AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > April > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHudson shows he’s an anchor
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
New York - Tim Hudson was good last season, but he was brought to Atlanta to be something more than that. Teams acquire good pitchers to be the No. 2 or 3 starter. But when that pitcher is given a contract extension worth up to $58 million, it’s clear that something more than good is expected.
On Tuesday, Tim Hudson was something more than good.
He started with five perfect innings. He allowed only one hit, walked one and struck out six in a complete game 2-1 win over the New York Mets. The fact the performance came in a mound battle with Tom Glavine, a centerpiece of past Braves’ rotations and suddenly a force again, merely added punctuation.
“He’s going to be the guy everybody looks to in the next four or five years to anchor the staff,” John Smoltz said. “If he’s going to get beat, that’s the kind of game I expect him to get beat in — a 2-1 game. What we saw in the first three games this year — I don’t think we’ll be seeing that again.”
After a good but not overwhelming first season with the Braves, one that included a month on the disabled list, Hudson hoped to settle in this season. But when the gate opened in Los Angeles, he was drilled for five runs in four innings on Opening Day. Through three starts, he had allowed 17 runs (15 earned), 23 hits and eight walks, lasting only 4, 4 and 6 2/3 innings.
His ERA entering Wednesday: 9.20. In terms of “anchoring a staff,” that’s not the definition the Braves were looking for.
“I wouldn’t say there’s been pressure,” Hudson said when asked about expectations following the trade that brought him from Oakland. “There’s just a period of adjustment. Any time you’re going to a new organization with new teammates in a new league, there are things to get used to. Last year was kind of a blur. We had a new baby to start the year. It was kind of a whirlwind. This year feels a lot more settled. It feels like it’s supposed to feel — except for the three [lousy] games to start the year.”
Hudson went 92-39 in six years with Oakland, but fell victim to the franchise’s economic downsizing (sounds better than saying the A’s decided to do things on the cheap). The Braves acquired him for three players in the winter, then gave him a contract extension worth at least $47 million over four years, or $58 million if an option is exercised in 2010.
At the time of the deal, the Braves’ plan for Hudson was clear. Smoltz was being moved back to the rotation from the bullpen but there was uncertainty how his arm would hold up. Hudson was the only sure thing the team had. Smoltz started 0-3, then went 12-2 with a 2.34 ERA in his next 20 starts, but wore down with injuries (neck, back, shoulder) in the final two months.
Hudson was merely … pretty good. A year ago Tuesday, he battled Roger Clemens and threw a four-hit shutout for nine innings, and the Braves won in 12, 1-0. He had consecutive complete game wins late in the season. But he also had a two-month stretch in which he had two wins in nine starts and went on the DL with a strained oblique. He finished the year 14-9 — good but not ace-of-staff-great.
That wasn’t the case the Mets. After the game, he credited pitching coaching Roger McDowell for helping correct some flaws in his delivery, and it showed. He retired 15 straight, until Ramon Castro singled in the sixth. The Mets had runners on second and third with one out, but Jose Reyes flied out, and left fielder Matt Diaz nailed Castro with a perfect throw to the plate. Hudson celebrated like it was game seven.
“I almost blew my leg out, jumping up,” Hudson joked. “I was raising [heck] from the plate to the dugout. When I sat down, I felt like I had just run a mile.”
The Mets finally got to Hudson in the ninth with a double and an RBI single. Manager Bobby Cox made a quick trip to the mound but Hudson assured him he was fine. Hudson then got Carlos Delgado on a fly to deep left and David Wright on a fielder’s choice.
“This one was fun for me personally, given the way the year started,” Hudson said.
He was better than Opening Day, but just what the Braves have expected.
Permalink | Comments (36) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Jeff Schultz
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By jesse
April 19, 2006 06:16 PM | Link to this
good article except we won that game 1-0 on a langerhans homer
By Mitch
April 19, 2006 06:50 PM | Link to this
I had to check that on baseballreference.com, Jesse, because I was so sure an AJC columnist wouldn’t get something lile that wrong. I doff my cap to you, Jesse. You were right.
By HBG
April 19, 2006 07:54 PM | Link to this
Odd.. I watched today’s game and I saw Andruw hit a home run, the Braves score another run and Hudson allow one in the 9th. From my perspective… that’s 2-1 Atlanta the way I see it.
By geechee
April 19, 2006 08:23 PM | Link to this
I believe jessie was talking about the duel a year ago against Clemens HBG and not today’s game.
Nice column as was yesteday’s also.
By Joe
April 19, 2006 08:33 PM | Link to this
It’s sad that in the midst of a good article, you’ve marred it by getting simple facts of who won the game last year. There are other errors, also. I like the article ( go Braves!), but the errors are as irritating as the slider Sosa threw to Delgado the other day.
By Kerry
April 19, 2006 08:36 PM | Link to this
The best thing about complete games 3 out of the last 5 games is that it gave the bullpen a much needed break. The bullpen had pitched too many innings in the first two weeks (over 40% of the total innings). If that trend were to continue the bullpen would have been worn out before the All Star break. When we get our regular lineup back together we will be back in first place, if not sooner.
Another thing, the Braves are living up to the billing of having the best organization top to bottom by having to keep costs down (comparitively) and bringing up rookies that can contribute right away. No other team in MLB can even compare and most team’s seasons would be all but over if they had to face the same circumstances.
By TennesseePaul
April 19, 2006 09:30 PM | Link to this
This was a good article. But as long as we are pointing out errors… this game today was a 3 hitter.
By ConyersDawg
April 19, 2006 11:59 PM | Link to this
It sounds to me that McDowell knows what he is doing. Huddy makes the adjustment that McDowell see’s and poof our staff is looking real strong.
By Dirty Dawg
April 20, 2006 02:22 AM | Link to this
Gee, wonder if McDowell and Cox called Leo and asked him what they should do to turn around the starting pitching? I mean, obviously his leaving was the reason they’ve been so sorry…ain’t it?
One of the best things about the starters putting up three complete game ‘W’s’ over one pass through the rotation is all the crow-eating that’ll have to take place. The ESPN baseball guys have them dead and buried…Sports Illustrated is hailing it as ‘the biggest surprise’ of the first two weeks of the season…
And as for the Mets jumping out to the largest lead ever, this early…wonder how much of a lead the Braves had the year they won the first 13 to start the season?…but won’t it be marvelous to see the Braves with their own 5 game lead by the time they finish the next three game series in NYC?
Do you love it, or what?
By ncscoots
April 20, 2006 06:18 AM | Link to this
well, I don’t know what McDowell did, but it was the first time this year that Huddy’s splitter looked like a usable pitch, and his sinker actually started sinking. I watched Hudson enough in Oakland to tell you, that when those pitches are going for him, he is just wicked sick. this last game is a good omen for the Braves. Plus you’ve got all the starters now feeding off each other’s performances (pardon me for leaving out the last Sosa game), as Smoltz, Thomson, Davies, and Hudson put up 33 innings, 2 ER (!). Maybe ESPN will get the news sooner or later.
By Ben
April 20, 2006 08:14 AM | Link to this
It doesn’t surprise me to see Schultz getting his stats wrong. That was a memorable game last year, and one of the highlights of 05.
By gobraves06
April 20, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this
Maybe ESPN will get the news sooner or later. I wish they would, but this is ESPN we are talking about. No matter what happens, they will always hate the Braves for some unknown reason. Or maybe that reason is they just want someone else to win our division. And with their obsession with Barroid Bonds, ESPN is now a complete joke in my book.
By Steve
April 20, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this
ESPN ALWAYS buries the Braves all during the NLDS they were constantly putting them down acting like they are a Tee-Ball team. I HATE ESPN because they HATE the Braves they always hype up the Mets, marlins and Phils but in the end its ALWAYS the Braves. Whatever they’ll all look like idiots….again…..for the 8th year in a row…. I LOVE IT!!!! GO BRAVES!!!!!!!
By Steve
April 20, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
Also, when the Mets LOSE to the Braves you get a 9 second clip and there is no 8 minute segment of how great the Mets are they down play it like the Braves beat the Devil Rays 5-1…….They’re just hatin’ the best!! Screw ‘em!
By Jeff Schultz
April 20, 2006 11:12 AM | Link to this
Thanks (even with the snide remarks) for the catch. Correction has been made. JS
By Alan
April 20, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this
Very good column, Jeff, as was yesterday’s. These stat-head nitpickers crack me up, though. Bottom line: Hudson came up big, just like a 12-million-dollar ace is supposed to. Let’s hope he keeps it up, just like he’s supposed to. I’ve been a harsh critic of Hudson, and I’d like nothing better than to have him shut me up. Now, if some of you stat-heads also would ease up, things would be hunky-dory. Enjoy the off-day, eveyone.
By NYSUXXX
April 20, 2006 11:57 AM | Link to this
Where are all the NY fans, running their mouths from yesterday. Oh!, I guess they ran back to hide in their cracks, like the other rats! Great article yesterday and a good onr today. I just love all the peopl who go on blogs and run their pie hole about other teams and cities(Chris, MYm, etc…) If you dont like our city, get me your address and I’ll help you pay for your one way bus ticket and get the ** out. We dont like or need you in our city, moran. This Muts mania will be the shortest bandwagon ever! We may be a little slower in the south, but maybe the Yanks media needs to put a thought into their headlines, before embarrassing all the transplants in other cities.
By Ben
April 20, 2006 12:51 PM | Link to this
Another good column Jeff!! Two in a row… I am beginning to like you more and more.
By Joe
April 20, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this
Sure, stathead fans don’t need to be correct, they aren’t writing columns.
By Mikey Mike
April 20, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this
Let’s be clear about something: The Mets fans are obnoxious, but at least they allow you to safely root for your team when you are in Shea. You forget your safety if you root for the Braves in the Bronx.
That said, I am laughing at my Met fan cousins, who predicted once again that the Mets will “absolutely” win the division this year. Again they agreed to wager a bet, again I will cash their checks in October.
It ain’t Leo Mazzone, as a lot of folks thought. It’s what most people in Atlanta have known all along. It’s Bobby Cox, with a dash of Schuerholtz.
By SCBravesFan
April 20, 2006 01:35 PM | Link to this
The Braves started a little slow last year. This year seems to emulate last years start. But never fear Braves Fans! The Braves have a better team this year than last year and only a person (or ESPN reporter) in serious denial would doubt the capacity the Braves are showing to dominate the east once again!
By Rob
April 20, 2006 01:55 PM | Link to this
BRAVES ON QUEST TO 15th STRAIGHT DIVISION TITLE
I understand it is way too early in the year to predict who is going to win this division,but when the braves left shea stadium wednesday afternoon they showed who is boss of this division. The mets had all the momentum taking the 1st game of this series and were silenced the next 2 days by impressive performances from Kyle Davies and Tim Hudson. I can not understand how everyone underappreciates the braves run of 14 straight division titles. I was watching the show top 25 on espn a few months and it was the top 25 most overrated achievements/players. The braves run of 14 straight division titles ranked #12 as the most overrated achievments in sports. To me that is flat out ridiculous. I understand they have 1 world championship but for the past 14 years they have put themselves in position to win the world series buy winning there division and makingn the playoffs. You can not judge a teams success on a 5 game series or a 7 game series. The past 3 years in NLDS they went up against rotations which included Roger Clemens,Andy Pettitte,Roy Oswalt,Mark Prior,Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano. Those are some pretty impressive pitchers.The 1st thing I would do if I was the comissioner of baseball is make the NLDS a 7 game series because I feel it brings out the dynamic of the team. In a 5 game series you would usually go with a 3 man rotation in a 162 game season you would defintly be using a 5 man rotation.
When I talk baseball with someone I always bring up this question. If you were a proffessional baseball player would you rather be on the florida marlins from 1993-2005 finish dead last in your divison every year except from the years 1997 and 2003. The 2 years you do not finish dead last you win the wild card and go on to win the world series OR would you rather be on the braves from 1993-2005 (started from 1993 because marlins came into expansion that year)win your division every year but only have 1 world series ring. I would love to hear your opinions on this everyone. Many people tell me the marlins are more successful and that they would rather be on the marlins because they had 2 world championships and the braves only had 1 over that span.
By grego
April 20, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this
Fourteen Divison titles is very nice.With two WS wins, it would be excellent, with three, a true record setting, Yankee style,historic acomplishment.(Without the Yanks payroll,mind boggling !)
But it is what it is. Nice.
By Rick
April 20, 2006 03:00 PM | Link to this
Love the Braves!! 1WS ring or none.
Heres to 15 Division titles, and hopefully more. This is the most talented Team we have had in a few years. Cant wait to see how it al pans out.
GO BRAVOS!
By grego
April 20, 2006 03:22 PM | Link to this
Good point Rick, I remember screaming,This one,s forever! in 95, as I foolishly fired my pistol in the dirt,Drank whiskey out the bottle,and did an underware dance in my driveway.
Of course forever only lasts one season,and I’m rootin’ for another ring.
But really it just does not matter.Whatcha gonna do? Watch reruns of “Docter Quinn, Medicine Chick” all summer?
By Rick
April 20, 2006 03:24 PM | Link to this
Love the Braves!! 1WS ring or none.
Heres to 15 Division titles, and hopefully more. This is the most talented Team we have had in a few years. Cant wait to see how it al pans out.
GO BRAVOS!
By Joe
April 20, 2006 05:09 PM | Link to this
ESPN is all about pop-culture, who is the ‘darling’ at the moment, who’s the popular athlete or team…We’ll jump on that bandwagon. Deep down, everyone appreciates the Braves, everyone. They won’t admit it because of jealousy, frustration, contempt,”ONE world series” or whatever, but in the end after it’s all over (if it ever ends), people will look at our 15+ championships as the greatest and most UNDERrated achievement in sports, and will have to give most of the credit to B.C.
By Joey
April 20, 2006 07:15 PM | Link to this
Let’s face it…..Bobby Cox will be in the Hall Of Fame before the braves can plan a retirement party. Sure he’s only won one World Championship as a Manager……He has a World Championship with the Yankess as thier Third Base coach when they defeated the LA Dodgers in the 1977 World Series. I can’t for the life of me know the reason why ESPN down play the Braves…..Atlanta makes them look likes fools every year. In thier hearts they know this is a great organization but they are still rooting for someone to win the NL East for the first time since the Phillies of ‘93. But once again “The Bobby Cox Show” Previews in the spring and cast the players and when summer comes around everyone is watching and wondering how this show continues to be a big hit every year since 1991.
GO BRAVES!!!
By jay
April 20, 2006 08:21 PM | Link to this
Whenever the Braves get off to a bad start in April, it seems everyone writes them off. If there were only 40 games left to play, I would be worried. I probably wouldn’t even be able to sleep at night. But there are 140+ games left. The NY Mets have got off to a great start but don’t expect them to run away with anything. The Braves are winning without Chipper, Renteria, and now Giles. Just wait until those 3 get back. Now we have Francouer finally hitting and our aces pitching exceptional. The only flaw in the rotation is Jorge Sosa. When Horacio Ramirez comes back, we need to put Sosa in the bullpen. A rotation of Hudson, Smoltz, Davies, Thomson, Ramirez is not bad. We have to give props to Andruw for carrying the offense with Chipper and Edgar out. I hope this is the year Andruw wins NL mvp. If he keeps his average above .280, hits 40 + HR and kncoks in 120+, I don’t see why he won’t. I don’t see the Braves running away with the NL East, but I expect them to win it. I can’t see the Mets even getting the NL wildcard.
By Gene
April 21, 2006 07:27 AM | Link to this
The Braves have an amazing farm system to keep producing these young players to fill in for injuries. Each year, however, it seems that the Braves have far too many injuries of top players, particularly early in the season. Hudson was super against the Mets. There is no doubt that he has great talent and determination. This is going to be a good team and a contender if Hudson and Smoltz stay healthy.
By bravo in sc
April 21, 2006 02:45 PM | Link to this
Could someone help me? What year did the divisions realign and they started the wild card and the Braves moved to the East?
By cynasm
April 21, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
Good thing the Braves “trimmed” the Mets lead to 3 games since their are only 146 games left on the season!!!
By cynasm
April 21, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this
Good thing the Braves “trimmed” the Mets lead to 3 games since their are only 146 games left on the season!!!
By john
April 22, 2006 08:09 PM | Link to this
Hudson will fine a way to be just normal. Maybe he pitched good because he looked clean. Most all of the baseball world now looks like skid row bums. Too dang lazy to shave. Shame, shame.
By BirdMahn
April 22, 2006 09:03 PM | Link to this
bravo…The Braves moved from the National League West to the National League East in 1994.
By Billyg
April 23, 2006 02:02 PM | Link to this
Good article on Hudson - was looking for your email address to offer the thought of trading Vick to move up a notch or two. Just think about it - lots of first round draft choices and talent galore available. Maybe then the Falcons could move into the number one goal - the Super Bowl. What about it - give it some thought, huh!