Washington Nationals: Orlando Hudson Rumor Mill.
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 5:01 AM EST
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PrintOn my way to work I received a Tweet from ESPN.com's Buster Olney which informed his followers (that's what Twitter calls them) that the baseball writer's latest blog post was up, (for INSIDERS only) and in it, Mr. Olney promised some sort of news on the "O-Dog", Orlando Hudson, the 32-year-old free agent infielder who has reportedly been involved in negotiations with the Washington Nationals, though rumors of interest from other teams have surfaced and the ESPN.com writer identifies Washington, Minnesota and Cleveland as Hudson's acknowledged suitors, before exploring how nicely the '09 Gold Glove winner might fit into the Indians' lineup...Why the Indians?
I immediately thought of a recent update of FOXSports.com's Buzz: Latest from the MLB offseason" by Ken Rosenthal, which was subtitled, "Indians trying to make room for Hudson", where Mr. Rosenthal discussed a hypothetical scenario in which the Indians could trade starter Fausto Carmona, "...to clear money for free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson." While Mr. Rosenthal quickly dismissed what he suggested saying his "baseball sources" considered it unlikely that such a scenario might actually play out, I noted that a few days before the Roy Halladay/Cliff Lee three-way deal between Toronto, Seattle and Philadelphia this winter, Mr. Rosenthal had raised such a possibility as what LA Times' sports writer Jon Weisman called at the time, a "seat-of-your-pants 'Hey, it could happen' scenario...," just days before just such a deal actually took place.
And now tonight, a quick Sports Spyder search for the latest news on Orlando Hudson unearths an article by San Chronicle staff writer Susan Slusser entitled "Brett Tomko is throwing again, looking for deal", in which free agent infielder Adam Kennedy is quoted stating, "...that he's still talking to Cleveland and Washinghton, but it seems as everything is on hold until Orlando Hudson decides where he's going." MASNSports.com's Phil Wood, in an article entitled, "Another view of Hudson", cautions fans of the Nationals who thought Orlando Hudson signing in Washington was "a forgone conclusion" that there are reasons why the Dodgers parted ways with Hudson...
Will Manny Acta and the Indians be able to lure Hudson to Cleveland? Will Washington meet Hudson's demands? Is the possibility of O-Dog in DC a near-miss for the second straight season? Are the Twins still in it? Just when I'm considering these possibilities, MLB.com's Bill Ladson sends out the following Tweet:
"#Nats have not ruled out a double-play combination of Ian Desmond at short and Cristian Guzman at second base."
I give up...Hudson's supposed to be making his decision this week...
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I Want Wang
I like the idea of the Nats signing Wang to pitch if he’s healthy! He would give us a proven reliable Major League Pitcher.
I want two years ago's Wang...does that make sense?
He was awful and obviously injured last year, but if healthy, he was very effective at least on the Yanks…plus Rizzo loves him some sinkerballers…
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 9:08 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'm not sold on Wang.
He could end up being a great pickup, but who knows what will happen with him. Sign him for a year at less than $2 million, and take a chance.
I Want Carmona
in a trade only if and only if we get the carmona of 2008, Dont Want Wang- injury prone
by Skins4ever on Feb 4, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
I'm ready to pass on Hudson, because I don't see them benching Guzman, no matter how well Desmond plays in ST...
Oh boy…….from Ladson…“SS Cristian Guzman is throwing the baseball, but his right shoulder is not 100 percent — yet. His feet are OK, however.”
“@mezza76 WOW. Desmond-Espinosa will happen probably in 2011 or 2012. We think alike. Play the kids.”
+1 on Mezza’s and Rocket’s tweets….
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
My inability to get Mezza-tweets is very frustrating...
And I believe it’s somehow linked to whatever crazy magic allows water to flow backwards down there…
Before I say a tentative yes to just keeping Desmond and Guzman I want to know if Guzman’s healed bunions will result in a higher OBP….???
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 9:13 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don't have an account, so wandering around people's replies leading to others is excrutiating...
I don’t expect anything more from Guz’s bat, and less if he bats lower in the order. Sign Hudson, and you may as well cut Austin Guzman…
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
lol
I put fwd the view that Espinosa and Desmond are the best Nats combo at this stage of the team development… Ladso and I are like this (making crossed fingers thing).
"I love, love, love John Lackey." -- Graysnail.
So, timeline......who plays future SS?.........train 'em both for 2B/SS?
Work them both at SS and 2011 loser learns the pivot?…..I hope they use them both at both positions, if only to avoid the future, “I never played _ _ _ since high school”. (It’s not that different, Guz……2B is not like learning to fly an airplane….)
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 8:42 PM EST up reply actions
I think by virtue of timing means that Desmond is more likely the 2B
Better to play Guz at SS for the last year and let Desmond make the transition. Given his throwing errors it might make it easier in a way. Espinosa projects more as a better SS in terms of defense (or so I read…somewhere). He is seriously coming along…and probably worth a look at ST to see where he is up to. Id look at for 2011 – if it started to fall into place – the 2011 team would be young and very talented. Kobernus is another option but likely more in 2012+.
What’s the alternative? Guys who are 32 or 33 years old and while play decent ball now…are really only 1 year deals. Its time to work out what we have and whether these guys are going to make it (Kory Castro style).
"I love, love, love John Lackey." -- Graysnail.
That's what I was getting at.....if Ian is in line to make the move to 2B eventually....
Then, why all this drama now…..especially sending him to Syracuse to work on a position he may not be playing in a year or so. I guess the smart thing is to let it play out and make the decision when it needs to be made.
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 11:22 PM EST up reply actions
Why wold Hudson even want to go to Cle if they got rid of Carmona?
I know I wouldn’t.
Here’s the thing, I would feel so much more comfortable about Desmond getting pt at shortstop if we had Hudson in the line up, because then if something goes wrong with Desmond we have a safety in Guzman. But if we have a middle infield combo of Guzman and Desmond, what happens if Desmond isn’t ready?
That’s why I feel it may even be worth it to overpay even if it’s for just one year.
www.TheNatsBlog.com
If Guz's shoulder is not 100%, then he's not ready for SS either...
And, that’s where he plays if Hudson’s signed. Not to mention the lineup problem, as Guz pouts if he doesn’t bat 1st or 2nd…
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 9:09 AM EST up reply actions
These workers provide only the best in circumstantial evidence...
Acta wants to steal O-Dog from DC!!!
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 9:16 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
What are the reasons the Dodgers parted ways with Hudson?
Clash with Torre?
What?
Why not us? Why not now?
That's why I'm concerned...
Ronnie Belliard, who wasn’t good enough to stay in DC, replaced him over in Los Angeles. If it was just a clash with Joe, then that’s okay, but if he really wasn’t the better player why are the Nats trying so hard for Orlando?
I asked the SB Nation's Dodgers site the same ?
http://mobile.federalbaseball.com/2010/1/14/1250720/washington-nationals-3-questions
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 10:04 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Oh yeah, I did read that. Ha!
“Orlando Hudson is sitting today, for the eighth time in 19 games since the arrival of Ronnie Belliard. Torre said he is getting Hudson rest, the rest he didn’t get earlier in the season. Hudson started the season with the club, which was not expected, and he was playing so well that he didn’t get a day off until game number 55. Torre wouldn’t say whether or not Hudson was injured, noting “you can’t get him to admit anything” anyway, and that the season was simply taking its toll on the O-Dog. When asked whether or not Hudson was the starting second baseman going forward, Torre bristled, saying “He’s not starting today.”
Sounds to me like Hudson did something to upset Torre…
Cheap Dodger owner not wanting to pay more incentive money?
and Torre not liking the order from above, making him bristly?
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
Check out that MASN Phil Woods article...
Hudson’s production dropped off, and he fraternized with the enemy…
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 10:38 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Production drop-off I can see.......but the other thing makes Torre seem petty....
And a probably true since he was evasive about the benching…….
man, those numbers not as good as Belliard’s are a screaming red flag….
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
Man, reading that Buster"a gut" Olney paragraph about Hudson..
.. two things came to mind.
1) If I’m Hudson and reading this info I’d rather play for the Twins in that lineup.
2) Olney doesn’t want any good players coming to a team like the Nats.
Kennedy was TERRIBLE defensively last season
something like -18 UZR/150. terrible. they’d be better off going with Desmond/Guzman/Bruntlett/Harris.
now if Guzman’s shoulder is still giving him problems, that’s a whole nuther thing.
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at District Sports Page on Feb 4, 2010 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah I really didn't like that Guzman's not 100% report...
That would actually be worse than him being in lineup…I think…
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 11:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Can they do Lasik on a shoulder?
(Caitlin says “hi” to Frito B……..)
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
I think Lasik on a shoulder should be easy. I’ll do it. And laser foot surgery.
Frito is ready for 2 feet of snow…and so am I. LOVE IT.
And laser the pouty part of the brain that doesn't like batting 8th...
Saw the photos…..I think Caitlin would prefer snow to this drenching, soggy weather here….. or sun and 80F…
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
sun and 80F
I hate the DC area right now….and unlike Roscoe I was not made for nearly two feet of snow. Oh fadder in hebben plees makie da snow go bye bye…
I'm not made to be cold and wet in February.....at least not for more than a day or two..
Winter should last a week and go away….It snowed here a couple of years ago and Caitlin was frightened of it and I agree with her…
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
I read... boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Oh well, got to stock up on hot chocolate. My two sons will be human icicles by Saturday afternoon. I think the last big storm a couple weeks ago my oldest and his friends played snow soccer. Oh what fun in a foot or two of snow, eh…
So we're recommending extensive laser surgery for Guzman?
I just want the speedy triple a week Guzman from Minnesota back…since ’05, the Nats have gotten about a year and a half of good Guzman dunce 2005…
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 12:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Dunce = since Stupid iPhone...
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 12:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I was really hoping for the good Guzman this year....
That’s until I read about the shoulder…Laser something, anything,……..gosh darnit….
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Please don't suck, Guz, so we can talk about other stuff.
Thank you…
" I was just poking the universe to get things started..." -E. Chigliak, Winter 2009
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
by cat daddy3000 on Feb 4, 2010 11:25 PM EST up reply actions
Ladson just tweeted that Hudson about to sign with Twins...
…which means Adam Kennedy is about all that’s left (unless you want to bring Felipe Lopez back [none of us do] or open the season with Desmond at second [which Rizzo has made clear he doesn’t want to do])
Just put up a new post, hope Hudson and the Twins make the playoffs and it's 20 degrees in their stupid outdoors in Minnesota stadium...
#bitter….
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
I know I am alone here
I am glad the Nats passed on Hudson. The wrist, salary, benching in LA, dissing the Nats about the phantom physical last year. Hopefully the Nats can move on. Kennedy or not, they still have Desmond to fall back on. That money is saved to address bigger concerns next year. Guz comes off the books as well. Get some innings for our young staff this year, compete for the division next year.
Why not us? Why not now?
Not too torn up about this, I have to admit to personally kind of liking Hudson's enthusiasm...
But as you mention, there were a lot of issues…
As i said earlier in the winter, WE WANT DESMOND!!!
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Feb 4, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
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