[新聞] Hermanson的消息
BOSTON -- Approximately 30 minutes after the White Sox clinched the American
League Central title with a victory over Detroit on Sept. 29, Dustin
Hermanson carefully walked up the steps from Comerica Field to the visitors'
clubhouse and pointed to his beet-red eyes.
His eyes weren't red from crying, but instead exhibiting the after-effects of
taking a blast of champagne directly in the face. Even with the almost
unspeakable joy and excitement currently being felt by the White Sox,
Hermanson still would have every reason to be a little sad or possibly even a
little miffed.
After all, it was Hermanson who helped build this team into the power it
became, stepping into the closer's role in early May, when Shingo Takatsu no
longer could hold down the job. The right-hander literally didn't allow an
earned run until June 1 and saved a career-high 34 games with a 2.04 ERA.
But Hermanson's chronic lower back problems, coupled with the emergence of
hard-throwing Bobby Jenks, took him from a role of prominence to a seat in
the bullpen. The closest Hermanson came to pitching in the Division Series
sweep of Boston was warming up in the bullpen late in Game 2.
Instead of turning that anger outward, Hermanson has used his powers for good
where Jenks is concerned. Hermanson continues to prepare himself to pitch if
called upon, but until that time arrives, he serves as a mentor for the burly
right-hander Jenks.
Hermanson knows a thing or two in regard to Jenks' style. It was Hermanson
setting off the radar gun at 101 mph with San Diego when he first arrived in
the Majors in 1995.
"When I was his age, I threw that hard," said Hermanson of Jenks. "I didn't
have the curve ball. I threw a slider. And when I became a starter, my
velocity decreased.
"It's fun watching him pitch and develop and see his confidence level soar.
If I can help someone learn something along the way, then I did a job myself.
If I had somebody sit down and talk to me when I was as young, it could have
helped me go through some of those rollercoaster moments."
The 32-year-old Hermanson tries to impress upon Jenks that the situation
always is a one-run game when he enters to pitch -- whether it really is or
not. Hermanson's point is that Jenks has to prepare for the actual moments
when the game is on the line, such as his critical two innings of relief to
save Game 2 of the ALDS.
Hermanson's upcoming offseason doesn't sound like a very restful time, with
an extensive rehab program beginning on his back to get it close to 100
percent healthy while strengthening the muscles around the problem area. But
Hermanson doesn't have the word "quit" in his vocabulary, which is why he's
passing on any sort of surgery.
Despite being one of three White Sox pitchers not to work in the Division
Series, including starter Jon Garland, Hermanson should be on the White Sox
American League Championship Series roster and will be ready for action. He
also plans to challenge his protégé for the closer's job once again in
2006.
"I'm getting used to pitching with the discomfort now," Hermanson said. "Next
year, if I'm 50 percent better and have that much less discomfort, it will
make a world of difference.
"I wanted to be the closer here at the end, but everybody likes to see the
guy throwing 100 mph," added Hermanson with a knowing smile. "This is what we
want. I'm there to back him up in case something happens. We will do
everything that has been working recently."
Man of the hour: He won two World Series games for three championship Yankees
teams, from 1998 to 2000. He pitched countless other contests of importance
for his native country in Cuba.
But Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez took special pride in his three-inning relief
effort to close out the Red Sox on Friday because of his uncertain job status
during the past offseason. As he celebrated the White Sox Division Series
victory, El Duque took a subtle dig at his former employer.
"I'm extra excited with this one because the White Sox gave me an opportunity
nobody else did," said Hernandez through translator Ozzie Guillen Jr. "Kenny
Williams respected my job, more than the Yankees or Mr. [Brian] Cashman did.
I appreciate that and I'm glad that I'm here. I want to help these guys win."
--
星
愛 在
歸 在 天
還 人
土
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