Tim Hudson is on the verge of a huge career milestone as he
takes the mound tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hudson is looking for
career win number 200. As of right now Hudson has a career record of 199-104, a
career ERA of 3.41 and 1,814 strikeouts. Hudson ranks third among all active
pitchers in wins and winning percentage and eighth in strikeouts.
Winning % Active Leaders Active Leaders in Wins
Roy
Halladay
|
.662
|
Andy
Pettitte
|
247
|
|
Jered
Weaver
|
.658
|
Roy
Halladay
|
200
|
|
Tim
Hudson
|
.657
|
Tim
Hudson
|
199
|
|
Justin
Verlander
|
.656
|
CC
Sabathia
|
193
|
|
CC
Sabathia
|
.652
|
Mark
Buehrle
|
175
|
|
Derek
Lowe
|
175
|
2013 marks Hudson’s 15th season in MLB, six with
the Oaklands A’s and nine with the Braves. Hudson was 92-39 with the A’s and is
currently 107-65 with Atlanta. Hudson has earned six Opening Day starts (3 with
the Braves and 3 with the A’s), is a three time All-Start (2000,’04,’10) and
the 2010 NL Comeback Player of the Year. Hudson is so consistent that he has
never had a losing record in any of his first 14 seasons and has only lost
double digit games three times.
Tim Hudson played baseball at Auburn University from 1996-1997. In 1997, Hudson went 15-2 with a 2.97 ERA, hit .396 from the plate, led the Tigers to the College World Series, and was named an All-American as well as the SEC Player of the Year. Hudson’s name can still be found near the top of most significant records, both pitching and hitting, in the Auburn baseball record book including number one in career average strikeouts per nine innings (11.89) and number two in both Hits (108)and RBIs (95) in a single season.
Hudson was not projected to play in the majors because of his bat but because he understood how to get batters out through accurate command of his split finger pitch and sinker. The A’s took Hudson in the 6th round of the 1997 MLB draft. Time made the slow climb up through the minor leagues until finally earning his first start with the A’s on June 8th, 1999 against the San Diego Padres. Hudson earned a no decision in five innings of work while allowing seven hits, four walks and three earned runs. However, the most impressive stat about his start was striking out eleven Padre batters. Hudson was one strikeout away from tying an 84-year-old record for most strikeouts in an American League debut set by Elmer Myers of the Philadelphia A’s in 1915. Hudson continued to pitch well and with help from the likes of Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, and Jason Isringhausen, they led the A’s to four consecutive ALDS appearances (2000-2003).
Hudson was then traded to the Atlanta Braves for a handful of minor leaguers to help strengthen the starting rotation. Hudson was the veteran in Oakland but made it to Atlanta in time to learn from true veterans like John Smoltz and Mike Hampton as well as see the growth of future stars like Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, and Adam LaRoche.
Since the first start in 1999 to today, Hudson is still as dominant as ever. Hudson has learned that you don’t have to strike out every batter. A fly ball or ground ball still goes in the scorebook as an out just the same as a K and with the 2013 season under way simple philosophies like this will be important to a young starting staff. With Hudson’s experience and the arm strength of young guns like Kris Medlen and Mike Minor, the Braves are poised to make a run at not only a Nation League Pennant, but a World Series Championship this season.
References:
Baseball-reference.com
Baseballalmanac.com
Auburn Baseball Media Guide, http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/13-fact-book.pdf
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