Tag: livan hernandez

2009 last time we saw a pitcher with 100 career CG (ever?)

It’s nothing new even to the casual fan that complete games have taken a drastic dip in the last 15-20 years.  But it just occurred to me that statistically, 2009 was a landmark year.  With the retirement of Randy Johnson at the end of the year, we no longer will have an active pitcher who has at least 100 career complete games. 

Johnson retired at the end of 2009 with 100 complete games on the nose.  With his departure, Roy Halladay became the heir of the CG active leader throne.  Even at that, Halladay has a ways to go.  At this point in the season, Roy has 54 complete games in 13 seasons.  If you look to the second man on that list, it’s Livan Hernandez with 48. 

Certainly, by the end of 2010, we will end up with a active career leader in complete games under 100 games for the first time in major league history. 

If you want a good visual on the decline of complete games through baseball history, Baseball Reference’s Progressive Leaders page might be of help. 

Livan Hernandez playing infield?

Yes, the Mets’ are suffering from injury issues in a bad way but has it come to this?

Manager Jerry Manuel is considering using pitcher Livan Hernandez as a position player if other options don’t present themselves. 

In the meantime, the Mets will have to get by with just three position players on their bench. They could release Tim Redding to make room for another position player, but if they don’t, Manuel said he could use Livan Hernandez as a pinch hitter or a corner infielder if he runs out of options on the bench.

Hernandez certainly can handle himself with the bat and has done so throughout his career.  He has a career batting average of .229 with 9 homeruns.  In 2004, the year he won the Silver Slugger award, he collected 10 rbis. 

Livan is up to the task:

I want to do it," Hernandez said. "That’s my dream — to play one day at one position. I’ll play anywhere."

That said, injuries and all, I can’t imagine there’s not a better solution.  I know one APBA manager in my APBA league who’s paying rapt attention, though.

SOX t-WIN

All by myself, in the Twin Cities!  Took the Light Rail from the Mall of America, got down there as the gates opened, found a nice general admission seat about as far away from the action as you can get, out in centerfield.  Tonite I didn’t wear my glasses, I’d rather not see a win, than see the losses I saw the last two nights.  I’m not superstitious, but I know what works.  Whatever it takes!

It was time for Livan Hernandez, 8-1 at home this year, but it was the White Sox turn.  Carlos Quentin hit a solo shot just over the leftfield wall, then ripped a bases clearing, two out double, it was 5-0 Good Guys.  The Twinks scored, but then Alexei Ramirez put the game on ice with a three run jack.  Gavin Floyd held the Twins hitters at bay.  BIG BAD Bobby Jenks was brought on in the 9th to get some work in, Minnesota scored a couple of meaningless runs, despite Nick Swisher hitting the wall to grab an out in right, final score 8-3.  Now I’ve got a winning streak to keep going.

One more game tomorrow night, after the game I hop the Big Grey Dog back to the Windy City.

Twins land Livan

Ok, Livan Hernandez does not equal Johan Santana but he does fill a void. 

Twins GM Bill Smith probably endured more than his share of criticism for the Santana deal which netted four prospects for the Twins.  Perhaps even unfair criticism.

The signing of free-agent Hernandez does make some sense.  It was a one-year dealie for $5-6 million.  Let’s not forget that the Twins still have Mauer, have re-signed Morneau, and have Francisco Liriano coming back from his Tommy John surgery.  The addition of Hernandez who is a fantastic innings-eater (only three pitchers have made 30 starts in the past 10 years, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Hernandez), may be enough to make the Twins interesting in 2008. 

There’s only one problem.  The Detroit Tigers who right now look to be the far and away the favorite in the AL Central.