Hernandez highlights FanFest finale

01/29/2006
SEATTLE -- Across the American League, the exploits of Felix Hernandez were well-known. It turns out that Hernandez's reach extended all the way to Japan.
"I've seen him many times on television," new Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima said through translator Ken Barron during Sunday's FanFest at Safeco Field. "I don't think I could hit him."
Fortunately for Johjima, he won't have to. The rest of the Majors aren't as lucky.
After bursting onto the scene last season, the 19-year-old Hernandez is eager to make year 2 of his Major League career as memorable as the first one.
"[Heck] yeah," Hernandez responded to the query of whether he was ready for the season to begin.
The Mariners love that kind of enthusiasm from their phenom as much as the raw talent Hernandez possesses. Last year, Hernandez was 4-4 with a 2.67 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings, earning admirers across the league with his stuff and his poise.
"When I saw him, I was thinking, 'It must be nice to be able to do that at 19,'" fellow Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn said. "He looked pretty impressive. When you're 19 in the big leagues, there's only room for improvement. The sky is the limit for him."
Given the lofty expectations placed on his right arm, one might expect Hernandez to feel a certain amount of pressure. But he said he is entering the upcoming season without any concerns.
"I try to do the best I can and I try to help my team -- that's all," Hernandez said. "I feel good with everything."
One thing Hernandez said he was looking forward to was reuniting with new pitching coach Rafael Chaves, with whom he worked in Triple-A Tacoma.
"When I worked with him, it wasn't really like working with a pitching coach. It was like working with a friend," Hernandez said. "We have a great relationship. I can talk to him about anything and it's not a coach-player relationship. We're friends, and that's a great opportunity."
Chaves said he expects nothing but continued success for Hernandez, as long as the Mariners handle him responsibly.
"Felix can be the Felix he was last year," Chaves said. "Felix is a great guy. He's on my side and I'm on his side. We're going to monitor how many innings he throws and how many pitches he throws. He's going to have a pitch count and we will keep a close eye on him."
Because Chaves and Mariners manager Mike Hargrove do want to bring Hernandez along slowly, Hernandez will likely start the season as the Mariners' No. 5 starter -- a position that's fine with him.
"It doesn't matter -- I could be in the bullpen. I don't care," he said. "As long as I can help my team."
During an offseason where Hernandez said he "chilled," bought a truck and a Shih Tzu named "King," perhaps the biggest question was whether he would participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic despite the protestations of the Mariners. Hernandez said it was not an issue.
"I'm not really ready physically to compete. I don't want to embarrass myself out there," he said. "I want to give someone else a chance."
So Hernandez, who turns 20 on April 8, will instead turn his attention to the task he's most familiar with -- dominating batters.
"I'm going to do everything the same. I'm not going to change," he said before adding with a sly smile, "but I might throw my slider."
Notes: Despite coming off back-to-back 90-loss seasons, team officials were heartened by attendance at the two-day FanFest. On Saturday, 5,149 trekked to Safeco Field, while 5,276 braved miserable conditions to attend the finale of the event on Sunday.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/