THE BELTWAY BOYS: DEAD MAN WALKING?

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DEAD MAN WALKING?

[May 11th] --

A month ago, it was an abberation. A couple of weeks ago, it was a trend. Last night, it became a fact: Livan Hernandez is a Dead Man Walking. Or is he?

For all of his career, Livan has been "Mr Automatic;" wind him up on opening day, point him towards the mound, and watch him go. Since 1996, he's averaged 233 innings per season. He always gives up a lot of hits and walks, but he has always seemed to pitch better when the other team was threatening to score. In 2005, he won 15 games in spite of playing the second half of the year on a bad knee, a knee he had repaired this off season. Cool. If he could have that type of year while being injured and overweight, what could he accomplish once healthy and lean?

Obviously, nothing. In eight starts this season, Livan has pitched 49 innings, allowing a whopping 65 hits and 17 walks -- nearly two baserunners each and every inning. In eight first innings, he's allowed runs in six of them. He's terrible.

That said, I'm not worried. Livan is a "professional's professional." During one of these next starts, he's going to "find it," and he's going to reel off ten or twelve great starts, and this horrible start will be a faint memory. Remember, he was really, really bad to start the 2005 season before reeling off something like eight or ten wins in a row. Come September, Livan is going to have 12-15 wins with an ERA at or around 4.00. The guy's a pro.

Livan will be fine. I just wish I could say the same about the team.

NOTE: THE COMPUTER AT HOME IS STILL DOWN -- FOR NOW, I HAVE TO POST AT SCHOOL BETWEEN FINALS.

# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 11:11 PM

Comments:

Farid, I think you are too optimistic regarding Livan. He looks washed up to me. His huge belly and his pathetic physical condition are taking their toll. Further, he may be a lot older than 31, I do wish he would have a winning streak though so the Nats could dump him for some young talent.

# posted by

Anonymous : 11:21 AM

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Rasner Rocks For Yanks

What was it that Jim Bowden said when he lost Darrell Rasner to the Yankees through waivers last winter? Wasn't it something like, "C'mon, it wasn't like he was going to make an impact at the major league level?" Well Jimbo, it seems like some of your "minor" transactions are coming back to haunt you.

Rasner, a 6'3" righty from Carson City, Nevada, was waived February 11th by the Nationals, just a couple of weeks before the start of spring training. He was picked up and assigned to 'AAA' Columbus. He had some injuries this year, but it didn't effect his pitching. In 58 innings for the Clippers, Rasner went 4-0, 2.76. But wait. There's more.

Pitching on Sunday against the Twins, Rasner pitched 6 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 6 hits. In two starts, he's now 1-0, 1.17.

What do you always like to say, Jim, something about "You can never have enough pitching?" Let's see, you waived Rasner, and he's starting for the Yankees. You waived Claudio Vargas, and he's starting for the Diamondbacks. You waived Byung Young Kim, and he's starting for the Rockies. You traded Tomo Ohka for a guy no longer in the major leagues, and he's starting for the Brewers.

Jim, if I were you, I'd stay away from the waiver wire. Seems like you haven't figured it that it's supposed to help the team, not hurt it.

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Big Changes, Little Names

Big happenings? Nah. Just happenings. Zach Day was designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies and Capitol Punishment is reporting that the Nats have claimed him off the waiver wire. So we ended up getting Preston Wilson for nothing. That's nice. Billy Traber, he of the tight leash, was sent down to New Orleans and replaced by Mike O'Connor.

That's all well and good, but don't look to any of these moves making a difference in the play of the team. But hey, it's something to talk about. Right?