Hershiser understands ordeal facing Marlins' injured Fernandez

Posted: Sat October 25, 1997 at 12:49 PM ET

MIAMI (CNN/SI) -- Sports isn't always about beating the other guy. Sometimes, in rare circumstances these days, it is still about sportsmanship and camaraderie.

That is what Alex Fernandez learned last week when he found his season was over, despite his Florida Marlins advancing to the World Series. His arm was no longer sound and when he looked for compassion, he received it not only from his teammates, but from across the World Series field as well. Cleveland Indians pitcher Orel Hershiser knows exactly what Fernandez is feeling.

"I told him there's going to be a lot of times when you think the surgery didn't work," said Hershiser. "There's going to be a lot of pain and you're going to have to work through pain. When you're having that pain you think there's no way this arm will go 90 miles an hour again. But [you have] to still have hope and put the work in because there's light at the end of the tunnel."

Fernandez recalled his conversation with Hershiser and the words of encouragement and support he gave him.

"He said, 'If you ever need it' -- because he did it and that's why he gave me his numbers and says, 'You feel free to call me anytime and I will support you.' You know, coming from a guy that's been through it, it really helps."

Doctors aren't 100 percent positive about what is wrong with Fernandez. They know he has a torn rotator cuff in his right, throwing, shoulder, but they aren't sure if it is completely torn. He has many of the same symptoms that Hershiser did as a Los Angeles Dodger in 1990, when he was forced to undergo surgery for trouble with his rotator cuff, anterior capsule and a torn labrum.

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"He's got the same kind of instability problems [I had]," said Hershiser. "Who knows what's torn up in there until they get in there?"

Fernandez knows surgery is the only way to truly find out what is wrong with his shoulder.

"One MRI shows one thing, the other one shows a different thing, so the doctors agree that the scoping is the only way to find this thing out," he said.

That wasn't good enough for Fernandez. Although he walked off the mound in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series having been battered by the Atlanta Braves for five runs in less than three innings, he still felt he could coax his arm through one more start. He told manager Jim Leyland he wanted to try and pitch in the World Series.

"I said 'I feel I can pitch and I feel I have a chance. I'll be ready and I want you to give me a chance to pitch and see how I feel.' Jim personally said, 'I won't pitch you. It's too much of a risk.' I still want to go," Fernandez said, "but I really understand where they are coming from. I try not to. I don't want to understand, but they opened my eyes and the way they explained it is very true."

If Fernandez had injured his rotator cuff 15 years ago, his career would be over. But medical advancements, including the revolutionary surgery performed on Hershiser's right shoulder in 1990, have given Alex Fernandez a chance to pitch in the majors again. The variable will likely be the exhaustive rehabilitation process.

"As long as you keep working and as long as you keep putting your hours in the weight room and with your therapist, you can continue to pitch back to the original form," said Hershiser. "I didn't really get completely back until probably four years after the original surgery, but I started pitching 13 months after it."

Orel Hershiser was 31 and had 99 career victories when he was hurt. He is 39 now and has won 80 more games. Fernandez has time on his side. The 28-year-old has 96 wins to his credit.

With hard work, there should be more W's out there. Fernandez was the free agent signed away from the Chicago White Sox in the off-season for $35 million who was supposed to help lead the Marlins to this pinnacle. Now he can only watch and cheer, and hope someday he is able to pitch again.

"It's been tough on me, I'm not going to lie," said Fernandez.

Not many would believe him if he did, least of all his counterpart in the Indians uniform who is still pitching with a repaired arm.