come and get me” routine on the sideline. This has happened twice. Once last year in Oakland and last week in Seattle. What is he supposed to do, stay in the dugout? Jump into the pile? He was fired up because he was the starting pitcher and the opposing pitcher was throwing at Richie because he couldn’t throw at him! He had a vested interest in what was going on out there. The reason he was on the outskirts of both brawls was because teammates (and Eddie) don’t let him get anywhere near the trouble. Again, you can’t expect him to sit in the dugout during a brawl. Would you rather he be on the bottom of a pile?

As for last night, he was not avoiding the press. It was reported that he avoided the press by hanging out in off limits areas for 45 minutes after the game. This is misleading. When the game ends there is a ten minute cool off period before the media is let into the clubhouse. When we are allowed in we go directly in to first talk with the manager, then we head to the clubhouse to talk with the players. Quite often, the clubhouse is empty and we have to wait for players to filter out or to be brought out by PR staffers. I checked the time stamps on my interviews Tuesday night and Mac spoke at 10:12. We got Raul at 10:32 and Felix spoke at 10:39, 27 minutes after we were allowed into the clubhouse. It is not uncommon for a starting pitcher to take awhile to come out. Some are fast, others are not. Newspaper reporters are on deadlines and if they can’t wait, then they can’t wait.

That night I along with a reporter from MLB.com waited for Felix. When he came out he was surprised that there were only two of us left. I explained that the others had deadlines and Felix replied, “But it is early.” He then gave us the interview. From the interview I could tell that he wasn’t quite sure how to handle himself in this particular situation. He didn’t want to say that he pitched poorly. He spouted the company line on how they were struggling and how he believed that the bats would come along. He seemed a bit confused on just how he was supposed to answer the questions. He did give one good nugget, he said that he believes he has been throwing the fastball too much in his recent starts and needs to mix in more breaking balls. It was a decent interview, and while not as timely as some would want, no arm twisting was required.

I will be the first to admit that I get a little defensive with Felix. Some history here. When Felix first came up in 2005 he barely spoke any English. I knew he had a big future in the organization so I decided that it was important that he learn the interview process right away. Shortly after his first start in Detroit, I sat him down with the translator and explained to him that I was going to do interviews with him after every start. In English. If he could only give me 30 seconds we would do 30 seconds and work our way up. I had the translator explain to him that I could edit the interviews and that I would clean them up and make sure that he sounded good.

Felix was up for this. His early interviews may have been hard to understand, but listen to him now. For the next two years after he did his interviews with the group in Spanish with an interpreter he would always give me an interview in English right after. At the end of 2006 I got a huge laugh on the last day. He did his group interview in Spanish with the translator with the US media, then gave me my interview, then turned to face the Japanese media who wanted to talk to him about Joh. He answered them in English! Hilarious. When he returned from Venezuela before spring training 2007 he found me and asked “He Shannon, can you believe my English?” He was very proud, as he should be.

As for his interviews this year, as I said, I have had no problems getting him to talk. He did not talk after the brawl game, but the previous game in New York, a 6-1 loss, he stood at his locker and answered questions telling us that he had nothing that day. Pretty candid, and as always, he was there.

Has he been perfect this year? No, I sense a little attitude. I sense that he may go through some growing pains off the field this year much like Joel Pineiro did. He was a sweet kid for a couple of years, went through a couple of years of being a bit of a butthead, then mellowed out, grew up and turned into a neat guy.

Things may be a bit difficult for Felix right now. Remember, he left home at 16. English is still relatively new for him. He has lost some people in this organization that he trusted and viewed as family. He had a strong connection with Rafael Chavez and Carlos Garcia was an influence with him as well. Two years ago Joel was someone he looked up to. All three took looking after Felix seriously. He is kind of on his own right now, and maybe it is time. He is 22, married, a father and maybe it is time he grow up a little bit. But while it is time for him to grow up, don’t be surprised if he missteps every now and then and try not to hold it against him too much.