You've Not Seen the Last of Tim Hudson

Anybody who has been around sports in any capacity for any period of time can tell you this: sports are cruel.  Last night that reminder hit the Atlanta Braves and their star pitcher Tim Hudson head-on when he was lost for the season due to a broken ankle that will require surgery.  Hudson was pitching his best game of the season and had been Atlanta’s best starter for the past two months.  With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning and two runners on, what should have been a routine play turned into the heart and soul of the team lying at first base in agony, only to be followed moments later by a stretcher, a cart, and an ignominious exit.  Yes sports fans, we follow a cruel, unjust spectacle that oftentimes leaves us feeling vacant and unrewarded.

But we only have an emotional tie to the event and last night Tim Hudson had the physical reminder of the random viciousness that befalls a professional athlete.  It was a type of play that Hudson had made thousands of times in his career and is a basic that is covered in spring training relentlessly year after year.  The pitcher MUST cover first base on a ball hit to the first baseman so the first baseman can toss it to him instead of trying to outrun the runner to the base.  Last night, a perfect storm occurred on what could have been a routine play.  First, a sharply hit ball by speedy base runner Eric Young, Jr. takes a bad hop and hits first baseman Freddie Freeman in the chest and trickles away.  Even with a runner on first and second, Freeman is playing in close out of respect for Young’s speed.  Second, Hudson makes a mad dash for the bag trying to beat the speedy Young and be in position to catch a toss from Freeman.  Third, Hudson doesn’t have time to grab the bag and position himself to receive a throw.  His foot landed on the foul side of the base which he stabbed at blindly because the throw from Freeman was already on its way.  Fourth, Young arrives at the base a split second after the ball arrives but accidentally lands on Hudson’s leg; and as close-up replays have shown us many times, legs and ankles aren’t made to bend like that. 

Just like that, Hudson’s season had come crashing to an end.  It was obvious that the injury was serious when Eric Young, Jr. came running back to the base to check on Hudson and you could tell he was visibly upset that he had injured him.  (This is a good time to point out that Young did nothing wrong.  It was a freak accident  and there was nothing he could do but it is refreshing to see an opposing player have that kind of compassion toward another player.)  The whole Braves team on the field huddled around first base out of concern for Hudson, a man well-respected in the MLB community and who has the longest tenure of any current Brave and by far the most experience in the clubhouse.  You could tell the wind had gone out of the team’s sails.  Mets superstar David Wright even came out on the field to check on Hudson and stood fraternally beside Braves catcher Brian McCann until the cart arrived and Hudson was carried away.  As Huddy, the affectionate nickname bestowed upon Tim by his teammates, was loaded onto the cart, Young took a moment to apologize to Hudson and you could see Hudson telling him it was ok.  As Young walked back to the dugout, it appeared that he was wiping tears from his eyes with his jersey.  Tom Hanks may have famously said, “There’s no crying in baseball!” in A League of Their Own but it was apropos last night.  When the cart finally began to drive off the field, the New York Mets fans, a rabid fan base that is infamous for booing anyone with a pulse (they have booed Met first baseman Ike Davis so much this year that he said he feels like an away player when he plays at Citi Field), stood and respectfully cheered Hudson’s exit.  In a footnote, the Braves held on to win the game 8-2 and Hudson was credited with his fourth straight win.

There are two cruel ironies (one I will mention now, the other will come later) that come from Hudson’s season-ending injury, the first of which is getting the win last night made him 8-7 on the season and ensured that he would finish the season with a winning record for the 15^th consecutive year.  Even in 2009 when Hudson returned from Tommy John surgery, he only started seven ballgames but still finished the season with a 2-1 record.  This remarkable streak seemed to be in danger a month ago when Hudson was sitting at 4-7.  To grasp the magnitude of this feat, it has only been accomplished by one other pitcher in the history of baseball: Grover Cleveland Alexander, who never had a .500 or worse season until his 20^th  and final frame. 

Hudson is 38 years old and it is too early to say how long recovery on a surgically repaired ankle may take.  Just ask Derek Jeter; it’s not easy for a player of that age to make a speedy recovery.  He has been in Atlanta since 2005, just missing the heyday of the franchise.  In that time, he has won 113 games in nine seasons, good enough to rank him fifth on the all-time Atlanta Braves win list (not franchise wins, just since moving to Atlanta in 1966) behind one Hall of Famer (Phil Niekro) and three probable HoFers (Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz).  But beyond his accomplishments on the field, he is the unquestioned leader of the clubhouse and a man who is highly regarded by teammates and competitors alike.  He is a tenacious competitor on the field who rarely loses his professionalism and according to those who have played with him, he is a pleasure to be around off the field.  He and his wife are even very active in the Atlanta community and have their own foundation to serve children in need as well as being visibly active in other charity projects as well.  All in all, they just don’t make them any better than Tim Hudson, which brings me to another cruel aspect of the game: business. 

The business side of the game is a necessary evil, one that fans would like to forget about if they could but I guarantee Braves GM Frank Wren woke up this morning with many more questions than answers.  A month ago, the team was in great shape and many guys were beginning to recover from injuries.  The starting rotation was in tact and it appeared as if they may have a surplus of arms to get them through the season.  The only need was in the bullpen where three guys have fallen victim to TJ surgery but the need was not glaring.  But all that has changed in the last few weeks and has been put under a microscope after last night.  It may seem cruel to be thinking about the business side of the game so soon after a devastating injury but that is Frank Wren’s job.  Here are just some of the questions that he and Braves face moving forward.

1)      Who fills the spot in the rotation?  Well, the answer to that may just be the second cruel irony that I mentioned earlier.  Brandon Beachy was to make his final rehab start last night on his road back from TJ surgery that ended his great start to last season.  The question had been who gets bumped from the rotation.  The likely candidates were either Paul Maholm who has been atrocious in road games this year or Kris Medlen who has been unable to repeat his miraculous season of a year ago.  The Braves also have planned to insert highly touted prospect Alex Wood into the rotation at some point giving them seven arms for five slots.  One thought was to move Medlen back to the pen where is has proven he can succeed.  But now Maholm hurt his wrist and will likely be placed on the 15-day disabled list and Hudson is out for the season.  That means the most experienced starter in the rotation is Mike Minor who has made 73 career starts compared to Hudson’s 426 and Maholm’s 236.  The young rotation of Minor, Teheran, Medlen, Wood, and Beachy (combined 187 career starts) may be the way to go.  Funny how things tend to have a way of working out, isn’t it?  But there is another possibility.

2)      Are the Braves now in the trade market for a starting pitcher?  One, and possibly the only, fortunate thing about the Hudson injury was the timing.  The trade deadline is just six days away and if this injury had occurred a start or two later, a decent trade would not have been a viable option.  The major holdback is there just aren’t many quality starters, or players for that matter, on the market.  The Rangers put the ball in play pulling the trigger on the Matt Garza deal.  The three other most talked about names are Jake Peavy, Bud Norris, and Ervin Santana.  The Braves know firsthand from seeing Peavy handle them last week in Chicago that he still has very good stuff…when he’s healthy.  Health has been a concern for Peavy since being traded to the White Sox in 2009.  Peavy is also more than just a rental as he is under contract for $14 million next year.  Bud Norris, the man who would be the Astros ace if you had to declare one, has only won 34 career games and has not even had a sniff of the postseason.  Ervin Santana has been a solid pitcher over the past six or seven years but he is strictly a rental and while he does have postseason experience and has won over 100 games, is he worth giving up prospects for? 

3)      What will happen to Tim Hudson after the 2013 season?  His contract is up and it is speculated that the Braves will not be able to re-sign him especially when they have so many young arms already in their stable.  Some of that may depend on how long it takes Hudson to recover from the injury.  There will be a market for a man of his experience and talent but at what cost?  The Braves have shown in the past that they are not afraid to let veterans go to save some cash and if they are in a situation where they can only sign either Brian McCann or Hudson, I imagine they would go with McCann because of his age.  In a perfect world, Hudson would rebound flawlessly from this setback and sign a lower than market rate one-year deal to stick around in Atlanta.  If for no other reason, doing so would allow him to have a much better final image as a Brave than being carted off the field, an image we all wish we could erase.  But that happening is highly unlikely. 

One thing we do know for sure is that Hudson will handle this adversity with great class and professionalism.  In a week where there has been so much negative attention on MLB (thanks Ryan Braun and A-Rod), it would be a nice change of pace to hear more about the truly good guys of the game.  It’s a shame that it takes a freak injury for everyone to realize that there are still great guys in the league.  So, here’s to you Tim Hudson and all that you have done (and hopefully will continue to do) in an Atlanta Braves uniform and as a beacon in your community!  Good luck and God bless, #15.

From Moon Shot to Moonshots

A few minutes before 11:00 PM on July 20, 1969, the world that we live in was forever changed.  No longer could one say that man had never walked on the moon.  Neil Armstrong, a 38 year-old astronaut from Ohio, greeted his nation from the lunar surface by saying, “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."  This accomplishment is one of the greatest achievements in world history and it held particular political significance during the Cold War.  As the U.S. was seemingly losing ground to the U.S.S.R. in the space race, President John F. Kennedy made the declaration in May of 1961 that America would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade.  Mission accomplished!

Being a history buff, especially regarding the space program, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the passing of Neil Armstrong, a great American hero, over the weekend.  His accomplishment, along with those of Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (who were also on the Apollo 11 mission), is a story of perseverance and inspiration that is indicative of the American spirit.

Thinking about how that day forever shaped history, my mind somehow began drifting towards baseball.  I started thinking of who are the best major league baseball players to be born after July 20, 1969.  Who are the best to play the game yet have never lived in a world where man had not walked on the moon?  Here’s what I came up with.

Lineup

1. Ichiro RF: Since arriving from Japan before the 2001 season, there has not been a better pure hitter in the game of baseball.  Ichiro has amassed over 2,500 hits, more than 400 stolen bases, and numerous awards including the rookie of the year and MVP in the same season. 

2. Derek Jeter SS: Perhaps the most iconic figure of his era, the Yankee captain is now mentioned in the same breath as Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, Berra, and Ruth.  He has collected over 3,200 hits and before it is said and done he may pass Hank Aaron for third on that list.  The consummate professional, Jeter is a nice blend of a throwback player in a modern game.  Oh, and did I mention he has five World Series rings?

3. Albert Pujols 1B: As young as Albert Pujols is, he has the chance to be mentioned in the same company of legends like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays for having some of the most impressive careers numbers in the history of the game.  Only 32 years old, Pujols has already hit 473 homers and driven in over 1,400 runs.  And he has more than 2,200 career hits.  If he can remain healthy, he should reach 700 homeruns and 2,000 RBIs.  Those accomplishments will look nice beside his three MVPs and two World Series rings.

4. Ken Griffey, Jr. CF: Ken Griffey, Jr. barely makes the cut on this team, being born four months after the moon landing.  Griffey hit over 600 career homers and won 10 gold gloves.  If not for the strike that ended the 1994 season, he may have made at run at Roger Maris’s then single season homerun record.  If not for injuries late in his career and playing on mostly mediocre teams, his legacy would shine much brighter.

5. Alex Rodriguez DH: On my team as a DH only because he split his career between playing shortstop and third base, A-Rod has a chance to retire as only the fourth man in baseball history with over 700 homeruns.  Besides the homers, he will probably surpass the coveted 3,000 hit mark next season.  But perhaps the most astonishing stat on his resume is his 316 career steals.  Not many sluggers have those kind of wheels. 

6. Chipper Jones 3B: When his career ends later this season, Chipper Jones will go down as one of the greatest switch hitters in the history of the game.  With over 2,700 hits and 460 homeruns, he is also one of the greatest third basemen of all time.  His unselfish play (asking to move to the outfield for a few seasons in order to sign another third baseman is a perfect example) and leadership are second to none. 

7. Matt Holliday LF: I even surprised myself with this inclusion on the roster.  Matt Holliday is one day older than Pujols and even though his numbers are not in the same league as Albert's, they are pretty hard to ignore.  Since breaking into the league with the Rockies in 2004, there has not been a better left fielder in all of baseball.  His worst season batting average came in his rookie campaign when he only hit .290.  By the time the season ends, he will be over 1,500 hits, have over 225 homers, and should pass the 1,000 RBI mark next season.

8. Robinson Cano 2B: The youngest player on the list, Cano has all the tools to be the next Yankee great.  Cano has already accumulated over 1,400 career hits and has proven to be highly durable, missing only 10 games over the past six seasons.  On his current pace, he has a great chance to become one of the greatest second basemen of any generation.

9. Ivan Rodriguez C: Ivan Rodriguez may be the best pure hitter at catcher to ever play the game.  He also may be the best defensive catcher the game has ever seen.  Ivan finished his career with 2,844 hits (the most ever for a catcher), 311 homers, 13 gold gloves, and 46% caught stealing rate.  And for someone who played catcher, he was extremely durable, breaking into the majors at age 19 and retiring at the age of 40.  As it stands, he is one of the top five catchers in the history of the game.

Pitching Staff

1. C.C. Sabathia: Sabathia broke into the majors with the Indians in 2001 and has been a dominant lefty from the beginning.  Over the course of his twelve year career, he has a career record of 189-99 with over 2,100 strikeouts.  He has been a workhorse from the beginning of his career, only throwing fewer than 190 innings twice.  It is amazing that he has only won one Cy Young award.  Barring injury, C.C. is possibly the last pitcher with a shot of reaching the coveted 300 win mark.

2.  Roy Halladay: The man called Doc has had an amazing career, to say the least.  He broke in with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998 and nearly threw a no-hitter in his second career start.  He finally broke through with a no-no during the 2010 season when he threw a perfect game in May and followed that up with only the second postseason no hitter ever against the Cincinnati Reds.  He has a career mark of 196-99, has over 2,000 strikeouts and has probably been the most dominant pitcher in the game since 2006.

3. Tim Hudson: Tim Hudson came up with the Oakland A's in 1999 and has been winning ballgames ever since.  He has a career record of  194-101 and has nearly 1,800 strikeouts.  His stuff is not as eye-popping as either Sabathia or Halladay, but his grit and determination on the mound are unrivaled.  He recently became only the fifth pitcher in Atlanta Braves history to record 100 wins since the franchise moved there in 1966.

4. Billy Wagner: Billy Wagner may be the most dominant left-handed reliever in baseball history.  Wagner finished his career with 422 saves, a K/9 inning ratio of 11.9, and a WHIP below one.  Wagner had planned to retire after the 2009 season but was talked out of it by Bobby Cox, who was himself retiring after the 2010 season.  In his true final season, Wagner tallied 37 saves, causing many to wonder why he would not return for another season.

5.  Mariano Rivera: Simply put, Rivera is the best closer the game has ever seen.  Mo, as he is affectionately known, has obliterated the all-time saves record, accruing 608 in his amazing career.  Most of his success has come on the back of one, single pitch: the cut fastball.  His unthinkable numbers are made more impressive by the fact that he did not make his major league debut until the age of 25.  Oh, yeah.  Did I mention that he also has five World Series rings?  When he retires, the season award for the best closer should be named for him.

 
A couple of guys that I really wanted to add to the team were Mike Mussina and Mike Piazza, but both were born in 1968; a year too early.  But even without these greats, the aforementioned roster is formidable.  And as always, thanks to the folks who maintain www.baseball-reference.com; I would love to have that job.  So, in memory of Neil Armstrong, I dub this team the Outta This World Team.