So far this year, Hernandez has posted the following-stats in his first innings at the AAA level:
8.2 innings, 7hits, 2er, 1hr, 4 bb’s, and 15 k’s
This is of course building off of his 2008 season at Bowie where he went:
10-4, with a 2.68 era, 141 innings, 112 hits, 10 homers, 71 walks, with 166 k’s.
Patton will be making his 3rd start for Bowie tonight, as he continues his comeback from the torn-labrum that eliminated his 2008 season.
In his first two starts this year, Patton’s numbers are:
11 innings, 6 hits, 0er, 3 walks, 9 k’s
In 2007, Patton pitched in the AA, AAA, and ML levels:
2007 Season Age 21
AA: 6-6 2.99 ERA, 102.1 IP, 96 hits, 68 k’s, 33 walks, 10 homers
AAA: 4-2, 4.59 ERA, 49 IP, 44 hits, 25 k’s, 11 walks, 5 homers
MLB: 0-2, 3.55 ERA, 12.2 IP, 10 hits, 8 k’s, 4 walks, 3 homers
Hernandez and Patton are in a similar boat. Each start they are in position to further earn the confidence of the organization, and become more viable options for promotion.
Both are facing differing questions in their individual quests to make the Orioles.
Can Hernandez continue to put up strikeouts? (He has had high numbers the past two seasons in the Carolina and Eastern Leagues)…
Can Hernandez limit the walks that plagued him at Bowie, and start to work deeper into games? Can he consistently provide 7 innings of work?
Patton missed all of 2008, and only has 60 or so professional innings above AA. He has had an exceptional start to 2009… where exactly is his velocity?
After the last start, there were many conflicting reports of Patton’s velocity. He was never a hard-thrower, but he needs to show the arm-strength to at least be consistently at 88mph.
For both of them… if/when they get knocked around a bit… how do they respond to that ‘adversity’, their next time on a mound?
If they do not provide answers to these and other questions… both will get extended time at their current levels.
If they perform over the next 5-7 starts, they both will have the chance to join the Orioles rotation, and continue to make the Orioles 2009 season that much more interesting.
EDIT:
Hernandez went 6innings tonight, allowing 5 hits, 3er, 1 bb, with 8 k’s.
Patton went 5.1 innings tonight, allowing 2 hits, 1 er, 1 hr, 3 bb’s, with 1 k.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.