He's just not that into you.

 

(AP Photo. Livan Hernandez is apparently the backup plan for Mike Rizzo's backup plan. Or maybe not in Rizzo's plans at all.)

"[My agent and I] sent a proposal. I'm waiting for Rizzo to call me back, so I don't know what's going on. I called him a couple of times, and he never called me back. I want to go back to the Washington Nationals."
(Livan Hernandez, via Natioanls.com, 1/27/2010) 

Poor Livo, waiting by the phone.

Rizzo won't call back!

Livan Hernandez wants to return to Washington - but the feeling doesn't appear to be mutual.

Now, we sort of figured all along that Livo would inevitably land back in Washington after all other possibilities had been exhausted. But if Mike Rizzo really isn't even returning his calls...maybe the Nationals really just aren't interested. At all.

About all Livo has going for himself now is his reputation as an innings eater. In his eight starts with the Nats in 2009 after being picked up off the scrap pile, he mostly delivered on that promise, pitching into the 6th inning in six of those eight starts (6, 8, 5, 7.1, 6, 3.2, 6.1, 6.1), for a total of 48.2 IP. But most of those starts were a mixed bag, and several were complete disasters. At the very least, the results (2-4, 5.36 ERA, 1.48 WHIP) were better than Daniel Cabrera. So,maybe Livo can still eat innings, but is it worth it if those innings are garbage? If Rizzo is unwilling or unable to take a chance on the remaining old/tired/injured/ etc. FA arms still hanging around on the market (Smoltz, Washburn, Wang, Bedard, etc.), are the Nats better off just taking a shot with one of the current in house arms for the rotation?

Here's more from Livan from that Nationals.com piece:

"When I call people, I would like them to respond to my phone calls and talk to me. Sometimes, it's very disappointing and frustrating. ... I want to show that I can help the team win. It's better now by signing Ivan and a couple of more guys."

Pick up the phone, Mike. Give Livo a call. Let him down gently if you're just not that into him.

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Comments

[Positively Half St.]

I bet that Rizzo thought that he would have signed one of the better pitchers available by now, but they just weren't into him and the Nats. Hopefully he can pull that off soon, and it would then be much easier to explain to Livo that there just isn't a place for him.

[cass]

I know he's not very good anymore, but I'd love it if Livan returned in any fashion. He did still manage a decent number of quality starts for the Nats last year and was a joy to watch. But if he can't be an MLB starter anymore, how about mop-up duty?

I will always remember the magical 2005 and Livan was at the heart of that. The Nats should be nicer to him and at least return his calls, even if there's no place for him.

[The Nationals Enquirer]

@cass: what about this: the Nats ask Livan to return as an usher?

I, too, will always have a soft spot for Livo and the entire 2005 cast. But this is 2010, for the love of Jesus (not Flores or Colome)! I just worry that those quality starts +1/2 st. mentions will be few and far between...

[Kerewin1971]

Livo will be starting for somebody at least at the start of this year. Count on it. And I wouldn't bet against it being the Nat's either...