Quote: I’m Great, I’m Good
During last night’s loss to the Braves, Orlando 
Hernandez allowed eight runs and six hits, while walking four, in just three innings.
…as i wrote after the game, he looked to be favoring his foot, which forced him to miss a start last week…he was throwing all arm, as Ron Darling pointed out, leaving tons of weak fastballs out of over the plate…he was wild…very wild…so when he did throw a strike, batters were just sitting dead red…
However, following the game, Hernandez repeatedly told reporters that he ‘thinks’ his previously inured foot had nothing to do with his performance last night, adding that he feels ‘great,’ and ‘feels good.’
El Duque left his last start after just three innings, after which he returned to New York for an MRI and a cortisone shot on his foot.
Willie Randolph, on El Duque, while talking to reporters after last night’s loss to the Braves…
“There was nothing wrong with this foot. He’s fine. He’s fine. He just didn’t hit his location tonight, obviously. You’re used to seeing him hit his spots, and he’s been that way most of the year, but tonight obviously he struggled with his control…He’s fine. He just didn’t have a good outing tonight. Period.”
Paul Lo Duca, on El Duque, talking to reporters…
“He couldn’t find a rhythm all night…You could tell he was frustrated…When I went up there I told him to use his legs a little more. He said, ‘okay.’ I think he might have been a little hesitant, but then I asked him and he said he was fine…
“He’s such a feel pitcher kind of guy, and when you haven’t thrown in 11 days it makes it tougher…
“I think it’s just one of those outings…I expect him to throw good next time.”
For more on the life and times of El Duque, from his days with the Yankees to the Mets, read Ken Davidoff’s column in Newsday, in which he explains…
“El Duque had worn on the Yankees, his steady stream of injuries and mood swings negating his intermittently excellent pitching.”
…i love el duque…but i can understand how this back-and-forth, great, hurt, off, great, hurt, time for a vacation bit can get tiresome…i’m not there yet, but i would not be shocked to see us all in that boat in the future…
