Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Rockies land Hernandez

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 6, 2008 at 2:25 p.m.

Text size  

Poll

Did the Rockies do the right thing by getting Livan Hernandez off waivers?


  • See the results »
Livan Hernandez, shown pitching for the Twins against the Rockies in May, has gone 33-27 with a 3.87 ERA in 80 career starts against the Rockies' NL West rivals.

Photo by David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Livan Hernandez, shown pitching for the Twins against the Rockies in May, has gone 33-27 with a 3.87 ERA in 80 career starts against the Rockies' NL West rivals.

Related Stories

More Breaking News & Updates

More stories »

When Rockies manager Clint Hurdle wanted some insight into the abilities of veteran pitcher Livan Hernandez, he called his old teammate and close friend, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire, and received a strong recommendation.

" 'Gardy' and I go way back, and one thing we have never done is lie to one another," Hurdle said.

Gardenhire told Hurdle that Hernandez, 33, still was competitive and durable, but with the strong efforts of Francisco Liriano in the minor leagues, the Twins had to open a rotation spot and Hernandez was the victim.

The Rockies are looking to strengthen their rotation. They now are counting on Hernandez to do that - and to help them overtake Arizona and Los Angeles in the National League West.

The Rockies acquired Hernandez on waivers Wednesday. They will assume the roughly $1.5 million Hernandez still has on his contract but will not give up any players.

"I never could hit him, so I'm glad he's on my side," said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, 4-for-20 lifetime against Hernandez.

"He's one of those guys who really locates his pitches, and you don't know how many he has. He seems to keep making them up.

"He's a triple threat. He also can field his position and he can hit."

Or, as Hurdle said of the 245-pound Cuban defector, "He's like the pudgy guy who shows up at the company picnic. Everybody is laughing, and then he walks away with all the trophies."

Hurdle said Hernandez will join the team Friday morning and throw a bullpen session, after which his role with the team will be determined. Hernandez started for the Twins on July 30 and has been throwing on the side ever since, so he should be able to move into the rotation immediately.

The expectation is Hernandez will take the place of left-hander Jorge De La Rosa and make his Rockies debut against San Diego on Sunday.

De La Rosa would give the Rockies a left-hander in the bullpen other than closer Brian Fuentes - as well as a reliever capable of working multiple innings - which would seem to make veteran Kip Wells, who is on a $3.1 million contract, expendable when Hernandez is added to the roster.

De La Rosa also could get spot starts when the Rockies face a stretch without an off day so they can provide an extra day of rest for left-hander Jeff Francis - who was activated from the disabled list Wednesday - and right-hander Aaron Cook, who leads the NL in innings pitched.

"He is a challenge because he never gives in," Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday said. "Even in hitter's counts, he will throw breaking balls or changeups. He's always confident that, even if he walks you, he will get the next guy out. He is always adjusting, always doing something different to be successful."

Hernandez was 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA in 23 starts for the Twins but lost seven of his final 11 decisions.

Hernandez spent the bulk of his career in the NL, pitching with Florida, San Francisco, Montreal/Washington and Arizona before making his American League debut with Minnesota this season.

During his 10 full major league seasons, he has shown two things the Rockies need in their quest to return to the postseason: success against the NL West and an ability to handle pressure situations.

He is 7-3 lifetime in the postseason and 33-27 against the Rockies' four NL West rivals, including 11-4 against San Diego. He also has worked at least 199 innings in each of his 10 full seasons.

"He can go deep into the game and give your staff a lift," center fielder Willy Taveras said. "He's a great competitor. We've had to face him and try to deal with him. Now we get to see him do that to Arizona and Los Angeles."

Coors Field is a perfect example of Hernandez's ability to adjust. In his first 10 career starts, Hernandez had a 7.78 ERA at Coors Field. In three regular-season starts last year and this year, he is only 1-2 but has allowed only six runs in 211/3 innings.

He also started Game 3 of the NL Championship Series for Arizona last year and allowed one run in five innings before giving up a three-run home run to Yorvit Torrealba with two out in the sixth.

"Some guys come up with different games plans as they get older," Hurdle said. "He is very creative."

Comments

  • August 6, 2008

    3:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    Ok, it's done. Not exactly what I had hoped for, but something/anything is waaaaay better than just sitting back, watching other clubs try to win our pennant. He's been good in the past, let's hope he's good for us. Hopefully he gives us everything he has. I'm concerned that he doesn't really want to be here. But I do suppose he will be throwing for a new contract, so that's good. Let's go Rox, get this win tonight!

  • August 6, 2008

    3:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    YourNeilness writes:

    I think this will be good for the second half run. He's an innings eater that will help prevent the other starters and the bullpen from getting worn out. And he has a good history against the NL West, a very good sign with all these intra-division games coming up. Good move, Rockies.

  • August 6, 2008

    3:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    RDenver writes:

    Good pick up. A pitcher that can throw strikes...!

  • August 6, 2008

    3:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    One more thing, the atrociousness of our season has indeed benefited us in this instance. Sounds like we got him from under a few different teams ahead of us in the standings. That alone improves our standing.

  • August 6, 2008

    3:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    NorCalGuy writes:

    Solid back end of the rotation starter and innings eater. He's also pretty good with the lumber. If the kids can pitch a little like they did last year, and they can get healthy, they've got a shot. Manny going to the Dodgers was big though. They were floundering but now they seem energized. The D Backs also seem to have revived somewhat. It's gonna be a dog fight.

  • August 6, 2008

    3:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MikeaLoeb writes:

    This is a good move. Livan is an innings eater. He can hit too.

  • August 6, 2008

    4:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bigbadthor writes:

    Too fat to late, this would have been a good pick-up a month ago, this is just a waste of money and time at this point in the season. O'Dude needs to get on the next train to the uneployment line.

  • August 6, 2008

    4:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    I sort of agree with Thor, sort of. Please, somebody say something positive about this guy beyond "he's an innings eater." I'm pretty sure we can get that monkey from BJ & The Bear to "eat innings." This is the front office's type of deal, though. They don't have to pay him that much for very long, & they didn't have to give anything up. You usually don't get the kind of talent that propells you from 9 back to the playoffs off of the waiver wire, however. The waiver wire sees a lot of guys with huge contracts & little up side & simply those with little upside. And since we know the Rox aren't the types to pick up an overblown contract, we can only assume that according to the Twins, Livan has lost or is losing it.

  • August 6, 2008

    4:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rorygebbers writes:

    Thank goodness we added someone! It sounds like he has been decent against our divison and eats up innings. Could be huge down the stretch when trying to rest our top three. If Francis returns to form look for the Rox to make things interesting late....remember we were 6 games back last year going into September.......

  • August 6, 2008

    5:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    1somelikeithot writes:

    From what I've read about Livan he does better in the NL. So, we'll see. He's a much needed improvement from what has been used. Now they can unload the Kipper Wells, 3.1 mil for what, put De La Rosa in the bullpen and with Francis back this should all make for a pretty decent rotation. Hurdle has got to be relieved by this, he hasn't had much to work with. Now maybe things will turn around, if it's not too late.

  • August 6, 2008

    6:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    fjv1026 writes:

    BJ and the Bear? Hilarious! I'm definitely old enough to remember that one. This pick up is good, in my opinion, because while he may not have been what the Twins were hoping, he's got to be better than any of the pitchers that have filled the back-end of our rotation. Plus, "reclamation projects" have always fared pretty well for Colorado (anyone remember guys named Josh Fogg or Shawn Estes?) I agree with arvadamark that something/anything is better than nothing and DEFINITELY better than watching one of our rivals pick him up.