Hernandez, Too Late
It was a tough first start for Livan Hernandez in a Rockies uniform. After being picked up from the Twins on Tuesday, Hernandez made a quick exit from the game Sunday in the third inning giving up nine runs and leaving to an echo of boos. It was a bad start, but the real problem is the Rockies move for Hernandez was too late.
Back in June the Rockies starting rotation was in disarray. Francis lost his form and was heading for the DL. Jimenez couldn’t find the strike zone and the last two spots were being filled by anybody from Triple-A. Only Cook was giving quality starts every game. Yet the Rockies were only five games back of a struggling West division and still had a chance to get back in the race. Instead management sat back and waited hoping spot replacements pitchers could get them back in the race.
At the time the Rockies rotation needed help the most, pitchers were available for the taking. Sabathia, Harden, Blanton are a few of the quality pitchers the Rockies could have made a play for, but didn’t. The organization minor leagues have quality players and some are stuck because of their positions. Maybe, Sabathia and Harden would have cost too much, but there were others that could have helped. Sitting back and doing nothing can work, but sometimes in order to get better you need to go out and bring that player to make your team a contender.
Now the Rockies are eight games back of first place and struggling through a ten game home stand. The Rockies needed Hernandez back in June not in August with a team coming closer to the cellar then the top. Hernandez will fair better for the Rockies for the next two months then he did Sunday, but his value was needed two months ago.
