Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
February 12, 2008
Replacing Johan

The Twins found a replacement for Johan Santana, Livan Hernandez:

Hernandez, who turns 33 on Feb. 20, will be the sole veteran in a rotation that likely will include no pitcher who is older than 26.

The Twins evidently value Hernandez's durability. Hernandez leads the majors in innings pitched since 2003, and has exceeded 200 innings in every season since 2000.

Only three major-league pitchers have made 30 or more starts in each of the past 10 seasons -- Hernandez, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine.

However, Hernandez has spent his entire 12-year career in the National League, and some scouts and executives believe he is ill-suited to pitch in the more offensively oriented AL.

Hernandez gives up a lot of hits, something he's done throughout his career. He allows a lower than average percentage of ground balls and a higher than average percentage of line drives. In his three best seasons in recent memory, 2003-2005, Hernandez was very good with runners in scoring position. As a team, I wouldn't want to depend on that.

Most likely, Livan is in Minnesota to eat inning cheaply until the next set of young studs are ready.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:44 AM | Free Agents | TrackBack (0)
Comments

What value is 'eating innings' when you've got an ERA over 6?

Posted by: Bandit at February 12, 2008 11:00 AM

Oh, he'll eat, that's for sure. And not just innings!

Posted by: Mark at February 12, 2008 11:10 AM

Call me crazy, but saying Livan Hernandez will 'replace' Johan Santana just seems wrong

Posted by: Yamen at February 12, 2008 12:00 PM

Two advantages to having a mediocre innings eater.

1. Your bullpen doesn't get overworked. If you go with younger starters who are not quite ready you risk pulling them earlier to save their arms and self esteem. That can lead to tired bullpen arms in mid season.

2. You save a roster spot. If you go with the young arms you may end up using two roster spots to cover the one postion. That's because you expect the young guys to pitch fewer innings and so you need another bullpen/swingman arm to cover the innings. You may well end up with the same ERA from your young guys as they adjust to the majors.

Posted by: bsball at February 12, 2008 05:24 PM

Livan's numbers in IP, WHIP, ERA and K's have gotten progressively worse in EACH of the last 4 years.

Posted by: Mike S. at February 12, 2008 06:20 PM
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