For Mariners, it's Erik Bedard at No. 1

PEORIA, Ariz. — Even filling out medical forms, lean-and-mean Felix Hernandez was the center of attention.

Hernandez had already lost his job as the Mariners' No. 1 starter before the first pitch of spring training had been thrown. As he sat quietly at a clubhouse table Wednesday, patiently handling paperwork in triplicate, he kept being interrupted by teammates, coaches and trainers.

"Did you lose more weight?" they asked.

Yes, the 21-year-old would nod with a smile. Hernandez says he's down to 218 pounds, nine less than last February, when his weight loss generated headlines across baseball.

"I was working out like I did last year," Hernandez said. "It gets easier."

Weight-loss stories are about as common to spring training as palm trees and soon-to-be-broken promises. But when anything happens to Hernandez that suggests improvement to a precocious résumé, it stops folks in their tracks.

As pitchers and catchers reported to spring training Wednesday, there was a quiet optimism in camp that last week's trade for pitcher Erik Bedard, officially named the team's opening-day starter on Wednesday, will hasten the progress of another potential staff ace-in-waiting.

"You know who's going to benefit the most from Bedard being here, besides us [relievers]?" Mariners closer J.J. Putz whispered, pointing in Hernandez's direction. "That guy sitting right there."

The theory that adding Bedard will take the pressure off Hernandez is shared almost universally by players and coaches. Losing his designation as the No. 1 starter appears to have had little impact on Hernandez, probably because 21-year-olds are not really supposed to be staff aces anyway.

"They told me yesterday," Hernandez said of making Bedard No. 1, "and I said 'fine.' "

Hernandez won't flat-out say that he'll do better with Bedard taking the heat off him. But he does believe the bullpen should benefit tremendously from starter upgrades of Bedard and Carlos Silva.

"We've got a good rotation this year," Hernandez said. "I think one of the best rotations in the major leagues. The bullpen is going to be better because we can throw a lot of innings ... Last year, we used the bullpen a lot, every day. And those guys were tired. Sean Green was tired at the end of the season. And I think those two guys are going to help."

Bedard took the opening-day designation in stride when informed of it by manager John McLaren Wednesday.

"We haven't finished the physicals," he said with a chuckle when asked if he was surprised by the news.

Anointing Bedard the team's No. 1 was hardly a shock. Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi has called Bedard a "No. 1 guy" all along and just gave up five players to get him.

McLaren said Hernandez handled the news like a pro.

"He's a quality person," McLaren said. "There's no doubt in my mind about it. He's such a solid person. He's a great teammate. He showed that last year when he gave J.J. [Putz] that ball, handed it to him with two outs in the ninth inning last year and let J.J. get his 40th save."

Shortly after taking over as manager last season, McLaren issued a challenge to Hernandez. The pitcher had lost his temper on the mound twice, costing his team wins against the Orioles and Blue Jays.

McLaren told Hernandez he wanted him to become the game's best pitcher from Venezuela.

That's a tall order, considering the list from Venezuela includes Johan Santana, Carlos Zambrano and Kelvim Escobar. Each has carried playoff teams and won 18 games or more in a season.

Hernandez was 14-7 last season, shaving his earned-run average to 3.93. He hopes to improve on that by throwing inside more, something new pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre is already preaching to him.

"I love throwing inside," Hernandez said. "I'm going to prove it this year."

If he can back up those words, it may not be long before folks again refer to Hernandez as a No. 1 starter.

Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com.

Read his daily blog at www.seattletimes.com/Mariners