During the sixth inning of last night’s 3-2 loss to the New York Mets, Braves pitcher Tim Hudson was picked off while straying too far from second base by Mets starter Oliver Perez. After the game, Hudson showed his bitter side by insinuating to reporters that pitchers shouldn’t try and pick off other pitchers.
“Every time a pitcher gets on base now, I’m gonna pick,” said Hudson, upset that Perez would focus on picking off a fellow pitcher. “Obviously I’m not a very good baserunner. Looking back, I was probably a little too far off the bag. But I’m hardly ever on second base. I don’t know what’s close and what’s far. I guess I know what’s too far now.”
So let me get this straight, Timmy. A pitcher can NEVER pick off another pitcher even if a) you admittedly strayed too far from the bag or b) you are a runner in scoring position in the late innings of a September divisional match-up that ultimately ended up being decided by one run. And this is true because you admit to being an incompetent runner.
Glad we cleared that up.
Ward, I think the Yankees are a good guess for where Wickman will end up. They could use bullpen help, and they have the money, and they have a proven track record of signing jerks. Also, of getting jerks to reform. Whether that’s because they actually listen to Jeter/Torre/Steinbrenner or whether it’s because they’re just dazzled by the pinstripes, I don’t know. I think a lot of douchebags are just so honored to play for New York that they’re willing to quit their whining.