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DETROIT -- After the Nationals lost to the Phillies, 5-4,
on Sunday afternoon, Washington right-handers Livan Hernandez
and Chad Cordero boarded a plane to participate in the 2005
All-Star Game at Comerica Park.
Cordero is a first-time All-Star, and Hernandez noticed
that his teammate seemed nervous. Hernandez, a two-time All-Star,
calmed Cordero down.
"I was nervous last year [when I went to the All-Star Game].
It happens to the people who make their first All-Star Game,"
Hernandez said. "Chad told me that he is ready."
Cordero was, as he described, "a kid in a candy store" once
he arrived in Detroit. He was thrilled to see the All-Star
banner hanging in front of the Ritz Carlton and say hello
to players he has faced.
"I met [Phillies shortstop] Jimmy Rollins for the first
time. I met [Marlins left-hander] Dontrelle Willis. That was
pretty sweet. It was cool meeting those two guys, and meeting
everybody else [on Monday] was amazing," Cordero said.
Hernandez feels that no other pitcher on the National League
squad should save a possible victory on Tuesday other than
Cordero, and for good reason. Cordero was clearly the best
closer in the first half of the 2005 season. He has a 1.13
ERA and a Major League-leading 31 saves.
June was a month where everybody took notice of Cordero's
talent on the mound. He was a perfect 15-for-15 in save opportunities
in June, tying a Major League record for saves in a month.
He didn't give up a run, struck out 14 batters in 16 1/3 innings
and helped the Nationals finish the month with an impressive
20-6 record.
Cordero was rewarded soon thereafter. He was named to the
National League All-Star team on July 3. Two days later, Cordero
received National League Pitcher of the Month honors for June.
The next day, he was selected as the winner of "DHL Presents
the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month Award"
for June.
"It's pretty weird, especially with all the closers who
are out there like Billy Wagner and Trevor Hoffman and all
those guys," Cordero said. "To hear that I'm the best closer
in baseball is pretty weird."
There is no secret to Cordero's success. He throws nothing
but fastballs, which are generally clocked in the high 80s
and low 90s. Cordero also has a slider and changeup, but he
seldom throws those pitches. The slider, especially, hurt
Cordero at times last year, when the club called Montreal
home. Manager Frank Robinson often complained that Cordero
nibbled too much with the slider.
"Last year, I messed around throwing a lot of sliders. That
wasn't working, so this year, they told me, 'Just throw the
fastball and get a head of guys.' That's what I've been doing,"
Cordero said. "I let them hit it and let my defense get the
outs."
Cordero said he's going to have to change his approach to
pitching in the second half of the season, as the opposing
hitters will be looking for the fastball.
"I definitely have to change it up little bit, especially
with the teams in our division. We are going to play them
so much. I'm going to have to throw more offspeed pitches,"
Cordero said.
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League
Baseball or its clubs.
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