PORT CHARLOTTE – Since there is nothing to compare it to, there is no way of knowing if this is a normal spring training for Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez. A year ago, the Cuban refugee was working in the minor-league camp, far away from the glaring spotlight that always shines on the Yankees.
We don’t know if the lack of life on his fastball yesterday is normal. We don’t know why his breaking balls have fangs one moment and no bite the next. The only data we have is the second half of last year when El Duque impressed with colossal guts, multiple arm angles and sweeping breaking balls.
So, with no history in March, we are left to explore other avenues and yesterday, the findings weren’t real strong when El Duque gave up three runs and six hits in five innings to the Rangers in an 8-6 Yankees win at Charlotte County Stadium. He walked two and fanned six.
“He looked almost tired,” catcher Joe Girardi said. “A lot of pitchers are going through a dead-arm time right now. He made some mistakes and he made some big pitches.”
With fellow Cuban native Jose Cardenal home saddled with the flu, El Duque didn’t have an interpreter yesterday to offer his thoughts as to why his fifth spring start resulted in his ERA jumping to 4.43. But the jury of scouts behind home plate didn’t see the necessary zip on his pitches.
“He didn’t have much juice,” one evaluator said.
El Duque’s best moment came in the fifth when he fanned AL MVP Juan Gonzalez to end the inning with runners at second and third and the score tied at 3.
But there were too many other periods of flatness. Just as there were in his last outing on March 19 against the Devil Rays when the second-year club scuffed El Duque for four runs (three earned) and seven hits in 41/3 innings.
“I was happy with it and he was disappointed,” said pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, who also said the outing was an improvement over El Duque’s last start. “He wanted to go more but he was at 86 pitches and 90 was his limit.” *
Don Zimmer is waiting for Mel Stottlemyre to give him the names of the first four Yankee starters before the interim manager formally announces Roger Clemens as his Opening Day starter. And with David Cone set for the home opener on April 9, the only real decision Stottlemyre has is in what order El Duque and Hideki Irabu pitch.
