Has A-Hern Figured It Out?

The Mets announced that Anderson Hernandez was their Minor League Player of The Year over the weekend and that brings me to a very frustrating place.

In 2007, with the Zephyrs, Hernandez hit .301, with 28 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home runs and 42 runs batted in. Compare that to his 2006 Mets stats of a whopping .152 batting average and you have a complete one eighty. Is this a sign that he is finally coming together and starting to figure out Major League pitching or a fluke?

I would sincerely like to believe the first of the options.

There is nothing I would like to see more for him than the Dominican League Batting Champion to take his skills to the Majors.

I guess time will tell.

Zeph's up 2-0 in best of five series

Well he might not have been able to help the major league club this year, but the pitcher acquired for Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens just gave the Zephyr's a commanding lead in their best of five, round one playoff series against Nashville. LHP Jason Vargas pitched game two and allowed one run in six innings, on three hits and no walks, while striking out four. The pen did not allow a run over the last three innings; Camacho, Muniz and Cullen all pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

This was the type of player Omar thought he was acquiring when he signed David Newhan; a versatile defender and pesky offensive player. After single handily generating two runs in a 3-2 win last night, Newhan went 3-4 with a double, two out RBI and run scored in today's game. Chad Hermansen (picture to the left) is proving Omar still has his scouting skills, many were left scratching their heads when Omar picked up Hermansen in late August to replenish his minor league outfield. Hermansen also went 3-4 with a double, triple and two RBIs that both came with two outs. Anderson Hernandez continues to excel in AAA as a lead-off hitter, today he went 2-5 with a double and a run scored. Remember Chip Ambres the kid who hit the game winning ninth inning single only to be sent down after the game. Ambres went 1-1 with a double, three walks and two runs scored. Finally, veteran minor leaguer Andy Tracy's only hit of the day was a two out, two run homer in the first inning. The Zephyrs won this game pulling away with a score of 5-1.

MiLB box scores

Roster Moves

Anthony Di Como at Mets.com writes about the recent roster moves to get Jeff Conine on the 40 man roster:

To make room for Conine, the Mets optioned second baseman Anderson Hernandez back to Triple-A New Orleans, after his second stint with the club this year came and went without an at-bat.

The move also came with a twist. A day after his third Minor League rehab start drew rave reviews, Pedro Martinez hopped from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Conine on the 40-man roster. Yet Mets fans need not be alarmed by those implications. The move was purely procedural and won't have any effect on the return of Martinez, who has already served well over 60 days of DL time.

Needing To Learn How To Hit

I just don’t understand why Anderson Hernandez can’t hit at the Major League level. I guess I would understand the predicament a lot better if he wasn’t such a superstar in the Dominican Winter League. The kid even got the batting title last year.

So far for the New Orleans Zephyrs he’s hitting .264, with 3 home runs, 25 runs batted in and 7 stolen bases.

One would think that even these numbers would translate into; at least, a .240’s to.250’s batting average. But he only hit a meager .152, to go along with his 1 home run and 3 runs bated in. If you think that’s bad, then you didn’t see his 2005 performance (.056 BA).

He needs to step it up a notch or five to even think about having a career with the Mets or any other Major League team.

Good Luck A-Hern. You’re still a defensive marvel.

The Situation At Second

Ed Ryan at Mets Fever (Shea Nation Network), writes about Jose Valentin and the "situation at second":

When Jose Valentin was resigned this off season, initially it was thought that Valentin was going to serve as the utility player off the bench. But then David Newhan and Damion Easley were signed as bench players and most of us realized that Valentin would remain the full time second baseman.

The free agent market was full of young second baseman this year. Adam Kennedy, Julio Lugo, Ronnie Belliard, Frank Catalanotto, Mark DeRosa andMarcus Giles all were available and considered up grades at the position.

It wasn't that Valentin's performance last year wasn't appreciated but there were concerns over his durability. Once the year started we all understood what the club saw in him. In his second year at the position (that he rarely played during his career), he has clearly become comfortable and his range has been tremendous. But the most important asset Valentin has brought to the table is his chemistry with Reyes, he clearly has influenced the development of the young short stop and they now make an incredible double team tandem.

But now all those concerns about his durability may have come to fruition. Valentin's injury to his knee may land him on the disable list, he will under go further testing today.

If Valentin goes on the disabled list the team will have to choose from Ruben Gotay and Anderson Hernandez. Hernandez is a spectacular fielder but has always struggled offensively on the major league level. Gotay has a better bat but is a limited fielder. Ben Shpigel of the NY Times takes a look at the second base situation.

Second baseman José Valentín is scheduled for further testing in New York on his right knee Monday, perhaps indicating that the injury he sustained Saturday may be more serious than expected. “It’s too early to comment,” Minaya said. “When we get a final report, we’ll be ready to announce something.” If Valentín requires a stay on the disabled list, the Mets will probably recall Anderson Hernández, the New Orleans shortstop who, unlike the second baseman Rubén Gotay, is on their 40 man roster. Hernández has eight errors.

"Babe" Hernandez

Over at the Gotham baseball forum a post was made for A-Hern's monster hit in the Caribbean World Series. I thought it was quite humorous to compare Babe Ruth too Anderson Hernandez, but he did hit a bomb that should have cleared the fence by 10 feet:

I was watching the SNY telecast of the DR/VZ gamein the Carib WS. In extra innings, with 2 out in a 2-2 game, one of the Dominican players hit a booming shot to dead CF that missed going out for a walk-off HR by a few feet. He settled for a 2B, and failed to score.

Who was this mighty hitter?? None other than "puny" ANDERSON HERNANDEZ! I know it's not ML pitching and all that, but I've never seen him hit a ball that hard and far.

Whatever he's doing (he's hit well over .300 this Winter), if he can keep it up in ST he could win the 2B job and be the pleasant surprise of the season.

Good luck, "Babe"!!

Ahern recieves batting title

Eric Justice at Mets.com writes about Anderson Hernandez in the Dominican Winter League:

Anderson Hernandez may not have won a championship in the Dominican Winter League, but he did take home one title. The second baseman snagged the postseason batting crown after hitting .402 with one home run, 12 RBIs and 22 runs scored in 23 games with Tigres del Licey.

In 25 regular-season games, the 24-year-old infielder batted .287 with nine RBIs.