Levon, levon likes his money
He makes a lot they say
Spend his days counting
In a garage by the motorway
And he shall be levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be levon
(Excerpted from Elton John’s 1970 hit “LEVON”)
Photo from dayslife.com. AP Photo by Jeff Roberson
Ok Ok I know - its LIVAN (not Levon) Hernandez. And you wont like this - but I was / am a huge fan of his signing… a signing I had predicted dating back to Omar Minaya’s first year at the helm of the Amazins. Problem is - I waited and waited for the move to bring him to NY (alongside his big brother El Duque) and it just never came. Until now and with big brother apparently pitching in an over 50 league somewhere. Call me crazy (I have been called much worse) but I LOVE the signing even now. Yes - its a five million dollar risk but - I will look at the upside to the acquisition of the best hitting pitcher in the game today…. Consider: He has averaged better than 11 wins a year over his 13 seasons in the major leagues. Actually - if you factor in full 162 game seasons he projects to an average record of 13 wins (and 12 loses). He has amassed a solid 6-3 post season record with a creditable sub 4 ERA. He has pitched in the all star game (in 2005 while winning 15 games for lowly Washington). He has won at least 8 games in EVERY one of his 13 seasons in the majors. He has won at least 11 games in every one of the last NINE seasons. He is a true throwback innings eater - exactly what you want from your fifth starter - averaging 227 innings over 13 seasons (this aint no Carl Pavano). I know I know - you dont like him… but ask yourself - if Santana (see the citifieldblog update on his arm condition) wins 18 games, Maine and Pelfrey 12-14 each and Oliver another 10-12, wouldnt you LOVE to have your fifth starter gobble up 225 innings while winning 10-13 games??? I say yes! And for “just” five million it looks, to me, like a bargain compared to some of the contracts (Zito) out there (Zito) at the moment (Zito). By the way - will CITI FIELD not be a better pitchers park than Colorado’s Coors or Minnesota’s Metrodome - his two stops in 08? Of course it will. He’ll let them put it in play and then we will all ”See Carlos Run” them down. No offense to Niese, Garcia or Redding - for me its all Levon (er ~ LIVAN) to round off the rotation. If I am wrong? Easy - I’ll just plead the FIFTH.
Tags: El Duque, John Maine, Livan Hernandez, Mets, Mike Pelfrey, New York Mets, NYM, Oliver Perez