Feb 25, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins pitching coach Chuck Hernandez (55) poses during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Almost lost in the news about the hirings of Brian Snitker and Ron Washington is that the Braves also named a replacement for Roger McDowell. It’s time we got to know him a bit.
His full name is Carlo Amado Hernandez… but we will know him as “Chuck”.
In another month, Chuck Hernandez will have turned 56 years old, and he becomes only the third Pitching Coach for the Atlanta Braves since 1990 when Leo Mazzone got the job after having already been in the organization for 11 years prior. If you’d like to probe further, Bruce Dal Canton was Mazzone’s predecessor (1987-1990).
Thus it has been a 30 year span for just 3 coaches – and some mighty large cleats for Hernandez to fill.
Just for reference, the Miami Marlins have turnstiled 15 different managers with 17 different hirings over the 24 years of their existence.
Long Resume, Short Housing Leases
While his resume of service in the majors is lengthy, Hernandez has bounced around quite a bit – almost as a journeyman reliever might have done:
Here’s what I mean:
This… mobility… is not entirely Hernandez’ doing. As bullpen coach for the Indians in 2009, he was swept out as part of the Eric Wedge purge. With the Marlins, it was the removal of “manager” Dan Jennings from the dugout that caused another house-cleaning.
Similar things happened with the Angels (Marcel Lacemann, et al) and Rays (Lou Pinella).
If you are recognizing some of those manager names, there’s more: names like Joe Madden (Angels and the Rays), Don Zimmer and Jim Leyland are also included. Hernandez has worked for a veritable Who’s Who of long-time baseball people.
More on Detroit
The only stand-alone firing that Hernandez has faced in his coaching career involves his 2008 stint with the Tigers. But in May of that year, Manager Jim Leyland was quick to defend his staff, despite a poor start (16-23):
The pitching staff entered the game with a league-worst 5.09 ERA, but Leyland said pitching coach Chuck Hernandez “is as good as I’ve been around.”
Leyland pointed out that his staff was essentially the same as it was when the team went to the World Series in 2006… and that if he (and they, by implication) were good at their jobs back in 2006, it’s hard to suggest that they were suddenly bad in 2008.
More from Tomahawk Take
That said, there sometimes need to be a “fall guy” and Hernandez was one of those guys at the end of that season:
The moves are the coaching fallout from a season in which the Tigers, whom many forecast to contend for a World Series berth, will finish close to the cellar in the American League Central. Though pitching was never expected to be the strength of the club, not with a star-studded offensive lineup, Detroit’s staff 4.87 ERA ranked next-to-last in the American League and 27th among 30 Major League teams.
It did seems that the struggles the Tigers had that season were a lot more about two things: an illl-advised acqusition of an ineffective Dontrelle Willis (9.38 ERA in 24 innings) and an oft-injured bullpen. Justin Verlander (4.84) struggled as well, but Armando Galarraga (3.73) was their best starter that year. One of the more notable injury victims that season was Jason Grilli.
With all the injuries, that club ended up having to rely on a 43-year-old Kenny Rogers (30 starts) to help them limp through the season.
About Pitching Readiness
That article went on to provide some insight into Hernandez’ philosophies and preparation for his pitchers:
With three seasons in charge of the Tigers’ pitching staff, Hernandez is the only pitching coach that some of Detroit’s young arms have known in their brief big league careers. His focus on preparation and individualized scouting reports, detailing a plan of attack for each particular pitcher against an opponent, was widely credited with helping Detroit’s staff emerge in 2006 on the Tigers’ way to 95 wins and the World Series.
Detroit led the Majors with a 3.84 ERA and 16 shutouts two years ago. The bulk of the strength was in the rotation, which accounted for 75 victories and better than six innings per start. Justin Verlander won 17 games and AL Rookie of the Year honors, while Kenny Rogers provided the veteran presence with 17 more wins. Nate Robertson and Jeremy Bonderman had some of their more solid performances to date.
His bio on the University of South Florida web pages also credits him for development assistance with 2008 Cy Young winner Cliff Lee., plus work with others such as Chuck Finley and Scott Kazmir. Since then, of course, he led the Marlins’ staff – notably the now deceased Jose Fernandez.
May 17, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins pitching coach Chuck Hernandez (L) talks with starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez (R) on the pitchers mound during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Player Record
Hernandez was drafted twice – the Oakland A’s took a flyer on him in the 28th round of the 1978 draft out of High School. He re-entered the draft the next year from Community College and the Yankees made him a 1st rounder (25th overall).
Unfortunately, his playing career never took off. Between 1979 and 1983, Hernandez struggled to reach the AA level despite an superficially excellent start in ’79 (95 innings, 2.56 ERA). Truth be told, control was an issue: he ended up walking more than he struck out over his pro career – a problem that persisted.
The Yankees let him go in 1983, and a brief encounter with the White Sox in A Ball ended with a broken arm. Thus also ended his playing days.
He then worked he way up in the coaching ranks – getting the Angels’ top pitching job just 10 years later.
It seems evident that Hernandez is universally respected around baseball for his work. Many have had kind words for his efforts, including Justin Verlander.
Hernandez is originally from Tampa and seems to be migrating back toward the South lately – noting his roles with USF, the Marlins, and now the Braves.
This article originally appeared on 
