White Sox downplay how good Diamondbacks’ starter Daniel Hudson is
Aug 25, 2011, 5:08 PM | Updated: 6:56 pm
In hindsight the Arizona Diamondbacks committed armed robbery — pun intended –when they traded Edwin Jackson for Daniel Hudson. The question is, did some in the Chicago White Sox organization know just how good Hudson was before the right-hander was sent to the desert?
It looks like at least one executive in the south sider’s organization had an idea of just what Hudson could become. Although, he isn’t likely to admit it now.
Phil Rodgers of the Chicago Tribune writes that he overheard the White Sox’s assistan GM compare Hudson to a Cy Young candidate.
Two years ago, when Daniel Hudson was having one of the most remarkable minor-league seasons ever I sat in the stands at Triple-A Charlotte and watched him pitch. Rick Hahn, the White Sox’s assistant GM, was next to me and at some point he compared Hudson’s mechanics and skill set to those of the Angels’ Jered Weaver.
Rodgers goes on to say that since the trade most in the Sox front office completely downplay Hudson’s success, even going as far to suggest that it’s merely a byproduct of him being a guy ‘who is good enough to win in the National League but wouldn’t have succeeded against AL lineups.’
Can you blame the White Sox? They’re probably embarrassed by the fact that they dealt a young, up and coming pitcher in exchange for a guy who lasted less than a full season in Chicago. If Hudson does reach Jared Weaver levels like Hahn suggested, you’ll have to imagine they’ll feel even worse and distance themselves from the deal even more.
Like they say, hindsight is 20-20 and it doesn’t seem like the White Sox organization is happy with what they’re seeing. Although, Diamondbacks fans sure are.
