I'd say it's 60-40 for El Duque
Heading into the fifth inning, I figured it was 50-50 that Orlando Hernandez would wrap up the No. 5 job before Mike Pelfrey even threw a pitch. But now, after he just breezed through the fifth, I think El Duque just improved his odds.
Hernandez needed only 11 pitches -- eight were strikes -- and he looks nothing like the wounded pitcher that labored through his first two starts of the spring. El Duque got two easy grounders to first base, and even hustled over to cover on one of them. He also whiffed Adam Jones on a sidearm change that was vintage El Duque.
Hernandez's pitch count is up to 70.
***** UPDATE: Duque's done. Pelfrey just trotted in to the mound. The line on Hernandez: 5 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 BB, 2 SO. Not bad. He also retired the last seven straight.
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Comments (4)
That's all I need. It doesn't matter what Pelfrey does today.
El Duque's your man. And, when he gets hurt, then we'll look at Pelfrey.
Hey, Duque ran to first and didn't tear anything? Promising!
Can we even judge El Duque on how he pitches to the Orioles? The Orioles are very bad team. I can't imagine him getting the same results with the Marlins or even the Braves.
I just don't understand how everyone is hating on El Duque...
The first four months of last season, his ERA was 3.02. Now, I don't expect him to last until the end; but I think he'll be fine. He knows how to pitch. He was just worn out by the end of last season. We don't have to rely on him as much this season.