20 Greatest Players in Nats History (No. 11-15)

Thanks to everyone who read and commented on the first installment of our 20 Greatest Players in Nationals History series. If you missed it, click this link to find out who checked in at Nos. 16-20 before proceeding with this week’s piece featuring Nos. 11-15.

Reminder: This is a purely subjective exercise. Stats were considered, of course, but greatness is about more than stats. It’s about impact, both on and off the field. It’s about significance to the franchise during its two decades in D.C. And on some instinctual level, it’s just about the players that you think most fondly of when you consider the last 20 years of Nats baseball.

We’ll continue the series each Sunday through the rest of the month, culminating with the Top 5 on Dec. 29 …

NO. 15 – LIVÁN HERNÁNDEZ
Starting pitcher, 2005-2006, 2009-11
Stats: 44-47, 4.32 ERA, 129 GS, 828.2 IP, 915 H, 430 R, 398 ER, 82 HR, 262 BB, 476 SO, 94 ERA+, 1.420 WHIP, 7.7 bWAR, 10.2 fWAR

Perhaps no player better epitomizes the early years of the Nationals than the man who threw the first pitch in club history. Hernández already had enjoyed a notable career before coming here, winning National League Championship and World Series MVP honors as a rookie for the Marlins in 1997, then again pitching in the World Series for the Giants in 2002. He was traded to the Expos in 2003 and established himself as the workhorse ace of that staff by the time he joined them in relocating to Washington.

Nationals trivia quiz: Pitching

Nationals trivia quiz: Pitching
With not much news trickling out of South Capitol Street as the lockout enters its third week, I have to get a little creative around here to come up with story ideas. I've been trying to strike a balance between stories about those currently employed by the Nationals and those previously employed by them. And what better way to remember those who used to play around here than with some trivia? Yes, it's time for a new round of Nats trivia. Today's quiz is all about pitching and features...

For Nats' possible offseason road map, look back to 2009-10

For Nats' possible offseason road map, look back to 2009-10
The last time the Nationals found themselves in this position - 95-plus losses, a franchise rebuild - Mike Rizzo had just completed his first season as a major league general manager. His 2009 club was a mess, a 103-loss train wreck made up of parts left over from Jim Bowden's tumultuous tenure, with an in-season managerial change (Manny Acta to Jim Riggleman) but a No. 1 overall pick ready to be spent on a once-in-a-generation right-hander from San Diego. In discussing his decision to embark...

On this year's Hall of Fame ballot (and a former National on it)

On this year's Hall of Fame ballot (and a former National on it)
Last year's Hall of Fame ballot included the first inductee who played part of his career for the Nationals. This year's ballot includes the guy who threw the first pitch in Nats history and became a longstanding fan favorite. Livan Hernandez is one of 19 players listed on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this winter, a ballot that also includes 14 returning candidates who each received at least 5 percent of the vote last year. Hernandez, owner of a career 178-177 record and 4.44...

Notes from today's Nationals workout

Notes from today's Nationals workout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Though the Matt Wieters news dominated the day, there was an actual workout this morning at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Nationals' third full-squad workout, to be precise, and the second in a row to feature pitchers throwing to live hitters. All the guys who didn't throw off the mound Monday participated today (aside from Max Scherzer, who is restricted until his right ring finger is fully healed) and among the more notable throwers were Shawn Kelley and Koda...

Best of the Decade: Baseball finally returns to D.C.

Best of the Decade: Baseball finally returns to D.C.
As the Nationals celebrate 10 seasons in Washington, D.C., we reflect on some of the best moments since the franchise moved to the nation's capital. Each Wednesday through mid-August, check out Nationals Pastime for a remembrance of one of the watershed moments in Nationals history. After a long 33-year wait, baseball finally returned to Washington on April 14, 2005. Since the Senators rolled out of D.C. following the 1971 season, the nation's capital watched as Major League Baseball awarded...

Whose glove do you love? (plus Werth Chia Pets and Rendon gnomes)

Whose glove do you love? (plus Werth Chia Pets and Rendon gnomes)
Whose glove do you love? The Nationals accomplished a lot in 2015, among them most wins in the National League and Silver Slugger Awards for Ian Desmond and Anthony Rendon. But not one Nats player was awarded a Gold Glove last season. In fact, in the 10 seasons of Nationals baseball, only two Nationals - Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche - have received Gold Gloves. Ironically, Zimmerman is replacing the departed LaRoche this season, but is basically a novice at his new first base position having...

Livan Hernandez's story chronicled in ESPN's "Brothers in Exile" on Nov. 4

Livan Hernandez's story chronicled in ESPN's "Brothers in Exile" on Nov. 4
Come Tuesday night, when you're tired of channel surfing to find something - anything - other than election results, you can tune to ESPN for a civics and history lesson with a Nationals twist. As part of its "30 for 30" series, ESPN will present "Brothers in Exile," which chronicles the path that led two half-brothers - ex-National Livan Hernandez and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez - to defect from their native Cuba for a chance to play baseball in the major leagues. The siblings, both...

Williams on Harper's health, Livo's role and the idea behind the daily quotes

Williams on Harper's health, Livo's role and the idea behind the daily quotes
VIERA, Fla. - Back at NatsFest in late January, Bryce Harper expressed some doubt that he'd be at full strength when spring training begins, this after he underwent surgery in October to debride and repair the bursa sac in his left knee. "Trying to get back to full strength and we'll see where I can get by spring training," Harper said at the time. "See if I can go through spring training and get to 100 percent by the time the season starts. See where I'm at." Today, Nationals manager...

Hernandez hoping Nats extend a job offer

Hernandez hoping Nats extend a job offer
Even before his Nationals career was over, Livan Hernandez was talking about how he'd like to return to the organization once he had thrown his last pitch. He wanted to be able to work with young pitchers, impart the knowledge that helped him forge a 17-year major league career, five of those seasons spent in a Washington uniform (and two before that north of the border with the Expos). Now it appears that dream may become a reality. Appearing at NatsFest on Saturday, the 38-year-old...

Livan Hernandez is back in the NL East

Livan Hernandez is back in the NL East
VIERA, Fla. - We might be seeing a lot of Livan Hernandez this year. The 37-year-old righty, who appeared certain to make the Astros' rotation entering spring, was released by Houston today, and then within a couple hours, Hernandez had signed with the Braves. CBSsports.com first reported Hernandez's signing with the Nationals' division rival. Hernandez allowed 10 earned runs in 16 Grapefruit League innings for Houston, although the bulk of that damage was allowed in one recent start. As...

Facing Nats a strange feeling for Livan Hernandez

Facing Nats a strange feeling for Livan Hernandez
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - As much as he wanted to return to the Nationals, Livan Hernandez knew he'd be pitching elsewhere in 2012. That destination, unknown when he had an end-of-season meeting with manager Davey Johnson, wound up being Houston, and the soft-tossing right-hander made his Astros debut by pitching two scoreless innings against his old mates Saturday. The night before he took the mound at Osceola County Stadium, Hernandez said he received playful text messages from the Nationals'...

With Hernandez on hill, Harper may start in opener

With Hernandez on hill, Harper may start in opener
VIERA, Fla. - Near the end of his daily briefing with the media, Nationals manager Davey Johnson was told by reporters that ex-Nat Livan Hernandez would be starting Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against Washington for the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla. "Livo?" Johnson said, his eyes growing wide and a grin crossing his face. "Livo's pitching that game, huh? The manager's interest was genuine, more than just a nod to renewing acquaintances with a pitcher who spent the last two-plus...

Purke ready to take the mound against Hoyas

Purke ready to take the mound against Hoyas
VIERA, Fla. - When left-hander

Hernandez heading to Astros on minor league deal

Hernandez heading to Astros on minor league deal
There's really nothing surprising about yesterday's news that right-hander Livan Hernandez had signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros, ending his latest tour of duty with the Nationals. The Nats have finally gotten to the point where there's sufficient depth in their starting rotation, and enough arms in the minor leagues, that they had no need for a 36-year-old control specialist who got by on guile. Make no mistake, Hernandez wanted to return - "Of course, why wouldn't I?"...

Should the Nationals retire Hernandez's No. 61?

Should the Nationals retire Hernandez's No. 61?
After a mutual agreement between Livan Hernandez and the Washington Nationals, the 245-lb. right-hander will be shut down for the rest of the season to make room for the excess of young pitching talent making their auditions for the 2012 season. It was a classy move by the man who threw the first pitch in Nationals history way back in 2005. I know most of you are thinking: Why would the Nationals retire the number of a guy who went 70-72 with the Expos/Nationals franchise? This is a fair...

Jenn Jenson: If you're really lucky, you can play baseball for a living

Jenn Jenson: If you're really lucky, you can play baseball for a living
One of the things I like about baseball is the opportunity to watch people who are living their dream. It makes me happy, and on some days it also reminds me to count my blessings and focus what I might achieve in my own life. Of course, there's more than one professional baseball dream, from being drafted, to stepping on the field for a major league debut, to winning the World Series and everything in-between. I'm sure a lot of major league players pinch themselves every day and say,...

Ted Youngling: The legend of Livan Hernandez continues

Ted Youngling: The legend of Livan Hernandez continues
How is it that a 6-foot-2, 245-lb.,36-year-old can be one of the game's most consistent starters? That is the question on everyone's mind as Livan Hernandez puts together yet another incredibly dependable season. Amazingly, Hernandez has started at least 30 games in each season dating to 1998. Despite bouncing around the league having pitched for seven different clubs, Hernandez may be best known for his time with the Nationals/Expos franchise. For a team that has been anything but steady...

Johnson takes blame for not pulling Hernandez, but when is right time?

Johnson takes blame for not pulling Hernandez, but when is right time?
Nationals manager Davey Johnson has said since his first week at the helm that he wants his starters to be able to go seven innings and then have the bullpen take over. Unfortunately, the last two games with Jordan Zimmermann, and Wednesday night with Livan Hernandez, the Washington starter has given up late runs that helped Arizona win those games. Obviously, the Nationals are having trouble scoring runs against the Diamondbacks' lethal starters. But that only exposes the point even more,...

Johnson still has confidence in Burnett after loss to Pirates in Game 1

Johnson still has confidence in Burnett after loss to Pirates in Game 1
The Nationals dropped the doubleheader opener to the Pirates, 5-3, on a pair of home runs in the late innings that broke open a close contest. Livan Hernandez had kept the Nationals close, but unlike Friday, it was Pittsburgh that had the late game heroics. Manager Davey Johnson was pleased with the way Hernandez stayed in the game. He was able to get to the eighth inning, but Sean Burnett allowed two home runs that ended up deciding the game. "(Hernandez) battled them," Johnson said. "I...