Mister April 30th: Michel Hernandez Has Career Night Against Red Sox

by Tommy Rancel on May 1, 2009 8:15 AM EDT

History was made last night. No, Matt Garza did not pitch the first perfect game in Rays' history (infield single, seriously?), but history was made nonetheless. In the 4th inning, Michel Hernandez turned on a Josh Beckett offering and planted it into the seats of section 141 in left field, which we will now rename the "Michel Hernandez Power Tower." For the 30 year-old Hernandez it was his first major league home run and it couldn't come at a better time.

For the first time all season the Rays actually got production from the catcher's spot. With Dioner Navarro struggling (I'm being nice), Joe Maddon decided to give the seldom used Hernandez the start with Matt Garza on the mound. Not to start any controversy, but there just seems to be something about Garza and catchers not named Navarro. I know Navi was the catcher in game 7 of the ALCS, but some of the best regular season starts we've seen from Garza have come sans Navarro behind the plate. Some things you can't explain in baseball and that seems to be one of them. However, this is Michel Hernandez's article to shine; after all he can show this to his grand kids one day and say "I was a feature story on draysbay.com."

Again with Navi struggling, Maddon made the call to start Hernandez. Hernandez joined the Rays in late 2008 from the Pirates organization, and was the backup catcher for the playoffs; however his duties in the playoffs were limited to catching bullpen and eating bubble gum. He made his profession debut in the Yankees organization back in 1998 and has spent the better part of the past 11 plus years in the minor leagues. He briefly made a five game appearance with the Yankees back in 2003, but would not reach the majors again until his second stint in the Rays organization.

Coming into this game Hernandez was a career 6-28 in the major leagues. He nearly got six hits tonight as he went 4-5 with a HR and three RBI. Not only did was it the first time he hit a major league home run, but those three RBI were the first hree runs he has driven in as a major leaguer. Despite the offensive outburst, Hernandez is on borrowed time in a Rays uniform. Shawn Riggans is recovering from shoulder tendinitis and could start a minor league rehab assignment next week. However, Hernandez will always have tonight and maybe a few more nights if Dioner Navarro keeps hitting like...well Michel Hernandez.

Actually, maybe that would be a good thing.

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Nice Story

Had to feel good for the journeyman last night. What a thrill to not only go 4-5 and hit your first major league home run off Josh Beckett, but to also handle an absolute Garza masterpiece shutting down the hottest team in baseball. A night he will never forget,

by FreeZorilla on May 1, 2009 8:19 AM EDT reply actions

Yep, He may never see a game like this ever again, but April 30th 2009 Michel Hernandez night

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on May 1, 2009 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Navarro sucks

2 of 3 years he was one of the worst producing MLB starting catchers. It sucks that nearly every night their catcher is better than ours.

Of course Michelle isn’t much better. But I like his name.

by matthan on May 1, 2009 8:30 AM EDT reply actions

Hate to..

bring it back to Navi during Michel Hernandez Appreciation Day, but it has to possible he’s suffering from some sort of injury or fatigue. A hitting slump is one thing, but as we’ve seen wtih BJ, your other skill sets should not be affected. BJ is having trouble catching up to 90 MPH but he’s still irreplaceable in center, walks a ton, and runs the bases. I can’t justify or rationalize why Navi has been so sloppy behind the dish. Maybe he needs a few days rest.

by FreeZorilla on May 1, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions

I thought about this myself

Not the injury part, but the fatigue part. I looked up innings caught and had Navi played last night he would be leading the AL in innings caught. As it stands down he is at 154.2 which is second behind Kurt Suzuki who has 159. I’m not saying this is the reason, but the beating a catcher takes on a nightly basis is so tough that maybe a night off was a bit overdue.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on May 1, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure he is a bit tired

But it isn’t like he started well and got worse as he got fatigued. He started like crap and continued to pile onto that crap.

by matthan on May 1, 2009 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Defense has certianly been worse the past week.

by FreeZorilla on May 1, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Do line drive% and BABIP mean nothing? Nevermind don't answer

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on May 1, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Aren't you that guy I read about that gathered up a bunch of puppies and then put them in a burlap sack out in a snow drift?

Do what you love to do and give it your very best. Whether it's business or baseball, or the theater, or any field. If you don't love what you're doing and you can't give it your best, get out of it. Life is too short. You'll be an old man before you know it.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 1, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

A fitting article on Michel Hernandez Appreciation Day

by FreeZorilla on May 1, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

Ugh…

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/may/01/wake—call-hernandez-and-family-flourishing-rays/sports-rays/

by FreeZorilla on May 1, 2009 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

So your opinion was that he was very unlucky at the start of the year, and now he is very tired which makes him suck for real?

What excuse are you going to make for him when he continues to be one of the worst starting catchers in 3 months from now? 12 months from now? 15 months from now? Hungry? Fat? Out of shape? Worried about his wife? Tired?

Even though through his career he is one of the worst starting catchers 2 of the 3 years while his 2009 and his cup of coffee also have him as one of the worst catchers in the league. Yep but he is always just totally unlucky.

Ever hear of Occams Razor? Actually nevermind don’t answer

by matthan on May 1, 2009 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

That was a total reply fail

by matthan on May 1, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Either way you are absolutely literally dreaming if you think navi will consistently be a top 20 catcher

He may crack it once or twice more in his career, but his place is of a 21-25th ranked catcher. He is what he is.

And of course I know he has been a bit unlucky. You don’t hit what he is hitting without a little bit of bad luck. But if all his fortunes turned what would that make him? Instead of being literally the worst starter in MLB, he would be like the 27th ranked catcher. Yay. Here is a cookie.

by matthan on May 1, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Or an All-Star.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Didn't Rolando Arrojo make an all star team?

Do I really need to go through the list of all stars that shouldn’t have made it?

Navi ended the season slightly above average last year. 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 he was one of the worst catchers in the league. Which year is out of place?

But hey if you are willing to take 1 slightly above average season for 2.4 totally crappy ones then be my guest.

by matthan on May 1, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Rolando Arrojo made is as the lone "team representative." Navi was a top 3 catcher in the AL in the first half of last season.

In Play, Out(s)

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 1, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Dude just turned 25 and has shown consistent ability over long stretches.

I’m not sure what you think we should do about it. If you’re just pissy that we didn’t get Posey, then so be it, but he’s not a sure thing either. All we need is for Navi to be average. I’ve always wondered if switch hitters that can’t get anything going are better off just picking their dominant side to hit from.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 1, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Last year he hit much better from the left.

.312/.365/.412 in 311 ABs as LHB.
.250/.304/.397 in 116 ABs as RHB.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

He has also shown consistent inability over long stretches too

He has had an under .500 OPS for half a season before not too long ago. I said in another thread that we will not be able to make the playoffs if he plays like this for a half again and it was basically laughed off. He has a MLVr of -.564! I agree all he needs to be is average, but right now he is more than .5 runs a game below average.

I’m not saying we have any better options, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Hernandez play a little more and Navi less until it starts to correct itself.

by Sveet on May 1, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I can agree with this, though I don't think Hernandez suddenly woke up, grabbed Wonderboy and is

ready to Roy Hobbes the world. The rest would be good, and, at the very least, I would like to see Michel (Merny? M-Hern?) out there the next time Garza stand on the bump.

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 1, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't either

but he can’t be any worse then Navi has been so why not let him play 2 out of every 5 instead of 1

by Sveet on May 1, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

For now at least, I like this idea.

"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."

by kericr on May 1, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Specifically, I'd like to see him get Niemann's starts too.

"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."

by kericr on May 1, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

There's this magical thing called BABIP.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

someone better tell the magical baseball gods that Navi's babip is below career averages

so they can correct it immediately. BABIP isn’t the end all be all and career averages while a good gauge aren’t a perfect predictor of future results. The guy’s fly ball rates are way up(what you call fly balls I call pop ups). Of course his babip is going to be terrible.

Will he eventually get better? Most likely. Is Navarro better then Michel? Most definitely. Would it hurt to give Michel some more PT right now? I don’t think so.

I liked this site a lot more when you weren’t such a smug smartass with a bunch of yes men followers….see below

by Sveet on May 1, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

UH OH. CAUGHT RED HANDED.

I don’t think anyone has a problem with Navi missing another game or two until his bat starts to heat up.

It’s more than “he’s sucked more than he’s been good” opinion that I don’t agree with. It’s simple: Over the last three seasons, he’s been good more often than he’s been bad.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

and the passed balls have been inexcusable.

I don’t think anyone has had a problem with that argument either.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Look at his BABIP in the first half of 2007. That's the reason for his struggles.

I don’t really think you can peg 2007’s first half as a true talent point because it obviously was not. It’s like saying 2008’s first half, when his BABIP was presumably inflated, is a true talent point.

—
I’m a smug smartass because I’ve had to deal with a ton of trash over the past three years. I don’t believe you nor many others were taking care of idiots like Rays4242 when they spouted off non-sense so I did.

I don’t have any hand in the yes men crap. I don’t ask nor particularly care for sycophants. I don’t think anyone can accuse me of hiding behind others or pointing to the mass agreeing with me as points in favor during any argument. Plus, I’m pretty sure for every yes man there’s someone who only comments on this site to play devil’s advocate or go against what I say. Plus, I’m pretty sure Suttree and myself have had a few disagreements, but whatever.

Perhaps my response was over the top, especially given your comment, and if you were offended, then I’m sorry.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

About his 2007 first half...

His K% was 17.3, which isn’t exactly pretty, but better than league average. The whiffs didn’t help him much either.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm guessing that improved in the second half?

That’s a bit above his career rate, but only by a smidgen.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty much.

July and March/April were rough. The beginning of the year? 29%. Carl Crawford is jealous.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Troll's Remorse

"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."

by kericr on May 1, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I appreciate the apology

Not sure if you will see this now that its off the front page but, just to let you know this is by far my favorite Rays site. Most days I check multiple times and find all the topics you guys post on very informative. So thank you and the guys for all the work you put into it.

by Sveet on May 2, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I did this thing earlier where 600 good ABs outweighed sub-300 shitty ones, but you know, whatever.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

But yes

I’d much rather him become the luckiest baseball player alive and be somewhat decent than totally suck.

by matthan on May 1, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

But we can just stick to the argument that Navi has sucked nearly his entire career because he is fatigued

by matthan on May 1, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow you like the reply button

Nobody is arguing that Navi is Brian McCann here, but for a .700 OPS guy to be down to .450 suggests an overall bad start. Fatigue, unluckly, bored, fat, whatever, I just don’t think at age 25 Navi is going to drop .250 OPS points.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on May 1, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

And if you're willing to throw an age 25 catcher under the bus over 72 ABs, you're a moron.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

The Dodgers did, eh?

Why settle for average when Jaso is in the minors. He sure as hell can’t do any worse than Navarro. The BIG consideration is Jaso’s ceiling is way up thar compared to Navi’s.

by ConnorManning on May 1, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

The Dodgers had Russell Martin sitting behind Navarro.

I like Jaso, he’s not Russ Martin. And the Rays, a much better FO than LA, don’t think Jaso is ready. Plus, how are you judging ceilings?

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Regardless

Forget the seasons, look at his career average to balance out the playing time.

Career OPS .690 vs .456 in ’09
Career LD% 21% vs 12% in 09

I’m not saying he’s an all-star catcher, This season is nowhere near demonstrating what Navi can do at the plate or behind it. Its as bad a start as you can have. He’s also not the worst player in the game. To get back to near his average will require a great hitting period which you don’t want to bench him for. The exception being if he is playing hurt or fatigued.

by FreeZorilla on May 1, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

FTFY

That was a total ~~reply~~ fail

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 1, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

One suspect remains

Swine flu.

by PlayOnWords on May 1, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

The old saying

Lay down with dogs, end up with swine flu

-Al Lopez

by Sandy Kazmir on May 1, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe the saying is "A swineflu in the hand is worth two in the lungs"

In Play, Out(s)

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 1, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Rec #2

Laughed Out Loud

by FreeZorilla on May 1, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Dogs and pigs

Working together to end the Chinese restaurant menace.

by PlayOnWords on May 1, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Dioner Navarro is the new comment maker.

Good for Michel. I don’t think he’s a particularly valuable major leaguer, but it’s pretty cool that he gets a game like this to tell his kids and grandkids about.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions

Navi is the Andy Sonnanstine to Michel's Edwin Jackson? Do I have that reversed? Eitherway Navi is hittable.

In Play, Out(s)

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 1, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think anyone believes Michel Hernandez is capable of being a good major leaguer.

Nothing personal against him, again, I’m glad he gets to experience this and the playoffs last year. If you can find me a handful of 29/30-year-old catchers with career minor league totals of 3,000 plate appearances and a line of .263/.334/.349 that became solid major leaguers, then fine, there’s a data point out there. Otherwise you’re suggesting Hernandez is a wickedly extreme outlier, or you’re just lying to yourself.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

but jokes?

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Some people are serious.

I know TGN1 isn’t, but I wanted to add that.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

isn't TGN1 ALWAYS serious?

If not, man, have I been reading his posts wrong.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I am always serious.

Whenever I post sarcastically I do it alternating caps and non caps. Like this:

ThErE ArE mAnY gOoD nEw CoNtRiBuToRs To ThIs SiTe

In Play, Out(s)

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 1, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

BUT I THOUGHT YOU WUZ SERIAL IN THE GDT!!!!!

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I "wuz" cereal in the gdt

In Play, Out(s)

by Top Gun Numba 1 on May 1, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think you guys are really responding to matthan

I think he is raising a good initial point, but my thinking is a little different.

Navi has been pretty terrible hitting so far this year, and I think having Michel in the lineup last night—that is having someone who does not strike out as much in Navi’s place—really made a difference—in addition to the fact that he was a BEAST.

I would love to see how many times Navi struck out for the the third out of an inning this season.

by plasticman on May 1, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions

I don't think anyone has a problem with Navi sitting out when he's been as terrible as he has.

I think some people even talked about it a few nights ago.

However, Matthan isn’t saying,“Hey, Navi’s sucked, let’s give him a couple nights off and see if rebounds after that.”

He’s saying,“Navarro is a horrible catcher and we should DFA him.” Well, if not that exactly, in that extreme. And that is wrong, and hence the flood of comments and debate.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

The problem here.

Is that some of us are trying to find the answer to the question: What is wrong with Dioner Navarro? Because we know that players don’t go from true talent 20% line drive hitters to 10% over one off-season.

Others of us are trying to answer the question: Who should be our starting catcher?

For the former, we’re not even pondering the latter, because, well, if the options are Navarro, Riggans, or Hernandez, then there’s absolutely no question. For the latter, try figuring out the former. What’s wrong with him? Is it a personal issue that we’re unaware about? Is it conditioning? Is it simply a slump? Or is he hurt?

I’m more interested in the former, because it helps answer the latter for us.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

How dare you be thoughtful, coherent and avoid insulting anyone.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

suck up

by plasticman on May 1, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I prefer "cock sucker", thank you very much.

… wait.

by Suttree on May 1, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

understood, good point on your last sentence

by plasticman on May 1, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

It doesn't matter how many times he struck out to end an inning.

That’s a random variable. How many times has Evan struck out to start an inning? Who knows? Who cares. It’s nothing to put substantial weight on.

Nobody is saying Navarro couldn’t use some time off here and there, but people who are calling for Hernandez as the full-time catcher are really defending the indefensible.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

I think this is a good point to discuss

If Navi did strike out to end an inning, and there were runners on base, that out would be more detrimental to the game than being the first out of the inning.

And if he did that frequently, that is something we could talk about statistically.

by plasticman on May 1, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

What does it tell us?

That Navarro needs to be moved down? Bat him 8th and bat Iwamura or Bartlett 7th/9th? We know he’s been bad in every scenario thus far, looking this up does nothing else for me.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Probably.

It could also show how costly his outs have been.

by plasticman on May 1, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

It's just bad luck, really.

Navi can’t control that he just happens to be up to bat when there are 2 outs. It’s kind of like “RBI hitters”; they just happen to have guys on base in front of them.

by mittens on May 1, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

If you weigh third outs more than first outs, sure.

But the batting slot and situations in which he comes up are pretty random. If the batters in front of Navarro are slumping, and he’s batting sixth, then odds are he’s coming up with 1/2 outs most of the time anyways. If they aren’t slumping, he’s probably still coming up with an out or two.

by R.J. Anderson on May 1, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions