Hernandez takes on key role

Steve Popper at North Jersey writes about Roberto Hernandez coming back to the Mets with a mission:

It's a far cry from the spring of 2005 when Hernandez made his way onto the roster on a minor league contract, trying to keep his career alive. He did, posting a 2.58 ERA with four saves and 18 holds after four straight seasons of an ERA bloated over 4.00. And he parlayed that into a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Pirates.

"Who wouldn't be excited?" Hernandez said. "I know looking at this team last year there were a few missing pieces. I didn't imagine they were going to run this far out. When you come play against the Mets on the other side, you see there are hardly any holes to pitch against."

Now the hole is the one he must fill. The team had hoped that Sanchez's injury would not require surgery. But with Sanchez in serious pain, he was examined again and doctors discovered a severe separation, with ligaments torn from the collarbone.