Hernandez was batting just .248 last June when Mackanin was forced to bench him. The player never looked like more of a placeholder than he did then as he sat in the dugout for two games in Minnesota. But Hernandez responded. He batted .327 in the season's final 87 games with a .421 on-base percentage. He said he never doubted himself and knew things would work out. But his confidence was finally apparent. Hernandez carried it with him to that gym in Miami and then to spring training and now to his most important season.