By Anthony Mormile, SportsTicker
October
19
BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Orlando Hernandez is new to this postseason rotation thing.
After being selected by New York Yankees manager Joe Torre to start Game Four of the Division Series against Texas, Hernandez was denied a start when the Yankees swept the Rangers in three games. So when the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians started, the pitcher affectionately known as "El Duque" figured it was his turn to pitch.
"He anticipated being the next pitcher since the first three pitchers had pitched already," Torre recalled. "It never was any kind of startling revelation to him that he wasn't going to pitch, but that was his mindset."
As it turned out for the Yankees, things couldn't have worked out any better. After cruising behind David Wells in Game One, New York dropped Game Two in extra innings and Andy Pettitte was bombed by the Tribe in Game Three. Suddenly, baseball's best team was facing its first true crisis -- down two games to one in the best-of-seven series with Games Four and Five on the road.
Scheduled to start the pivotal fourth game was Hernandez, who had not pitched in 15 days. Hernandez was 0-1 against Cle
veland during the regular season and the situation was so tenuous that Wells offered to pitch on three days rest. But Torre stuck to his guns and sent out the 29-year-old rookie.
Hernandez responded with a masterpiece, allowing three singles over seven scoreless innings. The Yankees posted a 4-0 victory, evened the series and took Games Five and Six to advance to the World Series. The Cuban refugee's performance in Game Four was so spectacular that as Game Six was unfolding, the consensus was that Torre would bring him back on three days rest for Game Seven -- bypassing Pettitte.
"When we were down two games to one, playing on the road, his calm was just what we needed," Torre said. "He allowed his ability to take over. I am very comfortable with the approach he has. His calm and confidence are all part of it."
When asked about that performance, Hernandez downplayed the importance of his individual success.
"To me, every game is important," said Hernandez through an interpreter. "It really doesn't matter what game and what series. I just like to go out and help my team to victory."
After bailing out the Yankees in the ALCS, Hernandez got the nod from Torre to start Game Two of the World Series against the Yankees. This time the pressure was minimal and his teammates allowed him a large margin for error by scoring six times in the first two innings.
But never one to let down, Hernandez allowed just a run and six hits over seven strong innings. New York cruised to a 9-3 victory and, with a 2-0 lead in the series, Sunday's outing might have been Hernandez's last of 1998.
"He threw a huge game for us in the ALCS and (Sunday) he gave us another big lift," said teammate Scott Brosius. "To the guys that have been around him, we knew he could be a great pitcher."
"I love that guy," said Chuck Knoblauch, the Yankees second baseman. "To get over here and have this success. I'm sure a lot of people doubted the Yankees when they signed him but he's been tremendous. He's a battler, a competitor, he doesn't rattle."
Of course it would be hard to imagine any sporting event rattling Hernandez. On December 26th, he and seven others defected from Cuba. After three days at sea, they were picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard. He left behind family and friends and a legendary amateur career.
The half-brother of 1997 World Series hero Livan Hernandez of the Florida Marlins, "El Duque" was sought after by a number of organizations when he was declared a free agent in January. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner opened the purse strings and added another strong arm to a team well on its way to an American League record 114 victories.
On June 3rd, Hernandez made his major-league debut and posted a victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. By the end of the season, he was 12-4 with a 3.13 ERA in 21 starts. Although not a rookie in the traditional sense of the word, Hernandez was the first first-year right-hander to win 12 games for the Yankees since Ron Davis in 1979.
"The only time I have ever seen him rattled is when you go to take him out of the game," joked Torre. "But that isn't rattled. I've mentioned it a couple of times, if you have gone through over the last 12 months or so what he has gone through, you would realize it is just a game to him."
His story has touched so many that Hernandez often refuses to discuss it any more, appearing almost embarrassed by the emotions it stirs.
"I have to say I feel great for El Duque, especially where he is coming from," said Chicago Cubs superstar Sammy Sosa. "He got an opportunity to come here and he's made the most of it. He's doing great."
"I can relate to him because my father went through the same thing," said Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, who hit a home run in support of Hernandez on Sunday. "He has come a long way since he got here and has a lot of friends here. He is a wonderful story."
Like Sosa, Hernandez has become a media favorite because of his honesty in answering questions. He even adds a little Yogi Berra in there once in a while to keep reporters on their feet.
When asked in his Saturday press conference if he had really brought his seven boatmates to Game One of the World Series as his guests, Hernandez denied the claim. He asked the reporter who told him that. When the reporter revealed his source, Hernandez acknowledged the scoop, admitted to having them as his guest and said, "Now that you told me who told you, we are even."
After his victory on Sunday, "El Duque" showed up for his press conference smoking a cigar. Immediately, the media wanted to know if it was a Cuban. Hernandez's response was that it was a Costa Rican. He added he was saving the Cuban for when they win the World Series.
Kind of like the Yankees.
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