The Pitching Artist Formerly Known As Fausto Carmona Needs To Be DFA’d!
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Follow @mlbreportsSunday, Apr.28/2013
Through 5 outings, Hernandez is 1-4 record with a 5.28 ERA in just over 30 IP of work. His kryptonite this season has been the long ball. In almost every start Hernandez gives up at least one long ball – giving up 18 ER in his time thus far in total. One good spot is that even though the sinkerballer is not getting many of those groundballs he is used to, he has been striking hitters out at a good rate. In three out of his five starts, Hernandez has fanned 7 batters and in the other two Game Starts – he punched out at least four per start. He is also walking an average of 3 hitters per start.
By Jake Bullington (Rays Correspondent): Follow @jakeyjake01
Roberto Hernandez, ( AKA Fausto Carmona), was supposed to be insurance for the Tampa Bay Rays this year. The club was supposed to have Jeff Niemann re-assume his spot in the Starting Pitching Rotation – along with David Price, Jeremy Hellickson, Alex Cobb and Matt Moore to round out the top 5.
James Shields and Wade Davis. were dealt away to acquire Wil Myers on the basis of this assumption. However, Niemann was been hurt – and we are still a few weeks away before Chris Archer is brought up for good. Thus the club has had to use the beleagured ex Indians chucker.
Roberto Hernandez lone good start for Tampa Bay:
When the Rays brought in the artist previously known as Fausto Carmona, it marked a change in the Rays way. For the first time in a long time they used a Starting Pitcher that was not home grown.
We are now a month into this still young season – and Fausto/Roberto are not panning out. Hernandez, known mainly as a sinkerball with his days in Cleveland – has tried to reinvent himself (along with the name change) as more of a Strikeout pitcher and it does not seem to be working.
In the clubs biggest mistake of the year to date, Joe Maddon decided to use Hernandez in Game #3 of the season. The Rays lost the game and the series to the Baltimore Orioles, and have been chasing most of the teams in the AL East ever since.
During the big man from the Dominican’s next contest, he had his worst start of the season, giving up 6 ER in 6.2 IP versus the Rangers in a defeat.
For Hernandez next two starts, he was actually quite serviceable. The Veteran RHP only gave up 4 ER in 11.1 IP.
This brings us to last Friday night. Hernandez served up 3 HR souvenir balls to the Chicago White Sox in a 5 – 4 loss. When will the Tampa Bay Rays figure out that this guy doesn’t have what it takes to hang in the Major Leagues anymore! Please Designate him For Assignment right now!
The 32 Year Old is 26 – 48 (.352) with over a 5.00 ERA – since he put up his brilliant 2007 Campaign (19 – 7, 3.06 ERA -4th in AL CY Young Voting) for the AL Central Division Champion Indians).
The Rays should not be feeding at the bottom for Starting Pitchers. They have great options at the Minor League Level in Chris Archer or Jake Odorizzi. Just like with Wil Myers, they might be sacrificing the season by waiting too long to call up the reinforcements. Wins in April are just as important as wins any other time of the year.
Much like 2012 – where they built an insurmountable deficit before Longoria eventually returned, the 2013 version of the club may bury itself with its own organizational decisions. This is not fair to the team, the veterans of the club – and most of all the fans of this franchise!
The Rays have many more homegrown options that can replace Hernandez.
Chris Archer (who has some Major League experience) is a viable option down on the farm – and could step right in with the Rays. The club has started 12 – 13 and are six games back in the AL East. in 32 Game starts for the Durham Bulls, Archer has put forth a 12 – 11 Record and an impressive 3.63 ERA. Jake Odorizzi has also fared decent in Durham, posting a 1 – 0 Record with 30 SO and a 4.09 ERA in 22 IP this year. Put the call into one of these fine gentleman.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of www.mlbreports.com and their partners.***
A big thank-you goes out to our Rays Correspondent Jake Bullington. Jake was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Moved to Tampa, FL in 2010 to coach a local baseball team the Tampa Twins. Covered the team writing player profiles, Game reports, and running the Twins website as the Twins Insider.
Started the Blog ” not just Cardboard” writing about topics that included Baseball cards as well as baseball in general. A baseball trainer for Diamond II Pro baseball trainers that works closely with former and current minor and major league players. Has been doing free-lance scouting for teams since 2008. Avid Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins Fans. Follow and Interact with Jake on Twitter. Follow @jakeyjake01
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Posted on April 28, 2013, in MLB Player Profiles, MLB Teams: Articles and Analysis and tagged 2007 ALCS, @jakeyjake01 on twitter, al central, AL East, alex cobb, chicaho white sox, chris archer, cleveland indians, durham bulls, jake bullington, jake odorizzi, james shields, jeff niemann, jeremy hellickson, Joe Maddon, kansas city royals, matt moore, pcl, Rays Starting pitcher roster, roberto hernandez, tampa bay rays, tropicana field, wade davis, wil myers. Bookmark the permalink. Comments Off on The Pitching Artist Formerly Known As Fausto Carmona Needs To Be DFA’d!.
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