"The most recognizable faces of the Seattle Mariners - from Icihro Suzuki to Franklin Gutierrez - were in Peoria Stadium for the annual Fanfest.

Briefly, so was the man most fans wanted to see - American League Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez.

Hernandez signed autographs, then was carted to the practice fields, where he stretched and then threw live batting practice to hitters.

Few people knew where to find him Saturday, and after throwing he went directly to the clubhouse for ice.

"We're making him take it slow, and he understands," pitching coach Carl Willis said. "It's a lot like last September, when he didn't make his final start. He understood. He didn't like it, but he understood, and that's what it's like now.

"Realistically, Felix is ready to pitch now. He's in tremendous shape."

And yet he won't pitch in an exhibition game until later this week, three, four or five games into the Cactus League schedule.

Why?

"We're committed to having Felix strong from April through the end of the season, not just in February and March," Willis said.

So Felix throws quiet bullpen sessions and faces hitters on an auxiliary practice field while teammates play intrasquad games and practice in the Peoria ballpark.

"I want to pitch, it's their job to protect me," Hernandez said of the coaching staff. "I'm on the same schedule I was a year ago, and that worked out pretty good."

Yes it did. In a 101-loss season for his team, Hernandez won the award that goes to the league's best pitcher.

He rated his current fastball so-so, his curve good and his change-up very good."