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
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
9:59 pm
Why would you watch a fastball right down the middle then try to hit a breaking pitch on your thumbs?
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:02 pm
Then watch another one down the middle. That was an absolute sorry at bat.
DP
July 17th, 2010
10:02 pm
Why are the Braves throwing at Fielder? Hanson hit him last night and I thought it looked intentional. Venters threw one over his head and then hit him in the middle of the back. Major league pitchers don’t miss by that much. I’m a Braves fan but am not going to defend that crap. If I was Macha my starting pitcher would drill somebody in the first inning tomorrow.
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
10:02 pm
yeh, I know I mis spellled it big deal. Too pissed off to concentrate
Cornfuzed
July 17th, 2010
10:02 pm
Just a couple of good things coming from this game- maybe Diaz is getting on track hitting, and Bobby extended his record for ejections that will never be broken.
rabiddawg
July 17th, 2010
10:02 pm
well damn… just damn damn damn
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:02 pm
Two games in a row that has just PO’d me.
ijudgenot
July 17th, 2010
10:03 pm
The Braves have not hit this series but I think you need to give a tip of the cap to the Brewers manager for setting up his pitching just for the Braves after the break. He started a right handed junk baller who the Braves always have trouble hitting followed by three left handed junk ballers. Add to that his willingness to change pitchers to get the lefty on lefty and righty on righty matchups especially to Heyward.
bearcatjacket
July 17th, 2010
10:03 pm
Is there a ‘Mr. October’ on these Braves? Or all they ‘boys of Summer’? I guess we stay tuned…
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:04 pm
We should not lose two games in a row by this much to this team. April all over again.
rabiddawg
July 17th, 2010
10:04 pm
Awesome, just awesome.
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
10:05 pm
I am pissed, this is pathetic, to lose two in a row to a below average team. I am pissed!!!
G2
July 17th, 2010
10:05 pm
Is it just me or do other people see Prado crushing the ball right at somebody…
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:06 pm
I guess starting piching is going to start letting us down now.
ATN
July 17th, 2010
10:06 pm
Only good news today is that the Mets are losing 6-0 and we’ve gained a game on them since the all-star break. We need to win tomorrow to salvage a split–hope our hitters can break out of this terrible slump.
G2
July 17th, 2010
10:07 pm
Oh well there is always tomorrow to look forward to, oh wait Derrick “fade in the second half” Lowe is pitching. The brewers hitters will have a field day with him getting the ball up in the strike zone. And then after that SDis coming to town.
Prime Time
July 17th, 2010
10:07 pm
This team is not getting to the playoffs and even if they do, they’ll lose in 3 games, They need another bat and may be 2 more SP.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:07 pm
For all the good managing Bobby Cox has done all year the last two games were the sorriest job this year.
Ben Hill, Been Real
July 17th, 2010
10:08 pm
i like what cox did tonight. looking forward to tomorrow (sunday) where most managers give key players a day off; we will have our regulars in against backups. Still had a chance to win but hudson couldnt hold on after 81 pitches through 7 innings. tough call for cox to make. but hey, at least the game starts at 1;35 tomorrow!
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:09 pm
We could have buried the Mets making them seven games down. This bites.
G2
July 17th, 2010
10:10 pm
Don’t look now but the Philles are gaining…
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:10 pm
Tomorrow we’ll probably be tied or something in the seventh inning and he’ll decide to give KK a shot again. And like usual he’ll give up 3 runs.
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
10:10 pm
I don’t think it’s the Mets we have to worry about it’s the Phillies has soon as they get healthy they will catch us and win the division.
Prime Time
July 17th, 2010
10:12 pm
We don’t have aces but pitchers who are being paid as aces
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:14 pm
Medlin is pitching better than Lowe but because we are paying Lowe so much money Medlin is the 5th starter and does’nt get a start. There’s no way we can P.O. our under performing overpaid pitcher.
Bravesfan37
July 17th, 2010
10:15 pm
Prime tim I couldn’t agree with you more. Derek Lowe is way over paid.
G2
July 17th, 2010
10:16 pm
While Derrick Lowe has pitched well at times he has been a big disappointment. As for KK don’t pitch him or we won’t get anything in a trade for him. Bottom line we are at a crossroads for the post season and as Bobby is fond of saying, ” every game matters”.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:17 pm
I wonder if Bobby still believes that because he has’nt managed like that in the last two games.
Cornfuzed
July 17th, 2010
10:17 pm
The sky is not falling, chicken little. This is one game.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:20 pm
Actually its been two games.
G2
July 17th, 2010
10:21 pm
No that is two in a row…the smytoms are there indicating that the line up is sick and the starting pitching is starting to come down with it as well. Somebody in the dug out better have a come to Jesus meeting with the foks. Hey, I know let’s bring back Nate he must be the answer.
Cornfuzed
July 17th, 2010
10:26 pm
yeah, and if they win tomorrow they split the series. And they still have the best record in the NL.
I’m not saying they don’t need improvement (especially in CF), but all the naysaying is a bit of overkill.
2nd Half
July 17th, 2010
10:27 pm
The Phils have been a 2nd half team for the past 3-4 years. i think they have the 1st or 2nd best second half record ,if I am correct. I’m much more concerned with them then the Mets.
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:29 pm
You can say that it is only one game but, this is not like the old days when we use to pretty much ran away with the division in the second half. This team is not going to do that so yes, this game and every game matters the rest of the way. We could have made it real tough for the Mets and Phillies. The Phillies could have been 6.5 games back and the Mets 7 if they go on to lose tonight. We got rare help by the Cubs and the Mets may not have as tough a situation again as they had against the Giants. This was our opportunity to start to bury them and we could not take advantage of it.
Dawgs2010
July 17th, 2010
10:35 pm
The lineup tonight was terrible! Why do these guys need a night off? Didn’t just get back from the All-Star break?
Give me a break.
This reminded me of 1998 NLCS Game 6!
Kerryb
July 17th, 2010
10:38 pm
It’s Bobby playing that righty lefty crap that he always plays. The Brewers are starting three lefties in this series.
Prime Time
July 17th, 2010
10:59 pm
This batting line up made the last 2 Brewers SP look like Holladay.
One bad ending doesn't change wonder of Hudson's comeback | Jeff Schultz
July 17th, 2010
11:04 pm
[...] ♦ We’re LIVE, as Hudson and his miracle elbow start for Braves [...]
BRAVOS!!!
July 18th, 2010
12:21 am
HUGE crowd tonight, great to see