July 20, 2009- Atlanta, GATim Hudson has been on the shelf long enough and he's itching to return to the mound for Atlanta. Since his injury shortened season of 2008 and his subsequent surgery, Hudson has been following a rigorous therapy program to get back into the Braves starting rotation.
"I'm not very good at this being patient thing," Hudson told reporters who caught up with him as he finished his workout at a local gym. "Mentally, I'm ready to go right now. Physically, I may be close to 90% ready."
Hudson indicated he felt he could be ready to pitch in Atlanta by the first week in August. "If my doctors give me the O.K. next week, then it'll be up to Jobo (Foster, Braves GM) and Bobby (Cox, Braves manager) when I'm activated and where we go from there."
It would welcome news for Braves fans if Hudson could return anywhere close to his form to aid in the Braves' stretch drive.
Even so, as the trading deadline is just a little over a week away, Atlanta's front office is known to be looking around for more help either in the pen or the starting rotation. Rumors swirl they were close to a deal for Rich Harden before the Cubs dealt him to San Francisco. Sources say the talks stalled when the Braves would not add Jair Jurrjens to the deal. Foster, it is said, felt it would not have been a financially sound deal for Atlanta, while Cox objected to giving up Jurrjens because he sees even greater development ahead for his 23 year old hurler.
Whether or not they add another arm, you get the idea they are counting heavily on the return of Tim Hudson.
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