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 Sibling legacy Once again, playoffs come down to Hernandez family
Posted: Saturday October 10, 1998 04:02 PM
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Orlando Hernandez has a different outlook on playoff pressure. His half-brother, Livan, started a family legacy of coolness under fire by leading the Florida Marlins to the World Series title last fall, winning MVP honors along the way. Orlando was still in Cuba at the time, catching bits and pieces of the playoffs through the media. A couple of months later, he risked his life to join his brother in the United States and the major leagues. So when everyone asked how he expected to handle the pressure of pitching the New York Yankees' biggest game of the season Saturday night at Jacobs Field, Hernandez would grin and put it in his perspective. The biggest game of his life? "The biggest game that I've pitched to this date is jumping on the boat and leaving Cuba," he said. How's that for a reference point? Hernandez, known simply as "El Duque," got in a boat with seven others last December and left his homeland. They were picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard three days after landing on a Caribbean Island. Ten months later, he was at Jacobs Field preparing to start a game that would either draw the Yankees even with the Cleveland Indians in the American League championship series or leave baseball's best team facing elimination. He was relaxed when he met the media to talk about it. As he headed for the interview room, he saw the dance team that performs atop the dugouts during games and copied the choreography. During the interview -- conducted through an interpreter -- he joked, smiled and teased. Pressure? Not after years of pitching in a win-or-else atmosphere in Cuba. Not after what Livan did last fall. And certainly not after that boat trip last December. "Though I haven't spoken to my brother [for advice], as everyone knows I've played in big games before in Cuba with the national teams. We've played in world championships," he said. "Obviously I haven't played in a game of this magnitude in the major leagues, but I do have experience pitching in big games." Maybe. But the start on Saturday -- one day before his 29th birthday -- would be the topper, win or lose. A loss on Saturday would be just as damaging to a team that won an AL-record 114 games and was expected to roll easily into the World Series. Think the Cubans expected big things? What about those New Yorkers? Would the next Hernandez be up to it? "It is a little strange to realize a year later that we have another Hernandez in the postseason," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Hopefully our guy makes as good an impact as Livan did." The family name is about the only thing they share on the mound. While Livan relies more on his fastball, Orlando relies on his breaking ball and a big leg kick that can throw off hitters' timing. "Anytime you get a pitcher throwing breaking balls over for strikes any time in the count, they've got a chance to be very difficult," Indians manager Mike Hargrove said. There was a suggestion that the cool autumn night might be a factor for Hernandez, who needs to get a good grip for his breaking ball and has little experience pitching in the cold. Again, Hernandez smiled and provided his alternative view. "We all pretty much know my story," he said with a smile. "I've been through some cold times." He didn't need to elaborate.
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