Mariners notebook: First look at Felix Hernandez worth watching

PEORIA, Ariz. – Greetings from a very soggy Peoria. The rain that mercifully shortened the Mariners’ game against the Royals Monday afternoon continued throughout the night and into Tuesday morning, but the skies had started to clear as of about 7 a.m. PT. Manager Scott Servais is confident the grounds crew at Camelback Ranch, where the Mariners will play the White Sox at 12:05 p.m. PT, will have their field taken care of since it was covered Monday night.

Thus, I think it is safe to say: Happy Felix Day.

Felix Hernandez is scheduled to pitch two innings during his first start of the spring, and it will be interesting to see how he performs. Servais has noticed a difference in the Mariners’ long-time ace in camp.

“It’s everything,” Servais said of changes he’s seen in Felix. “He’s got more of a plan; the focus of his bullpens has been much better. He’s been trying to incorporate a couple of new things, and spring is the time to do it. He’s in a good spot and I am looking forward to seeing it.”

Photos, videos and updates from Mariners spring training

Servais has commented on changes in Felix’s focus and attitude throughout the spring. Physically, there is no question Felix, 30, looks different after he changed his offseason workout program. He has also seemed a bit more engaged in some of the early spring training work. I think a good test of that engagement and focus will be on display Tuesday.

While I rarely put much into a first spring outing, I think this one is worth watching.

Felix tends to struggle a bit in his early outings (which previously started later in the spring as part of an effort to save innings) and write them off as him just going about the business of getting ready for the regular season. Coming off a down year in which it was apparent that changes needed to be made, and with the accelerated schedule due to his participation in the World Baseball Classic, I would like to see this first outing mean a little bit more.

Lineup!

Ben Gamel, CF
Jean Segura, SS
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Dan Vogelbach, 1B
Mitch Haniger, RF
Carlos Ruiz, C
Guillermo Heredia, LF
Shawn O’Malley, 3B

Felix Hernandez, RHP

Also scheduled to pitch: James Pazos, who could push for that second lefty in the bullpen role; Jean Machi; Paul Fry; Dylan Unsworth; and Andrew Moore, who has caught the eye of general manager Jerry Dipoto.

“With all the power arms we have in camp, the one who stands out might be Andrew Moore,” Dipoto said on the Mariners broadcast Sunday.

Command and pitchability win out over gas early in camp, although the velocity guys are bullpen arms, meaning they are two completely different competitions.

Notes

• “The Cactus League Report” can be heard from 5-6:30 p.m. on 710 ESPN Seattle Wednesday night. Guests will include Dipoto, third-base coach Manny Acta, starting pitcher James Paxton and O’Malley. If you are in the area, join us at the Salty Senorita for the broadcast.

• The wet fields forced most of the pregame work to be done inside Tuesday morning. Servais said he had plenty of material for an extended meeting, and hitters were scheduled to take batting practice in the cages.

• Reliever Tony Zych took a step forward Tuesday in his recovery from shoulder surgery, throwing off a mound for the first time since August. Zych threw 20 pitches in a bullpen session and said everything felt good for the first time out. If he bounces back with no pain on Wednesday, he should throw again in a few days.

• Starters for the remainder of the week:

Wednesday @ CLE: Drew Smyly
Thursday vs. MIL: Ariel Miranda
Friday @ TEX: Hisashi Iwakuma
Saturday @ COL: Yovani Gallardo for three innings; James Paxton for two innings
Sunday vs. OAK: Felix Hernandez

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