Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Tim Hudson’s place in history
I remember Hudson's first start, because Tim Raines was playing for the A's, and Raines gushed and marvelled at Hudson's performance. I still remember that.
I consider eras by the year of birth, and 1942-1951 provides one great set of pitchers (Seaver, Ryan, Carlton, etc),1952-1961 provides for a lack of any standout, then 1962-1971 provides the greatest of them all (Clemens, Maddux, RJ, Pedro). We have a new era, starting with pitchers born in 1972. Here are those pitchers, sorted by WAR, born 1972-1981, min 2000 IP.
(I actually made it 1971-1981 so I can show Pedro at the top.)
The top pitcher of this generation is Doc, and in #3 is Tim Hudson. Doc has thrown 2719.1 innings, and Hudson is just TWO behind. Their W/L record is extremely similar (201-103 to 200-105... I obviously don't have to tell you whose is who's).? ERA is 3.35 for Doc and 3.42 for Hudson. Overall, Doc is ahead at 66 WAR, but Hudson is hanging in there with 55, and he's right there with CC also at 55.
It's standard that every decade, there's about 7-10 pitchers who eventually make it into the Hall of Fame. With the previous era (1962-1971), the names are more obvious, with the Big 4, then with Smoltz, Glavine, Mussina, Schilling, just missing with Kevin Brown, and of course Rivera and possibly Hoffman. That decade spoiled us. But the 1972-1981 era of pitchers should give us several pitchers still. With Doc a lock, and Pettitte likely, then CC, Hudson, the always-present Buehrle, will make their marks, as history won't be kind to Osawalt and Johan.
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