M’s go easy on Felix

PEORIA, Ariz. – This idea of getting Felix Hernandez to repeat his Cy Young-worthy season of a year ago is something the Mariners are taking quite literally.

A decision was made in this year’s camp to lighten Hernandez’s early workload.

That was in evidence on Friday, as Hernandez was allowed to throw just 19 pitches in a simulated game. The hitters weren’t permitted to swing, and Hernandez, despite looking sharp with all of his pitches, quickly had the shackles placed back on his $78 million arm.

“I’m fine; I felt pretty good today,” Hernandez said after his simulated game was done. “I threw everything: slider, curveball, changeup. And everything was down.”

The Mariners had arranged simulated games for both Hernandez and Cliff Lee, with general manager Jack Zduriencik and top assistants on hand to watch them face a group of low-level minor-leaguers. Lee got to throw 33 pitches against hitters allowed to swing.

The Mariners could have used Hernandez in the third inning of a 9-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday. San Diego scored eight runs in the third – six off Garrett Olson, who walked three batters and surrendered three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Seattle also had an injury scare in the bottom of that inning when shortstop Jack Wilson felt tightness in his right leg behind his knee. Wilson suffered through hamstring problems last year, but after coming out of the game said he expects to resume workouts with the club today.

The Mariners also got good news from closer David Aardsma, who said his groin felt better after he tweaked it on a pitch Thursday.