Ramon Hernandez works to stay positive

Oakland Tribune Article Last Updated: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 - 6:24:12 AM PST

OAKLAND -- Ramon Hernandez would be perfect for one of those before and after ads. This isn't about his weight. He's still the same solid 210 pounds, thus hardly in need of a crash diet.

The before and after angle has to do with baseball. A .247 lifetime hitter after a career-low .233 in 2002, Hernandez began Tuesday at .349, tops among Oakland A's hitters and sixth in the American League.

Ramon Hernandez? The catcher once perceived as the A's weakest link? His leap offensively follows his advancement defensively. He threw out 21.8 percent of base stealers in 2000, his first full season in Oakland. He gunned down 31.8 percent last year, sixth best percentage in the AL.

Critics were harder on Hernandez than were his A's teammates, who give him a strong performance rating.

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"He's a great defensive catcher," Tim Hudson said. "What I like best about him is the game he calls. He understands our pitching staff, what works for a pitcher on a particular day. There's definitely a comfort zone. And he's done a great job of studying hitters."

Before Tuesday's series opener with Chicago, Hernandez discussed his overall improvement, what it's like to catch Oakland's Holy Trinity, Ted Lilly's addition to the rotation, and the physical demands of catching with Dave Newhouse of ANG Newspapers.

Q. How did you raise your batting average so high?

A. Work hard every day, think all the time positive. Keep off a lot of pressure, and go out and try to enjoy the game.

Q. Have you made any technical changes?

A. A little bit. I've short-

ened my swing a little bit. Working with the hitting coach (Thad Bosley), it's gotten shorter. Now I'm trying to get good pitches to hit.

Q. What is your goal in terms of a season average?

A. If you asked everybody, they might say .280, .290, .300. I don't know where I'm going to finish, but I want to finish the season strong.

Q. Don't overanalyze it, right?

A. Yeah. Don't try to think too much. Don't over-do things. Go out and give it your best shot. That's all.

Q. How, specifically, did you get better at nailing basestealers?

A. Every year you get older, and you're going to learn more things to help you throw guys out. To do that, you have to be consistent throwing to second base. Just be you.

Q. Would you say, though, it's improved footwork rather than increased arm strength that has improved your percentage?

A. Yeah.

Q. Don't be modest. How much are you responsible for the success of A's pitchers, who lead the AL with a 3.25 ERA?

A. I just suggest to them. But they've got the ball, and they're the ones who make the final answer. They prepare themselves pretty good, and every one of them knows what they want to do out there. So that makes my job a little easier.

Q. What kind of suggestions do you make?

A. I just say, "Hey, same game. Slow down a little bit. Give it your best shot. If it works, good. If it don't work, don't put your head down." Try to do your best. Don't take it too personally. Everybody is human.

Q. How do Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito differ on the mound?

A. Mulder throws more away to righties. Zito throws more in to righties. Hudson throws more in to righties and a little bit away to lefties. They're totally different pitchers.

Q. What must you do to get their best?

A. Just keep them in the game. Keep them calm. That's all.

Q. What's the most amazing thing about them?

A. They're winners. They only think positive. And they don't feel any pressure when it's clutch time and they have to make a pitch.

Q. Can Lilly make it a Big Four?

A. I hope so. He has a strong mind. Every time he's out there, he thinks he's the best. That's a big key to being a starting pitcher.

Q. Have you caught minor league sensation Rich Harden?

A. One time in spring training. Something like three innings. He has great stuff. Throws very hard. All he needs is a little more experience.

Q. Can closer Keith Foulke have the same success that Billy Koch had last year in Oakland?

A. Yes. When he comes in in the ninth inning, he knows what he's going to do, and he's totally comfortable.

Q. With free agency, how difficult is it for you to catch new pitchers every year?

A. It's OK if you've been with one club a long time. But if you go to a new club, you have to learn how guys pitch, what they like to throw on different pitches, what pitches they like to use to strike out guys.

Q. What's the hardest part of catching physically?

A. It's the whole body. It's more mentally. You wake up in the morning and say you've got no chance to play. You've got to be strong mentally and tell yourself that you can go. You've got some pain. Try and take care of your body so you can play every day.

Q. What is your condition at the end of a season?

A. My knees are sore. My arm is tired. My shoulder is very tired.

Q. Broken fingers?

A. No, nothing like that so far, thank you.

Q. You're 27. Could you catch 10 more years like Benito Santiago?

A. I want to. I hope so. I'm going to try and work for that. He's one of the guys I look at as a big example.

Q. If all the big league catchers got together and picked a favorite catcher who's in the game today, who would he be?

A. Today, I say ... it's hard. I would pick Benito Santiago for how old he is (38) and how many years he has played in the big leagues (18). He has a strong mind, he has been through a lot of things, and he's catching every day.

Q. With the progress you've made, are you a future All-Star?

A. I want to be, but it's hard to tell. There's a lot of good players out there, a lot of good catchers. I want to prove myself at that position, but I can't forget I have to work hard every year, work hard all the time.

Q. How popular are you back home in Venezuela?

A. I don't like to make myself too popular. People think they know me. When they try to get my attention, I give it to them. I go to schools. I do clinics back home. I like to do things for little kids.

Q. Did criticism of your catching ever get to you?

A. My first year was the toughest ever. When we got to the end of the year, and we had to win a game, the catcher's a big part of it. I had a lot of pressure on me. When I got through that ... the last two years have been hard, but not as hard as that 2000.

Q. Do you have a lot of self-confidence?

A. Yeah. I always think positive. Even if the worst can happen, all I can do is keep my head up, and forget the days in the past.