May 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tim Hudson won a pitchers' duel with All-Star David Price and got support in the form of a home run from old pal David Ross. But the most important play in Sunday's 2-0 win against Tampa Bay turned out to be a baserunning mistake by the Rays, for which the Braves felt fortunate. With the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning, and Jonny Venters' command faltering, Luke Scott's hard-hit grounder struck Rays baserunner Carlos Pena in the leg as he ran toward second base. Pena was called out and the Braves, having avoided a potential game-changing moment, held on for the win to take the interleague series 2-1. "We had some baseball gods on our side," Hudson said. "We've had plenty of"
May 10
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Braves got a vintage Tim Hudson pitching performance Wednesday at Wrigley Field, but it went wasted in a 1-0 loss to the Cubs. They didn't hit a lot of balls hard against left-hander Paul Maholm. And on most occasions when they did, there was usually Cubs defender waiting to snag it. Sometimes in the darndest places. Tweaked defensive alignments and Maholm's craftiness helped Chicago beat the Braves in a game that lasted barely two hours and gave the last-place Cubs a series win over the Braves."
April 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Braves didn't give Tim Hudson much run support in his first game off the disabled list, failing to take advantage of prime scoring opportunities. But they were up against Pittsburgh, and it doesn't take much to outscore these Pirates. Dan Uggla's bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning put the Braves ahead and got Hudson the decision in a 4-3 win against the Pirates on Sunday before a crowd of 30,419 at Turner Field. "It was exciting," Hudson said after giving up two runs and six hits in five innings in his season debut, five months and one day after he underwent back surgery. "You've got the big stadium and the fans and major league hitters over there ready to try to knock it down your"
April 30
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tim Hudson might have spent a little more time bobbing and weaving – as he would say – than he wanted to Sunday against the Pirates, but he brought maturity, some stability, and a little of fire back to the Braves rotation. Making his first start since November back surgery, Hudson worked five gutsy innings, allowing two runs on six hits, and collected his first win of the season in a 4-3 victory. Hudson was on a pitch count of no more than 100 pitches, so he came out after 96 pitches, but his message was sent. The Braves' ace was back."
April 25
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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So much for easing his way back into the Braves' rotation. Tim Hudson took the mound Tuesday night in the final outing of his minor league rehabilitation stint in Gwinnett with a little more at stake. As the veteran gears up to come off the disabled list Sunday against the Pirates, the Braves sent Jair Jurrjens packing for a minor league stint in Gwinnett, leaving a greater need for Hudson to reclaim his place at the head of the Braves' rotation. Hudson, who gave up one run in 5 2/3 innings Tuesday night, is penciled in to start Sunday against the Pirates. "I feel like we're going pretty good from a team standpoint," Hudson said. "The chemistry is really good. We're playing some good"
April 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After pitching five good innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday, Tim Hudson is expected to make one more rehab start before returning to the Braves rotation April 29th or 30th against Pittsburgh. It's been presumed that Randall Delgado would be sent down to Triple-A when Hudson returns, and manager Fredi Gonzalez indicated that was still the plan barring anything unexpected. Delgado (2-0, 4.35 ERA in two starts) has pitched better than Jair Jurrjens (0-1, 8.10 ERA in three starts), but the Braves are not considering a demotion for Jurrjens, who was an All-Star in 2011 before knee problems slowed and eventually sidelined him in the second half."
April 19
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tim Hudson set out to work on his sharpness Wednesday night in Triple-A Gwinnett, and improve his results along the way. He accomplished both, allowing only one unearned run in five innings against the Norfolk Tides in the third start of four he's expected to make on a minor league rehabilitation assignment. Hudson, who had given up six runs in seven innings in two Single-A starts, allowed two hits, three walks and struck out four on Wednesday, throwing 48 of his 76 pitches for strikes. He coaxed eight groundball outs."
April 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tim Hudson is scheduled to make two more appearances on his minor league rehabilitation assignment, both in Triple-A Gwinnett, and then hopes he'll be ready to be activated by the end of the Pirates series, April 29 or 30, or the following series against the Phillies, May 1-3. "I don't see why not, once I get my pitch count up and my innings up," Hudson said. He is scheduled to throw five innings and up to 85-90 pitches on Wednesday night at Coolray Field against Norfolk. He's scheduled to pitch again six days later in Gwinnett on Tuesday, April 24 against Charlotte, building up to six innings and 100 or so pitches. That way he builds in an extra day of rest between the next two starts."
April 13
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Chipper Jones made coming back from the disabled list look easy on Tuesday night – and inviting. Tim Hudson saw the impact the veteran third baseman had when he returned to the lineup in Houston, helping the Braves turn an 0-4 start into a series win, and Hudson wouldn't mind doing something similar when he returns to the rotation from spinal fusion surgery. Hudson is still at least two weeks away – he's scheduled to make at least two more minor league rehabilitation outings for Triple-A Gwinnett – but after two Single-A appearances, he's starting to taste it."
April 2
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Four months after back surgery, pitcher Tim Hudson makes his much-anticipated return to competition with a start Monday against the Mets. The Braves veteran is scheduled to pitch two innings, with Brandon Beachy taking over from there. "Things are good, man," said Hudson, 36. "The arm feels good. It's getting in shape. My arm strength isn't quite where I want it, but it's pretty good for the stage of where I'm at – I'm in what amounts to the second week of spring training for me." Hudson had lumbar spine-fusion surgery Nov. 28 and resumed throwing in mid-January. The plan is for him to make five or six rehab starts at Class-A Rome and Triple-A Gwinnett."
March 15
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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His checkup went so well Tuesday, Tim Hudson joked that his doctor told him he kicked back surgery's butt. The veteran Braves pitcher was in good spirits Wednesday before heading to the field for his first full bullpen session since having lumbar spine-fusion surgery 3-1/2 months ago. "It was a very, very good report — t he geriatric program is working around here," cracked Hudson, 36. "I've increased my workload pretty substantially over the last couple of weeks and it has responded well. It's responded as if I was doing light stuff. The X-ray looked good and my range of motion was good. "Two thumbs up, man.""
March 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tim Hudson has his next doctor's appointment Tuesday, after which the veteran Braves pitcher hopes he's cleared to start throwing from the mound at full effort. He's 3-1/2 months into recovery from Nov. 28 lumbar spine-fusion surgery, and the 36-year-old is upbeat and optimistic about joining the starting rotation by May 1, an unofficial targeted return date. "I think [May 1] at the latest," Hudson said. "It'd be hard to say [if he can return earlier] because I've got to build up to that. I could be back in April but it might be a four- or five-inning thing. April is my month of spring training games — unless I'm able to pitch sooner here [in camp] than we thought." He was scheduled to"
February 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tommy Hanson and the Braves got a scare Monday morning when the pitcher drove off the road in a one-car accident that left him with a possible concussion. The Braves were awaiting test results. The incident occurred at about 7 a.m., three hours before the Braves' first spring-training workout for pitchers and catchers at ESPN's Wide World of Sports on the edge of Disney World outside Orlando. Hanson told Braves officials that he blew a tire while rounding a curve near the team training site. He had his car towed and made it to camp in time for a 9:30 a.m. team meeting, before a 10 a.m. practice for pitchers and catchers. He didn't work out. "I heard at about 7:40," Braves manager Fredi"
February 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It was early December, and Jair Jurrjens wondered if his balky knee would hold up and whether he'd be traded. Fellow Braves pitcher Tim Hudson wondered which would feel normal again — his back or his stomach. A surgeon went through Hudson's abdomen to perform lumbar spine fusion Nov. 28. Two and a half months later, Braves pitchers and catchers reported to spring training Sunday. Jurrjens and Hudson reported in good spirits and varying degrees of recovery. After Jurrjens was diagnosed with a toe condition and fitted for orthotics for his shoes in December, he said his right knee improved steadily and he was encouraged and optimistic about the upcoming season."
November 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Braves pitcher Tim Hudson had back surgery for a herniated disc on Monday, and doctors said the 36-year-old right-hander should be fully recovered for spring training. His back bothered him to varying degrees for the past two seasons, but surgery was necessitated only after the pain increased during Hudson's recent offseason workouts. He could be cleared to resume throwing in about six weeks. Hudson was 16-10 with a 3.22 ERA in 33 starts in 2011, leading the Braves in wins, ERA and innings (215) and ranking second in strikeouts (158). He missed a start in late May with back stiffness. "We've known for a couple of years, but it just kind of escalated to the point where he needed to do"
September 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Four losses in a row have the Braves down to their final game of the season for a shot at making the playoffs, this after leading the wild card by 8 ½ games three weeks ago. But their ace Tim Hudson will take the mound at Turner Field on Wednesday night against the Phillies confident. "I'm ready," Hudson said after Tuesday's loss. "I feel good about it. I feel like we're going to go out there and win the ball game tomorrow. Hopefully with the win it's a clinch. If not, we'll go to St. Louis and take care of business there.""
September 25
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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When Tim Hudson entered the clubhouse Sunday morning, Braves backup catcher David Ross applauded, smiled and said, "He's alive!" Hudson was alive and well, but looked as if he hadn't slept. For good reason. The Braves pitcher left Friday's win against Washington in the sixth inning after cramping from dehydration. He was taken to a local hospital and received five bags of fluids intraveneously. Hudson didn't return to the team hotel until after 3 a.m. "It was pretty exhausting," he said, then smiled. "Five bags of fluid. I [peed] all night. I didn't sleep, all I've been doing is [peeing].""
September 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tim Hudson found the difference he needed by slightly adjusting his delivery. By nudging his heel closer to the rubber, the Atlanta ace found the edge he was missing in three of his previous four starts. "It was like night and day," he said after pitching the Braves past the New York Mets 1-0 Saturday. "It was good to figure it out now. I felt like something was very out of whack on my delivery." Hudson struck out 10 and Chipper Jones hit an RBI single in the eighth inning as the Braves held their NL wild-card edge."
August 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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September is rapidly approaching and Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez stuck to his plan of splitting up the Tim Hudson-David Ross battery combination for the stretch run. McCann caught Hudson in a 5-4 win over the Giants on Wednesday. Ross started Saturday night, catching Brandon Beachy, when Gonzalez gave McCann a day off. "Rossy was catching well with him but we were going to wean him off, coming into stretch run, because you want Mac to catch Huddy in the postseason," Gonzalez said. Hudson was 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA in the 11-start stretch with Ross behind the plate. Gonzalez said Jason Heyward would be back in the starting lineup Sunday against Arizona right-hander Josh Collmenter with"
July 31
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Dan Uggla used to kill the Braves when he played for Florida, and now seems intent on doing the same to his former team. For the second consecutive night, Uggla hit a three-run homer to power the Braves past the Marlins, his third-inning long ball the big blow in a 5-1 win Saturday night at Turner Field. His two-out homer was his 20th of the season and extended his hitting streak to 21 games, helping Tim Hudson to his 10th win and the injury-riddled Braves to their fourth win in their past five games. "It's always fun seeing them and playing against them," Uggla said of the Marlins, who traded him to in November. "They've got a lot of talent, which makes them a scary ballclub. I'm happy"
June 21
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It didn't look like the Braves would muster any run support for Tim Hudson, so the pitcher took care of it himself. Hudson hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning of a 2-0 win over Toronto on Monday night, all the offense he needed in a singular performance that saw him allow just one hit through the first eight innings. Hudson (6-6) was replaced after giving up a walk and infield single to start the ninth inning, and closer Craig Kimbrel struck out the next three batters -- the heart of the order -- for his 20th save. Hudson, 35, hit his second career homer and called the game his most memorable. He had eight strikeouts, including the 1,600th of his career. "It would have been great to"
June 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The way Sunday's game was going at Citi Field, the Braves had to be eyeing those planes flying overhead out of nearby LaGuardia Airport with envy. The Mets had chased Tim Hudson after only four innings, shut out the Braves for six innings, and unleashed Jose Reyes on them for another night of torment. The Braves mustered some ninth inning consolation on a pinch-hit three-run homer by Diory Hernandez but still lost 6-4, and headed for their charter flight to Florida unhappy. "It's just one of those days, just one of those series," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We didn't pitch very good and we didn't swing the bats until the end in three of the games." The Braves have lost consecutive"
May 28
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Pitcher Tim Hudson has recovered from back stiffness and is set to start Monday, while Brandon Beachy (oblique strain) is probably at least three weeks from returning to the Braves' starting rotation. Beachy, injured while batting during a May 14 game against Philadelphia, played catch from a distance of about 100 feet on Friday. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said once he's cleared to throw from the mound, the rookie right-hander would need to rebuild arm strength and probably make two or three minor-league rehab starts before he's ready to return to Atlanta's rotation. Beachy was 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA in eight starts before the injury. Hudson missed a rotation turn Wednesday at Pittsburgh,"
May 25
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tim Hudson is progressing well in his recovery from back stiffness and is on track to make his next scheduled start on Monday against the Padres, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. Hudson returned to Atlanta over the weekend to have his back evaluated after giving up eight runs in only 3 2/3 innings on Friday night."
May 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jason Heyward was placed on the 15-day disabled list for recurring soreness in his right shoulder, the latest in a series of injury setbacks for the Braves' prized right fielder. Injuries are mounting for the Braves, who didn't want to go into the two-day Pittsburgh series that starts Tuesday not knowing if Heyward would be ready. They purchased the contract of outfielder Wilkin Ramirez from Triple-A Gwinnett, creating a 40-man roster spot for Ramirez by moving relief pitcher Peter Moylan from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. Moylan had back surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined for about three months. The Braves will likely go with hot-hitting Joe Mather in right, although"
May 22
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A day after Tim Hudson had back stiffness in one of the worst starts of his major league career, manager Fredi Gonzalez said it was too soon to know if the veteran pitcher would be able to make his next scheduled start Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Hudson allowed eight runs, seven hits and three walks in 3-2/3 innings of Friday night's 9-0 loss to the Angels, the first time in his career that he allowed as many as eight earned runs in fewer than five innings. He also hit three batters to match a career high, and his ERA rose by nearly a run, from 3.03 to 3.95. Gonzalez said afterward that Hudson had lower-back tightness during the game. Hudson later confirmed that, but wouldn't elaborate or use"
May 6
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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After Tim Hudson threw 26 first-pitch strikes to 29 Milwaukee batters during his one-hit shutout Wednesday, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones paid him the ultimate compliment he will give a pitcher. "That's Maddux-esque," Jones said, comparing Hudson's precision performance to many he saw from Greg Maddux, whom he calls the best pitcher he ever played with. Hudson's work was that impressive during an 8-0 win that capped a doubleheader sweep for the Braves, and gave the 35-year-old pitcher his 12th career shutout and first since returning from August 2008 ligament-transplant elbow surgery. "You're going to have nights where you feel really good, and [Wednesday] was one of those nights,""
May 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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This time, Tim Hudson didn't have to worry about leaving before the final out. He pitched a one-hit masterpiece Wednesday night against Milwaukee in an 8-0 win that gave the Braves a doubleheader sweep of the Brewers, and earned Hudson his first complete-game win since 2008. Atlanta won 8-3 in the opener. Hudson pitched 8 2/3 innings in a 5-2 win at San Francisco on April 23, but was pulled after the Giants got two hits and a run in the ninth, his pitch count at 113. On Wednesday, he threw 102 pitches and recorded 27 outs, allowing one hit and one walk with six strikeouts in his 24th complete game and 12th shutout. "You're going to have nights where you feel really good, and tonight was"
April 24
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
After the Braves recorded six hits and a career-high six walks against Tim Lincecum to chase The Freak in the seventh inning, and after Brian McCann's two-run, two-out hit pushed the lead to 5-1, the biggest question became: Complete game? Fifty-three outs into the afternoon, that question was answered when Tim Hudson's gritty pitching performance ended with manager Fredi Gonzalez bringing in closer Craig Kimbrel to face San Francisco Giants pinch-hitter Buster Posey. Hudson gave up a run in the ninth and didn't get the coveted "CG," but he and the Braves got a 5-2 win to clinch the series before another packed house of disappointed Giants fans at AT"
April 20
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
In case there were any doubts, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez confirmed, in some many words, that pitcher Tim Hudson was sending a message to Dodgers rookie Jerry Sands with that high-and-inside pitcher Monday. He just didn't mean for it to be so high, which is why Hudson gestured to the Dodgers dugout, to let the kid and his teammates know the pitch was not meant to be at Sands' head (he had to duck to avoid the pitch). First, a bit of back story for those who didn't see the game Monday. The Dodgers surprised many by bringing up Sands from Triple-A on Monday. The 23-year-old North Carolina native was in low-A ball a year ago at this time, and hit 35 homers in the minors last season. The"
April 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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He pitched seven strong innings and retired the last 17 batters he faced, but it was Tim Hudson's head-first slide across home plate in his warmup jacket that Braves teammates will remember most from Sunday. "Play of the year," catcher Brian McCann said, smiling. "That was awesome." Hudson's fifth-inning gallop and slide into highlight reels and memory banks turned out to be the winning run in an 11-2 rout against Washington at Nationals Park. Leadoff man Martin Prado went 3-for-5 with two doubles and McCann had three hits and four RBIs for the Braves, who scored six runs in the eighth inning to blow the game open and clinch a 2-1 season-opening series win. Despite all the offense, the"
April 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves pitcher Tim Hudson keeps a huge silver trophy belt, like wrestlers wear, in his locker at Turner Field. He earned it by beating his teammates in their fantasy football league. started in my first fantasy football league three years ago, after I had Tommy John surgery on my arm and I had time on my hands. I don't think you can say it's luck that I won. I've played for three years and each year I've been in the Super Bowl. Really, it's nothing but luck. You draft by what the players are projected to do. Even if you've drafted good players, whenever one gets hurt, you have to deal with those injuries every week. You just hope and pray. It's a little bit of your gut and a little bit of"
March 13
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Tim Hudson had his best start of the spring Saturday, and Braves relievers followed suit. After the veteran right-hander held the Mets to four hits with four strikeouts in four innings, five Braves relievers allowed three hits the rest of the way in a 12-0 rout. Braves pitchers had 10 strikeouts and no walks while lowering their team ERA to 2.97, second in the National League behind San Francisco. "There's still a ways to go, but I feel like I'm on my way," said Hudson, who trimmed his spring ERA to 2.00. In three starts, he's allowed 10 hits (no homers), two runs and three walks with six strikeouts in nine innings. "My arm strength's not quite where I want it, but there's still two or"
October 26
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Braves pitcher Tim Hudson was honored as the National League's comeback player of the year by the Players Choice Awards. The veteran right-hander went 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA in 34 starts, after missing all but the final month of the 2009 season recovering from ligament-transplant elbow surgery. Hudson also won the NL comeback player award from MLB.com earlier this month."
September 3
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Tim Hudson was named National League pitcher of the month Thursday for putting up the kind of August that moved him into the National League lead for ERA and forefront of the NL Cy Young conversation. Hudson went 4-1 with a 1.71 ERA over six starts in August. He allowed one or no runs in five of those starts. He finished out the month with a career-high 13 strikeouts in a 12-3 win over the Marlins on Saturday. Hudson finished August with a 15-5 record for the year with a 2.24 ERA."
August 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
For the second time in three games the Braves built a 10-1 lead. This time they had a better idea what to do with it. Unlike their colossal collapse in Colorado on Wednesday, the Braves had Tim Hudson on the mound Saturday night at Turner Field, and he knows a thing or two about what to do with a lead. Hudson nailed down the 12-3 win over the Marlins to move to 131-2 in his career when given leads of three or more runs. Hudson (15-5) struck out a career-high 13 batters on a dominant night in a season in which he has had plenty. This one might have come at the most critical time, though, as his seven sterling innings helped the Braves snap a four-game losing streak, their longest since the"
August 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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In two weeks the Phillies had shaved six games off the National League East lead and were threatening to end the Braves' two-month hold on first place. But Saturday, with the Phillies within one game, the Braves had the one pitcher they needed on the mound. Tim Hudson no-hit the Giants for four innings, faced the minimum through six innings and managed to make Giants ace Matt Cain look a little pedestrian. Hudson pitched eight shutout innings to dominate the Giants in a 3-0 win and help the Braves build their lead back to two games over Philadelphia, who lost to the Mets 1-0 on Saturday night. The only run scored on a home run by Jeff Francoeur. "If he's not getting some type of Cy Young,"
July 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
So it's a good night to have Tim Hudson going to the post for the Braves and plenty of denizens, worried about this rough stretch the Braves are in the midst of. The NL East lead is down to 3 1/2 games and the Braves could use a win to hold off the Phillies, who are riding a six-game winning streak. This is as close as the Phillies have been since the end of their three-game series against the Braves in Philadelphia July 5-7 where the Braves left up by three games. The Braves have got the right guy going tonight in Hudson. He's 9-1 with a 1.51 ERA in 15 starts against the Nationals for his career. He's allowed them only two earned runs in 14 innings over two starts this season. On the"
July 23
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Yes, the Braves have the best record in the National League and the best home record in the majors. But when Chipper Jones broke out a 1995 comparison Thursday, it carried more gravitas than won-lost records. After Tim Hudson and the Braves blanked the San Diego Padres 8-0 on a sweltering afternoon at Turner Field, Jones for the first time compared this team to the one he helped win the World Series as a rookie. "This team, the more and more I look at it, reminds me of the '95 team," Jones said. "You don't have the guys that are leading the league in any category, but you have evenly distributed production throughout all 25 guys. "More times than not, those type of rosters with that kind"
July 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
columnist Jeff Schultz
"
When Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first "Tommy John" surgery on, ironically enough, Tommy John, he told the pitcher that his chances for full a recovery were something like 1 in 100. It was like "Dumb and Dumber" meets baseball. "So you're saying I've got a chance …" When Tim Hudson stepped on the mound Saturday night, the only question was whether John eventually would have to start sharing title honors for the reconstructive elbow surgery. Hudson led the Braves in the first half of the season in wins, earned run average for starters, innings and opponents' batting average. He was the only pitcher in the All-Star game with such a fresh scar on his elbow. "I feel like I did when I was 25,""
July 18
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Seldom have things deteriorated so rapidly for Braves ace Tim Hudson as they did in the seventh inning Saturday night, when first his pitch command was lost, followed soon by tempers, ejections and accusations of throwing at batters. Hudson entered the inning with a four-hitter and a 2-1 lead against Milwaukee, then participated in a five-run implosion that lifted the Brewers to a 6-3 win before a stunned, sellout crowd of 48,174 at Turner Field. The Braves have lost consecutive home games for the first time since late April and need a win Sunday to salvage a split of the four-game series. They've lost three of their past four games. "I don't think there's a malaise," said Braves left"
July 14
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Being part of a third All-Star team was special for Tim Hudson, and not so much because it had been 10 years since he pitched in the Midsummer Classic. Tuesday's game was gratifying for the Braves' right-hander because of where he was 12 months before, still rehabbing on his way back from ligament-transplant elbow surgery. "Last year at this time I was trying to figure out where I was going on rehab starts, and how I was going to feel," he said Tuesday while dressing in his National League uniform before the All-Star game. "Even last year when I did come back, I didn't think I was going to be feeling good enough to make the All-Star team this soon." He had "Tommy John" surgery in August"
July 11
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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These are heady times for the Braves, whose four-hit shutout Saturday against the New York Mets continued to strengthen the argument for them as the top team in the National League. With the 4-0 win at Citi Field, the Braves improved their league-best record to 52-35 and guaranteed themselves of at least a four-game division lead entering the All-Star break, which begins after Sunday's series finale. Still, they weren't satisfied. "We've talked all year about just winning series," said first baseman Troy Glaus. "We've done that now, but we've still got work to do tomorrow. Two's nice, but it'd be great to get three." Glaus singled to drive in the first run in a four-run fifth inning that"
July 5
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
On a day the Braves had five players named to the National League All-Star team, they got beat by a player who probably felt he also deserved to make the team. Florida second baseman Dan Uggla homered and drove in three runs to lead the Marlins to a 3-2 win against the Braves and All-Star pitcher Tim Hudson in a series finale at Turner Field. Before a crowd of 44,163, the Marlins averted a sweep and handed the first-place Braves just their fourth home loss in their past 24 home games. Their lead was trimmed from three games to two over the New York Mets in the NL East. "A couple of pitches cost us the game," said Hudson, who gave up a two-run single by Uggla in the first inning and Uggla's"
June 29
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Stephen Strasburg came to town as the toast of baseball, so dominant through four starts that a Washington reporter asked Braves manager Bobby Cox whether the Nationals rookie should be in next month's All-Star Game. Cox was diplomatic in his answer, but a couple of hours later his Braves delivered a response of a different kind. After Strasburg sailed through six innings, the Braves knocked him out during a five-run seventh that lifted them and Tim Hudson to a 5-0 win in a series opener before an excited crowd of 42,889 at Turner Field. "It felt like a playoff game, the electricity that was there tonight," Braves catcher Brian McCann said. "A lot of people came out to watch Strasburg"