M's Notebook | Leaner Hernandez shows off moves

PEORIA, Ariz. — The pitch from Felix Hernandez sizzled toward his catcher like a meteor, nicked the webbing of his glove and skipped on by.

A curious Mariners manager Mike Hargrove stepped up for a closer look and soon was shaking his head and uttering "Jeez!" as Hernandez's next pitch exploded in catcher Rene Rivera's glove with a popping sound. It was the movement on the pitches that had Hargrove so impressed, especially when Hernandez's next offering again deflected away from a befuddled Rivera and bounced to the side.

It's likely at least part of the movement was generated by the fresh balls Hernandez kept switching to, and true that nobody really takes bullpen sessions all that seriously the first week of camp. But by arriving at the Peoria Sports Complex about 20 pounds lighter than a year ago and with what some are calling an improved focus, Hernandez at least has folks talking about the positive aspects of his game.

"I thought Roy Halladay was good, but he [Hernandez] is four years younger," well-traveled veteran starter Miguel Batista said when asked to compare Hernandez's raw talent to other young arms he has seen. "After that, maybe Brandon Webb because of the movement and command he has. But this guy, he's just so young. He's like Dwight Gooden."

Halladay is actually nine years older than Hernandez and was five years his senior when Batista first teamed with him in Toronto in 2004.

The 35-year-old Batista had a firsthand look at Hernandez's pitches while standing next to him in the two bullpen sessions they've thrown.

"It's embarrassing," Batista said. "I asked to move to the other side because he's making me look so bad."

Hernandez has been the talk of an otherwise dull camp for how effortless he has made each throw look and the quality of the pitches thrown.

That won't mean a thing until he faces live hitters in games that count. But after winning 12 games in his first full season last year, the pitcher, who won't turn 21 until April, is already causing folks to dream.

"It feels really good," Hernandez said of his lighter playing weight. "When I'm running now, it feels like nothing. It feels great."

Less weight won't always translate into better pitching. In fact, some longtime mound heavyweights — think David Wells — insisted over the years that their pitches lost something the moment they dropped their extra pounds. Hernandez said he doesn't really feel any different throwing now than he did when he was heavier.

"Maybe a little more comfortable," he said.

It's also possible that not having to worry about conditioning this spring has enabled Hernandez to focus on the basics — like throwing smoothly and easily. It hasn't hurt that he has become Batista's virtual shadow, hanging out and talking with him in Spanish throughout every morning workout.

Batista is known for his positive influence on young pitchers, and it's hardly a coincidence that he and Hernandez are in the same throwing group.

Hargrove, who plans to move away from the innings limitations on Hernandez last season, can't wait to see him in his bullpen session today.

"The ball just comes out of his hand easier," Hargrove said.

Note

• Seattle 2B Jose Lopez likely won't play the first week of Cactus League games.

Lopez is expected to be hitting and fielding by then, but the team doesn't want to risk a recurrence of his sprained ankle by rushing him back into action with a month still to go until the regular season.

Geoff Baker: 206-464-2277 or gbaker@seattletimes.com