PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST; EL DUQUE MASTERS HIS CALLING.

Byline: Ken Davidoff The Record (Hackensack, N.J.)

When New York Yankees scouts finally saw Orlando Hernandez pitch, at a tryout in Costa Rica in February 1998, they felt as though they had stepped out of a time machine into a different era of baseball.

Here before them was this celebrated pitcher, this celebrated Cuban defector.

Here before them, so unusual in a baseball universe dominated by Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez, was a man who couldn't light up a radar gun with his fastball. Who relied on savvy and innovation much more than power, and who still had the gall to expect many United States dollars.

``Too many pitchers in the U.S. are pounded into a mold, into a pitching format,'' said Mark Newman, the Yankees' de facto director of baseball operations. ``Some years ago, before coaching and teaching were more prevalent, we saw a more creative use of pitches. We shouldn't forget that pitching is as much an art as it is a science.

``He's really creative. It's fun to watch people like that. He's like that. He's out there thinking, `I'm going to figure out a way to get this guy out.' ''

In his pitching, his temperament, and his accomplishments, El Duque is the portrait of the artist as a pitcher. Today, Hernandez will attempt to create another masterpiece when he starts Game 1 of the World Series against Tom Glavine and the Braves at Turner Field.

The Yankees expect a victory; after all, in five career postseason starts, El Duque is 4-0 with a 0.97 ERA. Yet within that victory, they don't know what to expect.

Newman and Chili Davis compare Hernandez to David Cone - for his many pitches, his many arm angles and his ability to make something out of nothing. Cone still has the power base, though, with a fastball that can still move and a split-fingered fastball that explodes downward.

With El Duque, it's all about the art.

``Sometimes a great hitter might make an adjustment in four at-bats, but it's hard to really pick out a pitch with him to go after,'' Davis, the Yanks' veteran designated hitter, said. ``He'll throw you a change-up, and you'll think you're right on him. You'll think, `OK, I've got that one logged in my memory banks.'

``He's smiling on the mound. He'll throw you another one, and you'll think it's the same pitch, but it's not. It moves a different way. The speed's a little different. The arm angle is a little different. That's pitching.''

For El Duque, pitching is also about arguing - with his catcher Jorge Posada, or his pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre, or the home plate umpire. He does the same when he's off the mound.

If the stereotypical artist is high-strung, then Hernandez fits the stereotype.

Yankees first-base coach Jose Cardenal, also a Cuban native, has befriended El Duque, and the two live in the same Manhattan hotel. Yet twice this month, Hernandez has ``fired'' Cardenal as his interpreter when dealing with manager Joe Torre and the media.

Of course, it's not as though Cardenal gets paid for this extra duty, and none of the Yankees players enjoys interpreting for the pitcher. So it's usually back to Cardenal, quicker than George Steinbrenner used to go to Billy Martin.

During interview sessions, Hernandez can grow very upset over questions he doesn't like. He hated the recent inquiries concerning his age. On the day before his American League Division Series Game 1 start against Texas, El Duque was upset that he had to speak at all, throwing a virtual tantrum before Torre calmed him down.

On the flip side, Hernandez can be extremely engaging. In explaining that he hit a large animal with his car earlier this season, he imitated the animal in hilarious fashion. He jokes around with teammates whom he can barely understand.

When the Yankees visited the White House in June, he humbly presented a Yankees jersey to President Clinton, the perfect photo opportunity for the current administration.

In all, he is a compelling, larger-than-life figure, one who has earned the trust of his teammates and manager.

``I think everybody realized the kind of year he had. He earned that right,'' Torre said. ``The pitchers, to a man, recognize the fact that he deserves this.''

``I love to pitch in October,'' Hernandez said with a laugh, through Cardenal. ``Where else am I going to pitch? In Miami (where he lives)?''

Nah. Everyone knows all the really good artists are based in New York.

Senor Octubre

Here's a look at New York Yankees right-hander Orlando Hernandez's postseason statistics:

1998 ALCS vs. Cleveland

Result: Win

IP H R ER SO

7 3 0 0 6

1998 World Series vs. San Diego

Result: Win

IP H R ER SO

7 6 1 1 7

1999 Division Series vs. Texas

Result: Win

IP H R ER SO

8 2 0 0 4

1999 ALCS vs. Boston (Gm 1)

Result: Loss

IP H RER  SO

8 7 3 2 4

1999 ALCS vs. Boston (Gm 5)

Result: Win

IP H R ER SO

7 5 1 1 9

Atlanta Braves vs. New York Yankees

Best-of-seven series

Gm. 1: Today at Atlanta, 5:05 p.m.

N.Y. - Hernandez (17-9) vs. ATL. - Glavine (14-11)

Gm. 2: Sunday at Atlanta, 5:05 p.m.

N.Y. - Cone (12-9) vs. ATL. - Maddux (19-9)

Gm. 3: Tuesday at New York, 5:20 p.m.

ATL. - Millwood (18-7) vs. N.Y. - Pettitte (14-11)

Gm. 4: Wednesday at New York, 5:20 p.m.

ATL. - Smoltz (11-8) vs. N.Y. - Clemens (14-10)

Gm. 5 : Thursday at New York, 5:20 p.m. if necessary

Gm. 6 : Saturday at Atlanta, 5:05 p.m. if necessary

Gm. 7 : Sunday at Atlanta, 5:05 p.m. if necessary

All games on Ch. 4

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

PHOTO (1 -- color) Orlando Hernandez will take the mound against Tom Glavine and the Braves tonight in Game 1.

Mark Lennihan/Associated Press

(2) ORLANDO HERNANDEZ

`El Duque,' 4-0 with a 0.97 ERA in five career postseason starts, relies on savvy and innovation rather than power.

BOX: (1) Senor Octubre

(2) Atlanta Braves vs. New York Yankees