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In 15 of his 25 starts this season, Livan Hernandez has allowed 2 or fewer earned runs.
Think the Nationals will tender him a contract offer for 2011?
I know it won't be viewed the same as Dmitri Young's 2007 season, which earned him the NL Comeback Player-of-the-Year Award, but seriously, why not?
His peripheral numbers belie his won-lost record. On a good club he'd have many more victories than eight. In March if anyone had put money on Livo having an ERA barely above 3.00 in mid-August, I suspect they'd be driving a much nicer car today.
Longtime Dodgers' scout Ron Rizzi told me months ago that Hernandez and Pedro Martinez are at the top of his list of pitchers who "know how to pitch." Velocity is a wonderful thing, but command and poise count for just as much.
Hernandez has stated numerous times that he'd like to finish his career in a Nationals' uniform. Whether or not he pulls that off remains to be seen, but his performance thus far has certainly earned him a leg up on the competition for a 2011 rotation slot.
And that award would be a lovely addition to his '97 post-season hardware.
