Wherefore Art Thou: Carlos Hernandez

Former Astros flamethrower Carlos Hernandez, who looked like he would be a rotation staple with Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller. Wherefore art thou?

Hernandez is in Triple-A Durham. After multiple shoulder injuries for the Astros, and rehabbing with the Zephyrs, Hernandez was out of baseball in 2007. But then the keen eye of Gerry Hunsicker's Tampa Bay Rays signed him in 2008. He played for Single-A Vero Beach last season, and came up to Durham this season.

This season he is 7-6 in 21 starts for Durham with a 3.29 ERA/0.86 WHIP in 112 innings.

Astros starting pitcher debuts

Bud Norris took a no-hitter into the 6th and threw 7IP, 2H/0ER, 5K:4BB in his rotation debut. How does that compare to some other notable debuts in the last 20 years (we're talking about first career starts, not first starts for the Astros after being traded or signed as a free agent):

Darryl Kile: April 24, 1991 vs Cincinnati: 6IP, 0H/0ER, 5K:2BB in a 1-0, 13-inning win

Butch Henry: April 9, 1992 vs Cincinnati: 4.1IP, 8H/4ER, 2K:2BB in a 6-5 win

Shane Reynolds: July 20, 1992 vs Pittsburgh: 3.2IP, 8H/6ER, 2K:2BB in an 11-8 win

Chris Holt: April 4, 1997 vs St. Louis: 6.1IP, 6H/2ER, 4K:2BB in a 3-2 win

Scott Elarton: June 20, 1998 vs Cincinnati: 6.1IP, 5H/4ER, 9K:1BB in a 9-8 win

Wade Miller: July 7, 1999 at Arizona: 3IP, 8H/7ER, 3K:1BB in a 13-7 loss

Roy Oswalt: June 2, 2001 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: 6IP, 2H/1ER, 4K:0BB in a 2-1 win

Carlos Hernandez: August 18, 2001 vs Pittsburgh: 7IP, 2H/0ER, 7K:1BB in a 3-2 win

Jeriome Robertson: September 2, 2002 at Texas: 2.2IP, 6H/2ER, 1K:1BB in a 7-2 loss

Ezequiel Astacio: May 3, 2005 vs Pittsburgh: 6IP, 7H/4ER, 6K:1BB in a 7-4 loss

Wandy Rodriguez: May 23, 2005 @ Chicago Cubs: 5.2IP, 6H/4ER, 6K:1BB in a 4-1 loss

So Bud's start ranks up there with the best, but the #1 spot has to go to Darryl Kile who threw 6 no-hit innings in his first career start. Agree, or disagree?