Roberto Hernandez

[witesoxfan]

I don't know about sending too much for him. I don't like the switch from NL to AL that he will have to do.

 

The only reason that would affect a reliever is due to the upgraded talent in the AL - NOT because the pitcher doesn't bat in the AL. Relievers do not face pitchers on a regular basis, as they are usually in late in the ballgame when pitchers are getting pinch hit for by good hitters.

 

I do not see the downside of this potential deal, so I don't see why they wouldn't make it. You can never have enough pitching depth.

[vandy125]

The only reason that would affect a reliever is due to the upgraded talent in the AL - NOT because the pitcher doesn't bat in the AL. Relievers do not face pitchers on a regular basis, as they are usually in late in the ballgame when pitchers are getting pinch hit for by good hitters.

 

I do not see the downside of this potential deal, so I don't see why they wouldn't make it. You can never have enough pitching depth.

 

That is exactly what I am talking about. It depends on what we give up.

 

I would not want it to be very much because IMO the difference between the hitters in the AL vs the NL is huge, and everyone is pointing at how well he has been doing against a weak league this year. What happens when he plays against the much more talented AL? Will it be worth it to give up much?

 

If we swing him for next to nothing, I am all for it, but I can't imagine that relievers who are doing well will go for next to nothing.

[fullcollapse]

i really like the ground ball/fly ball ratio. i don't care what league your in, if your a grounball pitcher in the nl your a groundball pitcher in the al. with the good infield defense of the sox i think he could be a good pick up. i'm not convinced that pollite is a better option.

[Finkelstein]

If anyone was listening to Mac, Jurko and Harry around 4:30 today you heard Harry talking about his "source" telling him that Kenny is in the process of putting together a deal to bring a former Sox player back to the team. Of course the callers were talking about Rowand, Cameron, etc. but I think that this is probably the deal that Harry was talking about. Sounds like a Kenny move to me.

[mrzo2733]

I couldn't find the green. Roberto seems to have done well the last yr and half I agree. If the sox can't find a bullpen guy for the future [which will be hard, though Riske has some upside], better to get a one yr rental.

 

You can't really go out and get relievers of the future, because if they were that good and that young, you'd never be able to trade for one anyways. I agree with the point that relievers (except the special ones) are very hit or miss from year to year. Age doesn't matter, if you can get guys out then you can get them out.

If he's cheap, it seems like a good move.

[beck72]

You can't really go out and get relievers of the future, because if they were that good and that young, you'd never be able to trade for one anyways. I agree with the point that relievers (except the special ones) are very hit or miss from year to year. Age doesn't matter, if you can get guys out then you can get them out.

If he's cheap, it seems like a good move.

 

That's why I was saying to get a young bullpen guy would be hard. The time to get a stellar bullpen guy is the offseason.

[witesoxfan]

That is exactly what I am talking about. It depends on what we give up.

 

I would not want it to be very much because IMO the difference between the hitters in the AL vs the NL is huge, and everyone is pointing at how well he has been doing against a weak league this year. What happens when he plays against the much more talented AL? Will it be worth it to give up much?

 

If we swing him for next to nothing, I am all for it, but I can't imagine that relievers who are doing well will go for next to nothing.

 

I was probably underrating his value earlier, as it's going to cost more than a PTBNL/cash, but it's not going to cost you a Broadway or a Sweeney. If it does, KW is not touching him, and no one else will either.

 

A 42 year old reliever on a 1 year contract is not going to have much value. I'm not sure in terms of who it would be on the Sox, but I would guess someone in the 15-20 range on the prospect list, perhaps someone like Chris Getz who has an outside chance of starting at some point in time but is more likely to be a utility player.

[southsider2k5]

If anyone was listening to Mac, Jurko and Harry around 4:30 today you heard Harry talking about his "source" telling him that Kenny is in the process of putting together a deal to bring a former Sox player back to the team. Of course the callers were talking about Rowand, Cameron, etc. but I think that this is probably the deal that Harry was talking about. Sounds like a Kenny move to me.

 

What no Carl Everett, Roberto Alomar jokes? You all are slipping.

[Guest JimH]

What no Carl Everett, Roberto Alomar jokes? You all are slipping.

With Riske in, the probability of Politte, the possibility of Hermanson, wouldn't they need a defensive OF more? I'm all for an upgrade but I don't see where Hernandez would pitch.

[GoSox05]

I read that Hernandez is still hitting 94-96 mph on his fastball. Not bad for a guy whos 41.

[VAfan]

A few things concern me about Roberto.

 

1.40 WHIP. That's way too many baserunners. He's always one bad pitch away from blowing saves or leads with that many men on base.

 

15 runs v. 8 ERs. Is he really a 2.15 ERA guy? If you count all the runs, its closer to 4.00. Sure, only earned runs count, and the Sox have great infield defense, but I wonder.

 

On the plus side, the 2 HRs in 33+ innings is huge. And I like the GB/FB ratio that's been mentioned above.

 

For a middling prospect, I suppose it is hard to argue against making such a move. But is this the best a WS champion can do?

 

We need to try to get our bullpen back to where it was last year down the stretch.

 

Jenks -- Fine

Cotts -- Fine (getting back to something close to last year)

Thornton -- An improvement on Marte, could become outstanding

Riske -- A good stand-in for Cliff Politte's role last year.

 

McCarthy -- has been bounced around in his roles -- still trying to find himself. Should be the guy saving games that Vazquez, Garland, Garcia, et al. don't pitch well in, or winning extra-inning contests.

Politte -- who knows what we'll get once he's off the DL?

Hermanson? -- don't count on anything here.

 

We need that right hander who can pitch as well as Hermanson did early and Politte did late. It won't be easy to find.

[witesoxfan]

For a middling prospect, I suppose it is hard to argue against making such a move. But is this the best a WS champion can do?

 

It's not the best they can do; it's all the more KW has to do. The Sox may not even need him, because the pen appears to be pretty much set - trading for Hernandez is a trade to bring in depth, and it is nothing more than that.

 

Riske -- A good stand-in for Cliff Politte's role last year.

 

We need that right hander who can pitch as well as Hermanson did early and Politte did late. It won't be easy to find.

 

Umm.....

[VAfan]

It's not the best they can do; it's all the more KW has to do. The Sox may not even need him, because the pen appears to be pretty much set - trading for Hernandez is a trade to bring in depth, and it is nothing more than that.

Umm.....

 

The pen is only "set" if Politte returns looking like he did last year. If he's going to continue pitching like he did this year, they'll have to put him back on the DL, cut him, or trade him.

 

We have a few weeks to find out which direction we'll have to take.

[Jordan4life_2007]

Hernandez certainly looked good tonight.

[BFirebird]

A few things concern me about Roberto.

 

1.40 WHIP. That's way too many baserunners. He's always one bad pitch away from blowing saves or leads with that many men on base.

 

15 runs v. 8 ERs. Is he really a 2.15 ERA guy? If you count all the runs, its closer to 4.00. Sure, only earned runs count, and the Sox have great infield defense, but I wonder.

 

On the plus side, the 2 HRs in 33+ innings is huge. And I like the GB/FB ratio that's been mentioned above.

 

For a middling prospect, I suppose it is hard to argue against making such a move. But is this the best a WS champion can do?

 

We need to try to get our bullpen back to where it was last year down the stretch.

 

Jenks -- Fine

Cotts -- Fine (getting back to something close to last year)

Thornton -- An improvement on Marte, could become outstanding

Riske -- A good stand-in for Cliff Politte's role last year.

 

McCarthy -- has been bounced around in his roles -- still trying to find himself. Should be the guy saving games that Vazquez, Garland, Garcia, et al. don't pitch well in, or winning extra-inning contests.

Politte -- who knows what we'll get once he's off the DL?

Hermanson? -- don't count on anything here.

 

We need that right hander who can pitch as well as Hermanson did early and Politte did late. It won't be easy to find.

 

Great analysis and I agree it is going to be really hard to find a reliever in the market because everyone needs bullpen help without overpaying. It appears that the bullpen is coming around with the additions of Riske and Thornton so hopefully it will keep it up because it seems to be their only real weakness.

[beck72]

FWIW, The Pirates are the only team in the top 13-14 in MLB in terms of Bullpen ERA who are out of playoff contention. And Roberto's the only one likely to be traded with a sub 3.00 ERA.

 

Of the teams out of contention, [Philly may be soon out of it they have the 5th best ERA, 3.50]

Pitt is 8th with a 3.95 ERA, the Cubs 14th w/ a 4.25, and Marlins have the 16th best, w/ a 4.30 ERA.

 

The sox are 13th w/ a 4.22 ERA.

Edited July 9, 2006 by beck72