Pedro Martinez Is Out, Livan Hernandez Is In for the Mets

Omar Minaya has just signed Livan Hernandez to a minor league deal at $1 million and will compete with Niese, Redding, and Garcia. You mean to tell me you can get paid a million dollars for playing in the minors? Baseball has been good to Livan. He was MVP in the NLCS and World Series in 1997 for the Marlins. He is capable of starting 30 plus games a year. This past season Livan, had a 13-11 record and a 6 plus ERA. I remember that 1997 World Series and seeing how Livan would through his pitches 6 inches off the plate and Umpire Eric Gregg raising his arm for a strike. I guess in Cuba, home plate is six inches wider than in the US. Leave it to Castro to give his team an edge. Now we see how this scenario is taking shape. Niese is a long shot. Has a nasty 12 to 6 curve ball. His problem is pitch selection. His velocity only goes up to 88 mph. He is not ready because he needs to deliver the curve ball the same way he throws his fastball. 2010 will be better suited for young Niese. As ... (link)