Felix Hernandez has started for the Seattle Mariners on Opening Day in every year since 2009, but that streak will end this season.
Hernandez was told by manager Scott Servais that Marco Gonzales would get the nod on Opening Day instead, and the pitcher did not hide his displeasure with the decision when tersely addressing it Sunday.
“Yeah,” Hernandez responded when asked if the decision upset him, via Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times.
Hernandez seemed particularly aggrieved by the fact that he would be slotted into the No. 5 spot instead, responding with “What do you want me to say?” when asked about it.
The reality is that Hernandez’s new role is more in line with where he is as a pitcher at this point. The one-time Cy Young winner posted a 5.55 ERA last season and has not posted a mark below 3.50 since 2014. The Mariners know that Hernandez is no longer an ace and have tried to treat him accordingly, but the 32-year-old is having a harder time accepting that reality.
