Hernandez’s return finally at hand

SEATTLE – It’s difficult to say who’ll be more relieved tonight, Felix Hernandez or everyone else with the Seattle Mariners.

Twenty-seven days ago, they all had lumps in their throats after their 20-year-old ace threw a slider in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins and felt something wrong in his right elbow.

After nearly a month of careful recovery from a strained pronator muscle, Hernandez returns to the mound tonight at Safeco Field against the Los Angeles Angels. His goal is to keep things simple and not let adrenaline take him out of his game plan.

“I’ve tried not to think about (today) and the Angels,” Hernandez said. “I try to keep it basic. I want to throw strikes low in the strike zone. I want to throw my sinker, maybe get outs quicker in the count.

“I’d like to go five, six innings – maybe seven.”

Well, maybe not seven.

Manager Mike Hargrove said Hernandez would be limited to 75-80 pitches and, while the M’s would certainly love to see him milk seven innings out of that, they’re being cautious with their prized right-hander.

They’re also elated over Hernandez’s approach to dealing with the first arm injury of his career. Hargrove said he was mature in recognizing the injury when it happened, and also patient coming back.

“The big thing we’re really happy about in this whole thing is that he was honest,” Hargrove said. “He recognized the difference between something he could pitch with and something that was a little spooky. He was honest about it. A lot of older guys would go ahead and pitch with it and be worse and end up with a chance of something more major. Felix didn’t do that. He handled it the right way.”

The recovery has tested Hernandez’s patience.

“There were times I thought I was almost ready and wasn’t, when I’d throw and still feel something,” he said. “It took longer than I thought it would, but the way I’ve felt the last two times I’ve thrown, I know I’m ready. I just want to get back out there every fifth day.”

“Hernandez said his young daughter, Mia, became a much-needed diversion while sitting out.

“Having Mia with me has helped a lot,” he said. “Last year she was in Venezuela and I was here and I didn’t like that. She went to New York with me last week. No matter how I feel, she’s always happy, and when she’s happy everybody’s happy.

“She smiles and laughs, and we play with her toys – she has a lot of toys. … She can make me laugh no matter what else is going on.”