
The long time division rival Livan Hernandez found his way to the New York Mets after spending his career trying to beat them. The two-time All-Star signed a minor league deal prior to the 2009 season to play under Jerry Manuel who was his bench coach for the Miami Marlins.
8 years ago today, Livan Hernandez pitched the #Mets to a 6-1 victory with a CG 1-run gem. Gary Sheffield hit a 3-run homer (504th career). pic.twitter.com/zIDnv8L4Zf
— ? BIG APPLE METS ?? (@BigAppleNYM) May 26, 2017
In 2008, Hernandez failed to pitch at least 200 innings for the first time since 1999 where he missed the number by one out. His ERA ballooned over six and was on the backend of his long career. Hernandez’s velocity was continuing to fall and it caught up to him. Despite the loss of velocity, his top tier movement on his fastball and slow curve still remained.
Fighting for His Career
When Spring Training started in 2009, Hernandez was on the outside looking in for a starting job. He joined a crew of Mets players who spent time under General Manager Omar Minaya in Montreal. Hernandez pitched well enough to earn the fifth starter job and became a key mentor to the younger pitchers in the rotation.
After a bumpy start, Hernandez started to return into his ace form. After allowing 13 runs in his first three starts, he pitched to a 3.36 ERA averaging close to seven innings per start. Hernandez also mixed in a complete game, which was the first in Citi Field’s history.
When July rolled around his season changed for the worst. Hernandez had an 8.71 ERA and a .366 batting average against over the following eight starts. His Mets career ended with a six-run, 11 hit outing against the San Francisco Giants on August 17. Three days later the Mets released Hernandez to make room for the healthy Billy Wagner.
Hernandez went on to finish the season with the Washington Nationals and pitched two more seasons after than. He was the last of a dying breed of starting pitchers who prided himself on deception and finishing what he started.