We’re LIVE, as Hudson and his miracle elbow start for Braves
Braves pitcher Tim Hudson has deserved a lot of high-fives for the season he has had. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
One night after one of their worst performances in weeks, Friday’s 9-3 loss to Milwaukee, the Braves should be in good hands tonight: Tim Hudson is pitching.
I realize Tommy John surgery isn’t the equivalent of bionics, but after a while you start to wonder if Hudson was rebuilt with robot parts. A ridiculous 15 of his 18 starts have been quality starts, which is tied for fourth in the majors. He leads the Braves in wins (9-4), earned run average among starters (2.30), innings pitched (121 1/3) and opponents’ batting average (.219).
He also was the only pitcher in this year’s All-Star Game for either league who is in his first full season coming back after Tommy John surgery (he missed most of last season before coming back in September).
“I’m definitely lucky,” Hudson said. “Just the fact that I was able to come back and be strong and feel like I did when I was 25 — it’s just a blessing. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to come back. All you can do is give it your best effort and do everything you’re supposed to do and just hope and pray it turns out good. That’s kind of been the case. I never dreamed I’d have an All-Star first half. It just shows the determination and hard work pays off.”
I’ve got some good stuff from him on the surgery including his th0ughts on why he didn’t want a tendon from a cadaver used in his surgery. But I’ll save that for the column later, assuming Hudson has a strong outing against the Brewers, and why wouldn’t he?
A few things before we get started:
♦ After some rain earlier, the tarp is being off the field. There’s no expectation right now that the start of the game will be delayed.
♦ Chipper Jones is out of the lineup with a strained hamstring. He said it “doesn’t hurt just to sit and walk around,” but stopping and running is a different issue. It doesn’t seem to be a major issue, but it’s not known if he’ll be available for pinch-hitting duties.
♦ Also out of the lineup: Jason Heyward, who claimed he’s “just chillin’” and it’s a day of rest. With David Ross catching, that means Jones, Heyward and Brian McCann — most of the heart of the order — are all on the bench.
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239 comments Add your comment
Cornfuzed
July 17th, 2010
9:17 pm
We definitely need another outfielder- one who is an everyday player. Diaz, Hinski, Blanco, and Infante are good role players, but none are guys with enough all-around skills (or good enough at one thing) to run out there everyday. I would rather see them get a CF as our internal LF options are better than what we have at CF.
Cornfuzed
July 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
meant to add Melky to that list as well.
Here we go again
July 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
Should be 3-2. Way to go Bobby.
ijudgenot
July 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
Bobby Cox was on arolle there for awhile, pinch hitting for struggling batters, hit and runs, changing pitchers when the situation called for it. Now he is back to being the old Bobby, instead of taking Hudson out and bringing in Venters to face their no. 1 pinch hitter who is left handed ,he leaves him in. Then after Hudson walks him he keeps him in to pitch trying to get him a win. After the 9 game losing streak Cox put the team above individual players, now we are back to old times, and this may stunt the Braves momentum.
Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
There’s one run back. 6-3, this game’s not over by a longshot. Remember all of the bats still on the bench.
rabiddawg
July 17th, 2010
9:18 pm
Why don’t we go ahead and make the Hart trade? do it tonight, he’s already in the ATL. Suit him up tomorrow.
Ben Hill, Been Real
July 17th, 2010
9:20 pm
Who does that guy think he is? Shawn Michaels…(Rick Peterson)
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
9:20 pm
This offense looks like our offense back in April. Can’t score more than two runs a game. If this continues the Phillies will catch us in no time.
hmmmmmmm
July 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
considering Heyward has been hurt and slumping, McLouth was hurt and slumped all year, and we truly never had a LF regular you have to say we are platooning at all 3 positions, and even if they improve somewhat, that ain’t gonna get you to the WS folks…
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:23 pm
Would’nt you hate to see Rick Peterson’s pants on Prince Fielder?
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:24 pm
HMMMMMMMMMMM, I agree with you. We need either a solid CF or LF before July 31st. This is not going to cut it in the long run.
rabiddawg
July 17th, 2010
9:25 pm
If we lose tonight, and with lowe tomorrow, second half off to bad start.
Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2010
9:25 pm
That’s why Heyward will be great. He just took the pitch for a hit instead of trying to muscle it out and overswing.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:26 pm
It will shock me if we score any of these two runs on base.
Cornfuzed
July 17th, 2010
9:29 pm
crap crap crap
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:29 pm
I knew it. We are struggling with runners in scoring position again like we were in April.
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
9:30 pm
continue to leave runners on base, this is happening way too much.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:31 pm
When you have both Chipper and Heyward out of the lineup and you have Diaz instead of Hinske in there it is a really weak lineup.
Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2010
9:33 pm
Kerplunk…
Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2010
9:34 pm
Sure looked intentional on replay. But I guess Bobby has to do his thing.
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
9:34 pm
yes and chipper cannot stay healthy, and what’s up with the inconsitancy of Hansen? He either gets rocked after two innings or shut you down for 7 to 8 innings. Hudson pitched well tonight just the usual no run support
Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2010
9:34 pm
Venters and Cox are both out. … Medlen coming in.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:35 pm
I would hit him just because of that stupid looking swing he takes.
Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2010
9:35 pm
FYI — the ejection for Cox on that is automatic.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:36 pm
Glaus better not be digging in the next half of the inning.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:39 pm
Fatboy justed busted his own butt.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:41 pm
I predict that Troy Glaus is about to get hit.
Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2010
9:45 pm
McCann coming up
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
9:45 pm
Cabrerra sucks!!!
G2
July 17th, 2010
9:45 pm
Can’t help but shake the feeling we are back in April. The funk is starting to set in…
Make no mistake we will get the same Derrick Lowe we saw fade in the second half last year. Then Tommy Hanson has a dose of the Derrick Lowe can’t get the ball down disease as well. This absolutely stinks…
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:46 pm
Once again I’ll be shocked if we score this run in scoring position,
G2
July 17th, 2010
9:47 pm
Somebody please tell the TV announcers the All Star game is over…
I am happy Brian was the MVP but that won’t win us a pennant!
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
9:47 pm
I agree G2, the Phillies will catch us and we will miss out on the playoffs again.
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
9:48 pm
We need new ownership that is willing to spend some money. We cannot compete with the kind of parole we have.
G2
July 17th, 2010
9:48 pm
On a lighter note I wonder what Fielder did to piss Vienters off?
G2
July 17th, 2010
9:49 pm
Bravesfan37: Parole?
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
9:51 pm
this is pathetic, how many guys are we going to leave on base in scoring position? this is the braves in april all over again
G2
July 17th, 2010
9:51 pm
BMAC sure looked like an All Star during that at bat!
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:52 pm
This stinks. The only way we can score is on a HR. The decline is about to start if Wren does’nt make another deal.
G2
July 17th, 2010
9:52 pm
Pitiful, just pitiful!
Bat Masterson
July 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
So Venters hit him on purpose, Jeff? I’m following on the radio.
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
9:53 pm
Cox waiting too long to pull Hudson out of the game tonight
G2
July 17th, 2010
9:54 pm
Umpire had no choice but to eject Bobby and Venters since he had issued a warning the pitch before…looked intentional to me though.
G2
July 17th, 2010
9:54 pm
Umpire had no choice but to eject Bobby and Venters since he had issued a warning the pitch before…looked intentional to me though.
Ben Hill, Been Real
July 17th, 2010
9:55 pm
What is wrong with you guys? Last time i checked, Brewers have a great lineup. What do you expect us to do with a lineup full of reserves. We still managed to put up 3 runs. Looking at it on paper Narveson vs. hudson you figure you wont need much run support so a great night to rest some guys. This isn’t comfortable for me as well but lets look forward to head to head division games before you write us off
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:55 pm
I wish we had a reporter that has enough guts to ask Bobby why he always seems to do that. The fans really want to know.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:57 pm
I’ve been wanting to know the answer to that question for at least 15 years
bearcatjacket
July 17th, 2010
9:57 pm
Yeah, that’s ‘parole’…as in ‘paye-roll-ae’ – French for payroll. Maybe, anyway.
Hey, it sure is a great idea to ‘rest’ the heart of your lineup in a pennant stretch, ain’t it? I’d be so worn out from playing baseball for 2 hours for two nights in a row. Man…Remember it in September.
G2
July 17th, 2010
9:58 pm
I expect our pitchers to not walk three people in an inning and while we are at groove a pitch to Cecil with an 0 and 2 count.
MyPatooti
July 17th, 2010
9:59 pm
A Sunday lineup will get you nothing but a Sunday loss!