The Cavalry falls on the West Coast: David Hernandez's fall from grace

[Crazysilver03]

http://www.azsnakepit.com/2013/8/11/4610418/david-hernandez-optioned-reno

It's a remarkable fall from grace for Hernandez, who was being spoken of as heir apparent to the closer's spot coming into the season, having put up a stellar 2.94 ERA over 146 appearances in 2011 and 2012, since being traded from the Orioles for Mark Reynolds, with a staggering K-rate of 11.4 per nine innings. This season started off little differently, with a 2.84 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 12.2 April innings. Then the wheels started to fall off. At first it was more of a loosening, with a 3.60 ERA in May. But from the middle of the following month, he seemed to disintegrate, through tonight's outing, where he allowed two runs in an inning of work - apparently the final straw.

But whatever the reason may be, Hernandez's line from June 11 on, was just awful, a two-month gurgling vortex of suck.

21.0 IP, 21 H, 23 R, 22 ER, 12 BB, 20 K, 5 HR, 9.43 ERA

And if anything, DH had actually been lucky, with a season BABIP coming into today of .260, well below average..

Hernandez had signed a 2/$3.5M contract to avoid two years of arbitration this past off-season. He is locked in at $2M next year for the Diamondbacks. Hopefully he can figure out whatever it is that is keeping him down.

[murph]

"a two-month gurgling vortex of suck. "

Wow, what a way to put it, but that sure is an awful stretch of pitching. Wonder if he is hurt? Always liked Hernandez, hopefully he does pull it together.

[sangar]

Didn't know a vortex could gurgle. Learn something new every day...