southsider2k5 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=38669 By Mike Silva ~ August 17th, 2011. Filed under: Morning Digest. It appears Orlando Hernandez is finally going to hang up his spikes and announce his retirement. I believe El Duque has been retired since he hurt his big toe late in the 2007 season with the Mets. Although he pitched only 9 seasons in the big leagues, he left his mark as one of the great postseason pitchers of the modern era. His story started in Cuba. Hernández played for Industriales of Havana in the Cuban National Series, helping the team win that title in 1992 and 1996. He also represented Havana in Selective Series, on teams including Ciudad Habana and Habaneros. He was 126-47 with 3.05 ERA over his ten-year career in the National Series. His career winning percentage in National and Selective Series, .728, is the league record. Hernandez was also a fixture on the Cuba national baseball team, and was part of the gold-winning Olympic team at Barcelona in 1992. When his half-brother Livan defected to the United States in 1995, El Duque was banned from Cuban baseball the following season. He would defect Cuba and seek asylum in Costa Rica. The Yankees would sign him as a free agent in 1998 to a 4 year/$6.6 million dollar contract. Many forget the ’98 Yankees were on the brink of an historic upset to Cleveland as they trailed 2 games to 1 heading into Game 4 of the ALCS. El Duque threw seven shutout innings that night to lead the Yankees to a 4-0 victory. The ’98 squad never looked backed as they swept their way through the rest of the postseason to win their second title of the decade. He would win another 3 titles (2 with the Yankees, 1 with the White Sox) and finish his postseason career with a 9-3 record and 2.55 ERA. Mets fans were treated to El Duque as well. The 2006 team was in desperate need of pitching when Omar Minaya scouted Hernandez, who was pitching poorly in Arizona (2-4, 6.11 ERA). Miraculously, he found his “stuff” in New York. El Duque would team with Tom Glavine to anchor a Mets rotation that lost Pedro Martinez. His two years in New York produced some of the best pitching of his career. He would finish 18-12 with a 3.88 ERA as a Mets. Even more extraordinary, is he did it in his age 40 and 41 season. Some claim he was actually four years older. It’s possible that El Duque was pitching at a high caliber into his mid-to-late forties. The double-edged sword of El Duque was injuries. The Mets reliance on him turned out to be a burden as he injured his foot prior to Game 1 of the 2006 NLDS. He would miss the entire postseason. The following year he was unable to start down the stretch due to a foot injury, and could only come out of the bullpen as the Mets blew a 7 game lead with 17 to play. His injured foot allowed him to make only 4 minor league starts in 2008. He tried comebacks with both Texas and Washington the last two seasons, but neither organization believed he had the ability to help them at the big league level. The El Duque story is one that will probably be discussed for years to come. He is retiring in grand fashion this Saturday at La Ley Sports Complex in Homestead, Florida. I will always remember his ability to pitch when the game meant the most. He is a classic case of a pitcher that didn’t need velocity to be successful. He knew how to command his pitches, change speeds, and work a batter. I always enjoyed his starts because it was treated to a pitcher, not a hurler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Although that writer didn't note them...this entire fanbase remembers him for 3 outs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogan873 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 17, 2011 -> 08:04 AM) Although that writer didn't note them...this entire fanbase remembers him for 3 outs. One of the best pressure-pitching performances ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoSox05 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Fun pitcher to watch. For those 3 outs in the playoffs he will never be forgotten. I still think he is closer to 60 years old, than his mid-40's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Speaking of 60 years old, is Contreras ever coming back with the Phillies this season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve9347 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Jeez, how was he not already retired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleHurt05 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Is it still an "official retirement" if you haven't pitched in 4 years? Anyway, thanks for that Houdini act in 2005. I nearly got kicked out of an Arizona country club screaming at the TV during that inning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ginger Kid Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Aug 17, 2011 -> 06:44 AM) One of the best pressure-pitching performances ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVSoxFan Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Yup. I think AJ even said in the 2005 DVD that the Boston inning was probably the greatest baseball inning ever pitched or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milkman delivers Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 17, 2011 -> 09:35 AM) Jeez, how was he not already retired. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitewashed in '05 Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 I thought he was retired already too. Either way, you'll always be remembered as a hero to this fan base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunofgold Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 White Sox should recognize him someway. I know that he only pitched one season with the White Sox but he really helped us that year. Also, helped mentor/coach Contreras and maybe some of our other pitchers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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