Hernandez, the 44-year-old half-brother of Nats starter Livan Hernandez, will report to the organization's spring complex in Viera, Fla., to begin working out. He may wind up pitching at Class AAA Syracuse at some point this season.A prize Cuban refugee who signed with the Yankees in 1998 and went on to post a 90-65 record and 4.13 ERA in nine seasons with four different teams, Hernandez has not pitched in the major leagues since 2007, when he went 9-5 with a 3.72 ERA for the Mets. He underwent foot surgery that offseason and then required toe surgery the following year. He wound up pitching eight games in relief for the Rangers' Class AAA club last summer but was released after Texas officials determined he wouldn't be promoted.
The Hernandez half-brothers briefly were teammates in Montreal during the spring of 2003, but Orlando tore his rotator cuff before ever throwing a pitch for the Expos. Livan is currently enjoying a nice bounce-back season with the Nationals; after tossing seven innings of one-run ball against the Mets last night, he's now 6-4 with a 2.98 ERA.
23 comments:
why?
I'm with Anonymous above. My first statement was 'why?".
I'll top that.
WHY???
I'll play devil's advocate.
Why not?
It's a minor league deal and with Olsen and Wang looking very unlikely to pitch again this year, Lannan getting bombed in AA and Jesus shutting down early we could need a few extra arms to get through the last few weeks of the season.
Maybe they believe lightning can strike twice.
Or, perhaps Livo has given them a heads up.
Anyway, "You can never have too much pitching".
Is this some sort of a joke? Is Roger Clemens next?
This is pure entertainment. Let it be, see if the scouts know more than we do. Perhaps Syracuse has some fun with El Duque in August.
He's 44 y.o. - What could he have left in the tank? I join the comments as to WHAT, and WHY?
Well, one could ask how much Jamie Moyer has left in the tank, and the answer is quite a lot, apparently. No risk sign. Not worthy of angst.
Maybe he's been playing racquetball with Livo?
I got a better question: What's it to ya?
Looks like he's "only" 40, not 44. Just a kid compared to Moyer.
Well, anyway, the MLB Web site lists his birthday in October 1969, but maybe it sorta depends ....
We have become a clown joke team. This is ridiculous. Elephants come to the Nationals to die.
If it will get Ron Villone off of Syracuse's roster, I say yes!
And who wants to know? :-)
As others have noted, it's a low-risk signing, anyway.
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Sec3MySofa said...
I got a better question: What's it to ya?
His signing is obvious. He had incredible success in the postseason with the Yankees. Unlike some guys who disappear in October, El Duque was a star. The Nats signed him now, so he'll be ready to help them in October.
Bob Gibson wasn't available.
El Duque is a master tactician maybe he can help some of the kids in AAA work on mechanics. He is the only guy I have ever seen to pitch comfortably from all 3 arm angles so he can do a show and tell for these guys. The Hernandez's are the greatest pair of pitching brothers I have ever seen. Maybe he has something left, maybe he does not, but if Moyer can still pitch my guess is that El Duque has more stuff than Moyer ever had! Viva Livo! Vivo El Duque! Vivo Nats!
The Nats only have 3 games scheduled in October.
why get upset, it's a low risk gamble - what if he proves to be a decent addition and we trade him at the deadline for prospects? - why get upset and slam the franchise over something that probably won't amount to much but certainly doesn't hinder anyone at this point - If I was a young pitcher and had an opportunity to sit next to someone who had 4 World Series rings and talk strategy, I think I would relish that.
I think that somebody's snarkdar may need adjusting... :-)
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Anonymous said...
The Nats only have 3 games scheduled in October.
July 3, 2010 11:18 AM
Thanks, natsfan1a. Somebody also doesn't understand satire.
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