The San Francisco Giants are worried about Tim Hudson
By Hayden Kane
For much of the first half of the season, veteran starting pitcher Tim Hudson looked like one of the best signings of the past off-season. Pitching in a deceptively thin San Francisco Giants’ starting rotation, Hudson stepped up to a level that even the Giants likely did not expect.
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All of that has changed in the second half of the season, however. Hudson’s steady decline may or may not be attributable to his health, specifically a lingering hip injury, but it has been drastic. Hudson currently owns a 9.92 ERA in three starts in September and has been forced to leave multiple starts early.
With that in mind, the Giants kept a close eye on a bullpen session for Hudson this week, trying to decide if he will make his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It sounds like the session generally went well, but the Giants are still worried. Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes the following:
"Pitching coach Dave Righetti said the issue with Hudson is the sinker not sinking because he is not finishing his pitches on a straight line toward the plate. A sinkerballer who starts on the first-base side of the rubber and “pulls off” his line will leave balls up and over the plate, and they will flatten rather than dive."
As for what might be causing that mechanical issue, his hip injury could be a factor:
"The hip could be causing the mechanical flaw. So could fatigue.“It’s a long year. He’s an older guy, too,” Righetti said. “He’s gone through some stuff. We’re hoping in a crazy way when a guy gets knocked out early in a couple of starts, it acts to freshen him up.”"
Sounds like wishful thinking for the Giants, who could turn to Tim Lincecum to take Hudson’s spot on Wednesday and possibly beyond if these issues extend into the postseason for Hudson.
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