Hudson off disabled list, gets first start
By Hal McCoy
Dayton Daily News
CINCINNATI | In another of the many surprise moves uncorked by the Cincinnati Reds, pitcher Luke Hudson is coming off the disabled list to start tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Hudson has been on the DL since spring training with shoulder problems. He made on rehab start Saturday for Class AA Chattanooga at Jacksonville, Fla., and was a 4-0 loser, giving up four runs and six hits over 62/3 innings, walking one, striking out seven and giving up two homers.
Originally, Aaron Harang was tonight's starter, but he'll pitch Friday against the Baltimore Orioles.
"In his last six starts Harang has thrown more than 100 pitches and we thought he could use an extra day of rest," said manager Dave Miley, to say nothing of saving the team's best pitcher for the Orioles rather than waste him on the Devil Rays.
"It also is Hudson's turn," Miley said. "He has worked hard to be get back to where he is. He has good stuff and toward the end of last season he was outstanding for us."
From August until the end of the season, Hudson was the team's best pitcher — 4-1 with a 1.67 ERA in his last eight starts and 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA in five September starts.
Harang loves Boston
Harang doesn't mind that his turn today against Tampa Bay was pushed back a day so that he can face the much-tougher Orioles.
"I still get to pitch in Boston and that's what I want," he said.
Harang wants the Fenway Experience for two reasons.
"I was hoping we had an off day in Boston so I could go to Cape Cod," he said. "I pitched for Cotuit (Mass.) in the Cape Cod League and I'm still in touch with my house-family, the people I lived with in 1998," he said. "They came to spring training this year in Sarasota and I would have liked to visit them."
The other reason is pleasant memories.
"My rookie year (2002) with Oakland the first start in Fenway was against Derrek Lowe and I held the Red Sox to one run in seven innings," he said. "The run was a home run to Manny Ramirez and I learned how pesky the Pesky Pole (right-field foul pole) can be. The home run hooked around the pole and landed in the first row. But we won, 5-4."
'32' jersey confiscated
More clubhouse intrigue surfaced when the Reds returned home from their 1-5 trip to Houston and Denver.
The red '32' Danny Graves jersey that Adam Dunn hung on the clubhouse wall near his locker was gone. And Dunn isn't happy about it. When he put it up, in honor of his departed friend and teammate, Dunn said, "If that goes, I go."
Asked if it were removed in his absence, Dunn said, "You don't think anybody would be brave to take it down in front of me, do you? It was gone when we came back from the trip."
A few days ago, Miley had two massage recliners owned by Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. removed from in front of their lockers and they now gather dust in the clubhouse chapel.
Keisler can hit
Those in the know and those who pay attention shouldn't have been shocked by pitcher Randy Keisler's home run and double in Tuesday's game against the Devil Rays.
"He hit .357 last year at (Class AAA) Norfolk," said manager Dave Miley.
Said Keisler, "I was hitting .400 until they started sending me up to pinch hit in crucial situations and pitchers began throwing me breaking balls. I struck out three of my last four times."
Tampa Bay catcher Toby Hall watched Keisler's home run and said, "He swings like Ken Griffey Jr. I keep telling our guys never to take the pitcher for granted. A lot of these guys can hit."
Wilson on delay
Disabled pitcher Paul Wilson's return from shoulder tendinitis suffered a slight setback.
Wilson was eligible to come off the disabled list June 1. He was examined this week by Dr. Tim Kremchek and advised not to pick up baseball until at least the weekend.
"He is giving his shoulder active rest," said trainer Mark Man. "He isn't throwing, but he is doing strengthening exercises."
Meanwhile, shortstops Anderson Machado (left knee) and Ray Olmedo (right elbow) are playing their last game today in extended spring training in Sarasota.
Mann said it is likely both Machado and Olmedo "are very close to rehab assignments."