HOUSTON _ Felix Hernandez's first full day as a member of the Mariners' bullpen was one of acceptance and adjustment.
He played early catch with the other relievers before the on-field workout Friday and then hung out with several other relievers in the corner of the visitors' clubhouse. Later, he shagged balls in the outfield with the rest of the pitchers.
Informed before the game Thursday he was being removed from the starting rotation and demoted to the bullpen, Hernandez had little time to really process everything that was happening. Seattle manager Scott Servais understood that and was going to give Hernandez a day to just reset in the dugout.
But Hernandez decided to start his new role immediately, going to the bullpen with closer Edwin Diaz after the third inning in the 8-6 victory Thursday and staying there for entire game. It's what tipped people off that the decision had been made.
"He wasn't going to pitch last night," Servais said. "That was more his call. When I talked to him yesterday, it's certainly hard to deliver those messages. He was not crazy about hearing the news. I wanted to give him a day to let it soak in and see where's he at with it. I don't want to read too much into it. We'll see how it plays out. But the ball is in his court, hopefully he can help us when he gets a chance to get in there."
That chance isn't going to be as an eighth-inning set-up man or even in middle relief. Right now, Hernandez will serve as the long reliever.
"You gotta find the right spots to use him," Servais said. "I don't anticipate bringing him in the middle of an inning. We've got to give him time to warm up and make sure he's loose and ready to go into a game. Certainly a starter's warm-up period is different than a reliever. He's used to getting out there and throwing long toss and then throwing 30 to 35 pitches some days before he walks into a game. So we'll try to give him time to get loose and pick the right spots. I don't have it all mapped out. It's not like he's going to plug in there and go get two guys in the seventh inning tonight. Certainly, he can throw multiple innings and give you some length and that's how we'll look to use him."
With Hernandez having pitched Tuesday, Servais will try to ease him into the role.
"We have other guys available here tonight that could go into that role," he said before the game Friday. "But you know we could be in extra innings, and why not? Fire him out there."
As for Hernandez's replacement for the start Sunday, Servais said they've made a decision but won't announce it until Saturday. But sources indicate they might go to Erasmo Ramirez to make the start. Ramirez was scheduled to make a fourth rehab start after dealing with some mechanical issues in his previous outing, but the Mariners are expected to activate him from the disabled list instead and use him.
"Whoever we put in that spot, we aren't looking for them to go out there and give us seven innings of shutout ball," he said. "We need them to get 12 to 15 outs and then go from there."
