Hernandez Awful Again

Game Date: August 5, 2006
Game Score: Twins 14, Royals 3 / Box Score
WP: Silva (8-9), LP: Hernandez (2-7)
Royal Home Runs: DeJesus (6), Brown (8)
Royals Record: 38-72

Nine walks—six of which came around to score. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that. Runelvys Hernandez walked nine guys in 4.2 innings, and he gave up eight earned runs. His ERA now sits at 8.54. And I’m dumbfounded by Bell’s comments after that game regarding Hernandez: “Actually, Runelvys’ stuff is probably as good as I’ve seen it since I’ve been here, in terms of his velocity. He can’t get to his changeup or his breaking ball, because he can’t throw his fastball for strikes.”

Okay, so his velocity is good, but he can’t throw a strike to save his career, and that constitutes having good stuff? Wow. I think Buddy Bell just redefined “good stuff.” By his definition, we need to go out and resign Chris George, Kris Wilson, and Dan Reichert. Then we’d have four pitchers with good stuff—all of whom would have an ERA over 6.00, or 7.00, or 8.00.

Bell didn’t stop there though. He said that the Royals need to help Hernandez figure out his mechanical problem(s), and they’ll be attempting to do so over the next several starts. If you really believe that this guy has what it takes to pitch at the major league level, don’t you send him to the minor leagues to get things figured out? We’re talking about a 28 year-old pitcher who is 21-30 in his career with a 5.50 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He clearly can’t compete at the big level on a consistent basis. Why keep running him out there, only to get shellacked, and to use up our bullpen, and to bring down team moral? Send him back to Omaha (where he wasn’t spectacular either) where he can’t do any damage. Or better yet, just release him and give a younger, more committed guy, a shot.

Hernandez wasn’t the only Royal pitcher to perform poorly last night. Scott Dohmann gave up another run and he now has a 10.38 ERA since joining the Royals. And Leo Nunez gave up three more runs and he’s another guy who just doesn’t look like he belongs in the major leagues. His pitiful career numbers make the case against him. He has a 6.99 ERA with a 1.66 WHIP in 48 appearances.

This afternoon, Odalis Perez (4-4, 6.68) makes his second start for the Royals. For our bullpen’s sake, let’s hope that he gets to throw more than 69 pitches this time. He’ll go against Mike Smith who is making his first start of the year for the Twins.