Friday, June 17, 2005
Hudson placed on 15-day disabled list
CINCINNATI -- If the bad news must be presented first, another Braves starting pitcher has been placed on the disabled list. The good news is that Tim Hudson's left oblique injury isn't the same as the one that plagued him the past two years.
With Hudson unable to overcome discomfort near his left rib cage, the Braves opted on Thursday afternoon to place their veteran hurler on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday.
"It just [stinks] because I don't like having to miss time, and I don't like just sitting around and watching my teammates go to battle -- when I don't have anything to do with it," Hudson said. "That's what is truly frustrating."
With this transaction, the Braves now have three of their starting pitchers on the disabled list simultaneously. Mike Hampton and John Thomson are both out for an indefinite period.
Ironically, John Smoltz, who created plenty of preseason concerns regarding his conversion back to a starting role, and Horacio Ramirez, who made just one appearance in the final four months of last season because of his shoulder, which was surgically repaired in October, have been the healthiest of the quintet that began this season in Atlanta's rotation.
"I don't want to miss any time, especially with all that's been going on with everybody getting injured and stuff," Hudson said. "It's just bad timing. But what I think is best for the team and best for me is probably taking a little time off and try to get back to 100 percent, or as close to 100 percent that I can be to help the team win."
This is the second straight year Hudson's season has been interrupted because of an oblique injury. But he said this one is different than the one that forced him to be on the disabled list from June 23-Aug. 7 last year.
The Braves, who signed Hudson to a deal that will cost them at least $47 million over the next four years, are at least glad to know this might not be the same injury that has lingered over the past few years.
When Hudson's oblique troubles began late in the 2002 season, the discomfort was closer to his hip. Such was the case last year and in Game 4 of the 2003 American League Division Series, during which he lasted a career-low one inning against the Red Sox.
"This is something totally different than what I was dealing with last year," Hudson said. "I've never really dealt with any rib cage stuff."
With their fingers crossed, the Braves are hopeful Hudson's stint on the disabled list is a short one. But at the same time, they realize such an injury could sideline him much longer than two weeks.
Tim Hudson / P
Born: 07/14/75
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 165 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
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Team Site | Shop
"We'll give him a two-week breather and see how it does," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "I think he had a little of it in the early throwing in February. It's the same thing that's bothered him all season long."
Hudson contends that he didn't begin feeling this type of discomfort this season until the morning of June 9, the day after muscle cramps had limited him to four innings against the Angels.
"I'm not sure exactly how I did it," Hudson said. "I might have done it swinging a bat. I know I didn't do anything when I was pitching."
However Hudson suffered the injury, he proved on Monday night against the Rangers that he wasn't himself. During that contest, he allowed five earned runs and issued five walks in a season-worst 2 2/3 innings.
The ailment prevented him from being able to pull his left arm through when he was rotating his body in his delivery. Consequently, many of his offspeed pitches against the Rangers were left up in the zone.
Hudson, who was obtained from the A's in December, has gone 0-2 with a 7.90 ERA in three June starts. He was 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA in the 11 starts he had made entering this month.
"I hate that this happened, especially this early in the year," Hudson said. "But I know I'm not able to go out there and pitch the way I'm expecting to pitch and the way this organization is expecting me to pitch. I've got to get back to 100 percent so that I can go out there and do what I'm supposed to do."
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
With Hudson unable to overcome discomfort near his left rib cage, the Braves opted on Thursday afternoon to place their veteran hurler on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday.
"It just [stinks] because I don't like having to miss time, and I don't like just sitting around and watching my teammates go to battle -- when I don't have anything to do with it," Hudson said. "That's what is truly frustrating."
With this transaction, the Braves now have three of their starting pitchers on the disabled list simultaneously. Mike Hampton and John Thomson are both out for an indefinite period.
Ironically, John Smoltz, who created plenty of preseason concerns regarding his conversion back to a starting role, and Horacio Ramirez, who made just one appearance in the final four months of last season because of his shoulder, which was surgically repaired in October, have been the healthiest of the quintet that began this season in Atlanta's rotation.
"I don't want to miss any time, especially with all that's been going on with everybody getting injured and stuff," Hudson said. "It's just bad timing. But what I think is best for the team and best for me is probably taking a little time off and try to get back to 100 percent, or as close to 100 percent that I can be to help the team win."
This is the second straight year Hudson's season has been interrupted because of an oblique injury. But he said this one is different than the one that forced him to be on the disabled list from June 23-Aug. 7 last year.
The Braves, who signed Hudson to a deal that will cost them at least $47 million over the next four years, are at least glad to know this might not be the same injury that has lingered over the past few years.
When Hudson's oblique troubles began late in the 2002 season, the discomfort was closer to his hip. Such was the case last year and in Game 4 of the 2003 American League Division Series, during which he lasted a career-low one inning against the Red Sox.
"This is something totally different than what I was dealing with last year," Hudson said. "I've never really dealt with any rib cage stuff."
With their fingers crossed, the Braves are hopeful Hudson's stint on the disabled list is a short one. But at the same time, they realize such an injury could sideline him much longer than two weeks.
Tim Hudson / P
Born: 07/14/75
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 165 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Gallery
Team Site | Shop
"We'll give him a two-week breather and see how it does," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "I think he had a little of it in the early throwing in February. It's the same thing that's bothered him all season long."
Hudson contends that he didn't begin feeling this type of discomfort this season until the morning of June 9, the day after muscle cramps had limited him to four innings against the Angels.
"I'm not sure exactly how I did it," Hudson said. "I might have done it swinging a bat. I know I didn't do anything when I was pitching."
However Hudson suffered the injury, he proved on Monday night against the Rangers that he wasn't himself. During that contest, he allowed five earned runs and issued five walks in a season-worst 2 2/3 innings.
The ailment prevented him from being able to pull his left arm through when he was rotating his body in his delivery. Consequently, many of his offspeed pitches against the Rangers were left up in the zone.
Hudson, who was obtained from the A's in December, has gone 0-2 with a 7.90 ERA in three June starts. He was 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA in the 11 starts he had made entering this month.
"I hate that this happened, especially this early in the year," Hudson said. "But I know I'm not able to go out there and pitch the way I'm expecting to pitch and the way this organization is expecting me to pitch. I've got to get back to 100 percent so that I can go out there and do what I'm supposed to do."
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
