Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Gone But Not Forgotten- Orlando Hudson

There will be no pretence of objectivity today. Orlando Hudson is my favourite current ballplayer, and I was disappointed to see him leave Toronto. His heart, his unique diction and his smile are all appealing, but it is his blend of artistry and toughness around the bag which most captivates me.

Orlando Hudson was a 43rd round pick of the Jays in the 1998 draft. He was 20 years old, and reported to Medicine Hat where he went .293/.363/.475. It was a good start, but hardly the basis for an expectation of major league success. He made steady slow progress up the system in 1999 and 2000, and made a successful conversion from shortstop to second base. In 2001, he took a big leap forward, hitting .300 at both double A Tennessee and triple A Syracuse. He had also developed a reputation among scouts as a fine defender.

In 2002, he had a rough start in spring training, and was sent to Syracuse for more seasoning. He responded well, and was called up in mid-season. He was an immediate hit with fans for his flamboyant defensive play, and the obvious joy that he brought to the diamond. He carried these qualities with him throughout his stay in Toronto.

Listing his offensive statistics first is a lot like beginning a review of a sushi joint with a discussion of dessert. Here they are:

Year  PA    BA/OBP/Slugging
2002  207  .276/.319/.443
2003  521  .268/.328/.395
2004  551  .270/.341/.438
2005  501  .271/.315/.412

What he is known for is his defence- his excellent range, his steadiness and his ability to turn the double play. A second baseman's pivot on the double play is part gymnastics and part martial art. Getting rid of the ball quickly and accurately with an oncoming runner takes a combination of athleticism, guile and toughness. Sometimes avoidance (leaping over the runner) is called for. Sometimes it is discretion (holding onto the ball). And sometimes, it is toughness- taking one's lumps and administering a few in return. In Orlando's first significant collision at the bag with a baserunner, the runner ended up on the DL. That was when I knew that I had a new favourite player.

Please share your remembrances of Orlando Hudson in this thread. Thank you to Aaron Reynolds for the photographs.

Posted by Mike Green on Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 08:59 AM EST.

Gone But Not Forgotten- Orlando Hudson | 47 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Blue in SK - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 09:43 AM EST (#141269) #

The only reason I have to cheer for the Snakes is the O-Dog!

Matthew E - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 09:54 AM EST (#141270) #

The thing I most remember about Hudson is the quote I read about him when he was just starting to appear on the prospect radar screen. It was something like, "Every town Orlando Hudson has played in, he could have run for mayor."

I was present for his ground single through Adam Kennedy that drove in the winning run in the 18-inning game against the Angels. Good times.

bird droppings - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:02 AM EST (#141271) #

No comment. Okay... maybe a little one. Worst player POSSIBLE for the Jays to get rid of. O Dog was the ONLY player throughout the last few FULL seasons that made watching the Blue Jays interesting and worth watching.
From what I could tell, he's the type of guy everyone gets along with. He had me at hello. He's never said a word to me.

O Dog... you will be GREATLY missed in Toronto. You were the Toronto Blue Jays and it's sad that the little kids upstairs felt they had to dispose of you in order to improve our ballclub in one area only to hurt it in another. Okay... tears are falling. It hurts to even think of you in another uniform.

Peace.

Mike Green - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:09 AM EST (#141272) #

Please save discussion of the merits of the Glaus/Santos/Batista/Hudson trade for another thread.

Sister - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:26 AM EST (#141273) #

I am also a big fan of O-Dawg and my fond memories are of his stellar defense, in particular his amazing range into right and centre field. I specifically remember the mid summer game in 2005 when the Jays put on a fielding clinic, with special plays by Hill, Vernon, and two gems by Orlando.

He had me at "J.P. is a Pimp"

Thomas - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:29 AM EST (#141274) #

I've never talked to O-Dog for any length of time, but everyone says he's an incredibly likable, friendly and upbeat person and I don't doubt that for a second. The last few seasons in Toronto have had some rough spots, but Orlando could always be seen smiling and joking around with other players, while not ignoring the results on the field. He seemed to be the epitome of a great clubhouse presence.

I was at the game Matthew speaks of and that hit will be one of the things I remember most about Hudson. However, I'll remember his defence above everything else. Hudson was a phenomenal defensive infielder, the best we've had since Alomar. It seemed like he made an outstanding play every day in the field and I don't think that's too far removed from the truth. Whether he was going to his backhand and throwing across his body or diving to his left to snare a grounder or ranging into the shallow outfield to track down a pop fly, his defensive game really doesn't have a discernable weakness.

I'm suddenly very eager for Diamondback highlights every morning.

Craig B - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:31 AM EST (#141275) #

Orlando Hudson deserves to be a star, because he has a brilliant personality and spirit. I will miss seeing him in action every day; as with Mike, he was my favorite player in baseball.

VBF - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:52 AM EST (#141277) #

Best moments of the 0-Dog in non-chronological, no particular order:

-Sunday game last year against Texas. Diving stop to his left, deadened the ball with his body and made a quick throw to Hinske. The crowd reacted like it was a common play, but I think alot of us were in complete awe that a human being could move so quickly.

-July 5th vs. Oakland. Hit a homer but before it had cleared the fence, O-Dog tripped and injured his hamstring (or was that his ankle?) after touching first base. After he went down, he continued his home run trot with the help of his teammates, to what was probably the loudest ovation of 2005 for any player. Thomas described it afterwards as "One of those SkyDome moments".

-August 2nd @ White Sox. Back to back homers from Russ Adams and Orlando Hudson in the second inning made this Jays fan happy, despite the string of boos, flying objects, and descriptive threats that came from the White Sox fans behind me.

-August 20th @ Detroit. Despite the score, when the Comerica P.A. guy announced that O-Dog was pinch hitting, the several thousand Jays fans in Detroit that day made it very known who everyone's fan favorite was. O-Dog couldn't stop grinning the whole at bat.

-The video they played at the RC after every O-Dog webgem or at bat. This one made you like the O-Dog even more. I wonder if they'd sell you a copy.

-July 28th vs. Anaheim. I had the pleasure of listening to a conversation between O-Dog, his brother, and Orlando Cabrera. I probaby picked up one word.(well I was sitting nearby--it's hard *not* to eavesdrop). This would be the same game of the O-Dog's winning rbi in the 18th inning. A magnificient game.

-Orlando Hudson's "O-Dog Combo" commercial. "For only nan-nanty-nan".

Rob - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 11:00 AM EST (#141278) #

My favourite on-the-field memory of Orlando Hudson is that catch he made in Fenway, sliding into the rolled-up tarp. But he made so many catches, that's not my all-time favourite memory:

In Spring Training 2005, Hudson was jogging along the RF line in Clearwater after being removed from the game. Some kids were in the stands, yelling "Hey, O-Dog, can I have your autograph! Over here!" and he took one look at them, then said in a very serious voice: "I didn't hear no 'please'."

Barely two seconds passed before he broke out into a huge grin and jogged over to sign.

We'll miss you, O-Dog. We'll still have your Web Gems, even if Oreo Row is no longer.

Donkit R.K. - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 11:18 AM EST (#141279) #

My only concern all offseason was that the Jays improve their team without giving up Hudson. They did, and I was dissapointed, though I am still very excited about the Jays season.
I have never been so excited about a D'Backs season.
My Favorite.

eeleye - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 11:33 AM EST (#141280) #

A friend of mine who works at the Blue Jays mentioned how Cito Gaston was saying how Orlando Hudson was better than Roberto Alomar. And I think so too: Hudson is the best defensive 2b for the Blue Jays all time. My knowledge faults me here, but I want to say that he is the top 3 (?) best Blue Jays defensive player of all time??? I was young then, but maybe Devon White, and maybe Vernon Wells should be up there..?

Mylegacy - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 11:49 AM EST (#141281) #

In 1967 the Hamilton Tiger Cats had the best defense I've EVER seen by any team at any level. They were SO good that when the opposing team got a first down they coudn't believe it.

Being a Cats fan then and a Jays fan the last few years have been heaven!

The batter digs in and drives a screaming ground ball between short and first. Before the ball is three feet off the bat I relax, I know that sucker's out! Atta go O'Dog.

Like Garney Henley is to the Cats, O'Dog is to the Jays, a FOREVER Jay!

jgadfly - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 12:53 PM EST (#141283) #

GBNF...Aaron, great portrait, great composition! It's emblematic of Orlando's baseball career. I see in it a person that has worked hard, bowed head contemplative from fatigue but still moving towards the limit of the frame, as he so often pursued groundballs or popups in foul territory that would be just beyond everybodie's reach but his own. He has come so far from a softfocus background of being drafted in the 43rd round to being possibly the best defensive 2nd baseman of alltime. I can't recall ever seeing Orlando give up on a ball hit anywhere on the right side of the diamond (or for that matter even some that were hit into short centrefield). I understand why his inspirational effort earned the respect of his team mates and how time after time, game after game he was quietly recognized by the team as its leader... "Don't trade the Odog"... He brought intangibles to the field. The love of the game shone through for he was the tenacious and undaunted Odog of the ballyard.
Enjoy the success and respect that you have worked so hard to deserve. Best of luck in Arizona. You may be gone but you definitely won't be forgotten.

VBF - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 01:26 PM EST (#141285) #

As a totally wild prediction, I don't think we've seen the last of Orlando Hudson with the Jays.

eeleye - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 02:34 PM EST (#141291) #

"In a quest to be reunited with his friend Vernon Wells, Hudson signs as a free agent with the reigning world champion Blue Jays..."

Ken Kosowan - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 02:49 PM EST (#141292) #

With all due respect eeleye99, I don't think Hudson can really outshine Alomar.

If I had to rank the greatest defensive players of all time for Toronto, it's really only fair to go by position. Comparing the defensive skills of Devon White to Vernon Wells isn't really a fair comparison.

Here's my ranking, based upon the observations of a Jays fan for 20 years.

C - Ernie Whitt
With a higher FPS, Whitt seems to be the choice. Although, I seem to remember Martinez having a better defensive reputation.

1B - John Olerud
Although his gold gloves came after the Toronto chapter in his career. Olerud was known for scooping many errant throws at First Base during the hey deys.

2B - Roberto Alomar
While our love of Mr.Hudson is quite strong. I believe Roberto did things that Orlando just couldn't do. Of course, both are outstanding defenders. However, statistics seem to be showing Hudson as the stronger player at this point.

SS - Tony Fernandez
Alex Gonzalez, Dick Schofield? No thanks. The only player who you can really compare him to is Alfredo Griffin, who is quite obviously NOT Tony.

3B - Kelly Gruber
I looked over Gruber, and while he won a Gold Glove, I never saw him as an outstanding fielder. However, 3B never seems to have been a defensive strength with the Blue Jays.

LF - Reed Johnson?
This one was difficult. I can never, ever claim that George Bell was a great defender. Then we're left with Candy "Over Everything" Maldonado, Mike Huff, Jose Cruz Jr and the great Al Woods. Johnson stands out the most from this pack in my eyes.

CF - Devon White
White's range, made everything look so easy. While Vernon Wells is undoubtedly talented, I think White gets the edge here. Is Wells allowed to move to RF?

RF - Jesse Barfield
I don't think I need to comment on the strength of Jesse's arm. Mondesi had a cannon too, but this is Jesse Barfield.

P - Dave Stieb
From what I remember, Stieb was a great defender. A converted position player, Stieb was a great athlete, and I can recall him beating many a runner over to first base to make the play

I'd love to see a statistical analysis of who the best defensive Jays at respective positions were. I'd volunteer, but I'm changing jobs at the moment, and time is precious.

Wow, that wasted a good 45 minutes of my life.

rtcaino - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 03:25 PM EST (#141296) #

""If I had to rank the greatest defensive players of all time for Toronto, it's really only fair to go by position. Comparing the defensive skills of Devon White to Vernon Wells isn't really a fair comparison.""

Uhhh...

Ken Kosowan - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 03:30 PM EST (#141297) #

Oops. Darn preview. That obviously should have read Roberto Alomar.

Leigh - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 03:41 PM EST (#141298) #

The trade of Orlando Hudson, like other catastrophic losses, has caused much warranted grief here at Batter's Box.

Denial
Basically, I'm in denial of the possibility that he might be traded, in order to not get myself all worked up. Who needs that at Christmas?
-Named for Hank, December 23.

Anger
So when I hear Orlando Hudson for Troy-Freaking-Glaus (a man with Toronto on a no-trade list!) bandied about, it upsets me.
-Fawaz, December 23.

Bargaining
As a totally wild prediction, I don't think we've seen the last of Orlando Hudson with the Jays.
-VBF, February 16.

Depression
What can I say? My favourite player is gone, and all hope of objectivity with it. Bah, humbug.
-Mike Green, December 23.

Acceptance
Aaron Hill should be his equal as a hitter this year, and will outperform him with the bat, at minimum salary, for 2-3 more years after that.
-Jordan, December 24.

Geoff - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 03:44 PM EST (#141300) #

Speaking of Barfield, his son is being mentioned as a possible rookie of the year and the second coming of Robbie Alomar with the Padres.

Who knows? Maybe history will repeat, Russ Adams will be our Tony Fernandez, Troy Glaus our McGriff, and we can trade for Barfield and Giles.

Maybe next year ;)

Geoff - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 03:46 PM EST (#141301) #

Reflection
The trade of Orlando Hudson, like other catastrophic losses, has caused much warranted grief here at Batter's Box
-Leigh, February 16

Geoff - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 03:50 PM EST (#141302) #

Darn it, before anyone scolds me for posting something off-topic, allow me.

ahem

Geoff, stop being a moron and keep our GBNF clean of superfluous jibber-jabber before I block your IP. This thread is for O-dog love and memories, not notes about Barfield's son, you thick-headed dolt.

My apologies for being slow.

vw_fan17 - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 04:31 PM EST (#141304) #

-July 5th vs. Oakland. Hit a homer but before it had cleared the fence, O-Dog tripped and injured his hamstring (or was that his ankle?) after touching first base. After he went down, he continued his home run trot with the help of his teammates, to what was probably the loudest ovation of 2005 for any player. Thomas described it afterwards as "One of those SkyDome moments".

Anyone have a video clip of this?

VW

VBF - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 05:14 PM EST (#141306) #

Bluejays.com has an archive of video highlights from almost every game. It might be there.

VBF - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 05:19 PM EST (#141307) #

Here it is. Just scroll down.

Glevin - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 06:03 PM EST (#141308) #

My favourite thing in all of baseball is spectacular defense. In the steroid era, this has been especially true for me as homers became more meaningless. Orlando was one of the most fun players in all of baseball to watch play. I don't know how many times I watched him go straight back on a liner, time it perfectly, and dive and catch the ball fully stretched and horizontal. That's a play that very few players in baseball ever make. Orlando seemed to make it all the time. Baseball also seems to suffer from stuffiness sometimes. Old rules that sometimes have their place and sometimes just seem dumb. (Hitting people for revenge when the first HBP was clearly unintentional, any "showing up" of players.) Orlando has a strong and vibrant personality. He plays the game with the passion and love it deserves.

Dave Till - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 06:26 PM EST (#141310) #

I remember both Alomar and Hudson very well, and the O-Dog was much better. Alomar had tremendous range to his left, was a very intelligent player, and was excellent at barehanding slow rollers and flipping to first in one motion. He was a great player when he was in Toronto.

But the O-Dog is a better defender. He could range well into center and right field, well down the first base foul line, and well into the shortstop hole to corral popups. His range up the middle was, basically, everything. And, by the end of his stay in Toronto, he could relay the ball practically instantaneously when serving as a cutoff man or the pivot man on a DP.

Alomar used to keep the bag between him and the baserunner when turning the DP. This meant that the baserunner couldn't upend him, as the bag was in the way. But the O-Dog didn't need to do that - he just got rid of the ball quickly, and dodged the incoming runner.

I was sad to see him go - he seemed like such a nice and interesting guy. But he wasn't getting any better as a hitter, Hill has proven that he can play second, and MacDonald has been reacquired as defensive insurance. So I can live with it. I'll be thinking good thoughts about the Snakes, though.

zeppelinkm - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 07:26 PM EST (#141311) #

Ohh Hudson, how I'll miss thee.

It is sad in sports how to make your team better you have to trade one of those players everyone loves.

At least it wasn't Halladay...

As for this Alomar vs Hudson defensive debate, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but Alomar won his 5th gold glove when he was 28, whereas this is Hudson's first. Although I'm sure somebody here could bust out some super-statistics that would be a better measure of the defensive prowlness of the two. But this is off topic, so I'll stop now.

To Hudson - thanks for the memories.

melondough - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 07:39 PM EST (#141312) #

If you want to relive Hudson's top plays from 2006 (I love to listen to the away commentator), then check out all the clips (dates listed below) at http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/multimedia/tp_archive.jsp?c_id=tor&ym=200504. I have tried to save you the time of having to search for them. Here they are....

April 18th:"Hudson turns quick DP"!
May 17th:"Hudson spins and throws"
May 4th:"Hudson with the range"
June 22nd:"Hudson defense"
June 8th:"Hudson turns two"
July 30th:"Hudson slick DP"!
July 20th:"Hudson's great defense"
July 20th:"Hudson gets the out"!
July 1st:"Hudson robs Nixon"!
Aug 17th:"Bluejay's great defense"!!! Hudson is the third play of the segment. Actually, this segment is a good example of why we should be excited about Hill in the infield with the range he shows in the second catch of this three part segment. WARNING: Hudson's awesome play here may make you cry!
Aug 7th:"Hudson shows his range"!
***Sept 7th:"Hudson injuries his ankle". Unfortunately this as you know ended his season.

Hopefully I do not get shot for pointing out the following two plays as they have nothing to do with this thread but I am sure you will enjoy them both.

1) With all of Hudson's amazing plays, the play of the year had to be the one from Koskie on July 27th titled "Koskie's amazing catch".

2) One last notable highlight was on Aug 26th "Fan doesn't want the ball". Not a Hudson play but quite entertaining none the less.

Anders - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 08:07 PM EST (#141313) #

I always enjoyed the O-drum, and talking with various cheer clubbers about how Alexis Rios must be getting a raw deal on Range Factor because O-Dawg kept wanting to play right field.

In particular, I seem to remember one or 2 fantastic defensive plays made by Orlando during Roy Halladay's 2 hitter (against the Brewers?) last year, easily saving a couple of hits)

williams_5 - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 08:10 PM EST (#141314) #

In honour of O-Dog, I did not do up the Velcro straps on my winter gloves today.

CeeBee - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 08:15 PM EST (#141315) #

When you're smiling, When you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you.

I'll miss Orlando more than any other Blue Jay in the teams history thats been traded, retired, or left in any other way. My most favorite memory of the O-Dawg happened probably 20 times a game in pretty much every game I ever saw Orlando play.Yakking it up with an umpire, team-mate or opposing player and always that big ear to ear grin. Every once in awhile God creates a special person and Orlando was one of them. Damnit..... I'm gonna miss you O-Dawg.

jvictor - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 08:54 PM EST (#141316) #

Since he first came up I fell in love with his defence. It wasn't one play or another but the way he threw himself into his defence with wild and reckless abandon. There was no fear of walls, teammates or the opposition. Add that with great speed, and cat like reflexes and you got yourself a special defensive player.

A friend of mine would always tease me with an invite to dinner with him. She has a coworker whose son had befriended Aught Dog when he first arrived in town. I never had the pleasure, but my friend told me that he was a gracious guest, well mannered and devoid of pretention, airs and graces. Probably why he was invited back.

Vio con Dios. And thanks for the memories of wonderful ballplayer and a gentleman.

eeleye - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:12 PM EST (#141317) #

Thanks a lot for those dates for his plays melondough. That's fantastic.

eeleye - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:18 PM EST (#141318) #

I haven't finished them yet, but Hudson's "slick DP" has to be one of my favorite ever. It was top of 8th also. He was preparing to tag the bag before he even caught the ball. It shows his unbelievable foresight and talent.

Ron - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:31 PM EST (#141319) #

O-Dog had too many web gems to single out just one play.

One of my favorite O-Dog moments was when he worked at Sportsnet for the playoffs 2 seasons ago. Their was a clip that showed him inside his car and he was signing something related to SpongeBob SquarePants. It was priceless.

I'll be tuning into the D-Back games whenever I get the chance just to watch him play. I believe there's a chance he will get a standing ovation whenever he returns to the RC.

VBF - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 10:55 PM EST (#141320) #

Oh yea! I remember that. It was before the 2004 season and they were doing a documentary on various Jays at Spring Training. What I wouldn't give to watch that again...

Joe - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 11:13 PM EST (#141321) #

My very, very favourite thing about Hudson is his smile — the fact that he'll come up with the ball, then throw it to first grinning like a kid because he loves playing.

I'm going to miss a lot about Hudson, but I'll miss that the most.

zaptom - Thursday, February 16 2006 @ 11:37 PM EST (#141323) #

Dearest Orlando, I have a man crush on you. You are the glove master. Come back soon. I miss you already.

Magpie - Friday, February 17 2006 @ 12:14 AM EST (#141326) #

Robbie or the O-Dog? No contest. Hudson was a much better defender than Alomar, and I think the main reason was because his positioning was far, far superior. Robbie was very close to being as effective as Hudson on grass, but not on artificial turf.

I'm very surprised that Alomar's manager agrees with me. Cito's loyalty to the guys who won the championships often clouded his judgement (an ancient occupational hazard of major league managers.)

Obviously, Alomar is a much greater player than Hudson. But not with the glove. Hudson is the greatest defensive second baseman I have ever seen.

Oh and George Bell was actually a good outfielder when he arrived in the majors. He threw well enough to play RF (and did), he ran much better than your average left fielder, and he actually took defensive positioning very seriously indeed. Knee and shoulder problems took most of his tools away in short order, and he may have begun to believe his own legend as a Lousy Outfielder, because he eventually became very tentative out there and evolved into a pretty bad outfielder. Although not Canseco-bad...

Mike Green - Friday, February 17 2006 @ 09:43 AM EST (#141327) #

Yes. Hudson is the greatest defensive second baseman I have ever seen, as well. I caught the tail end of Mazeroski's career, but not his prime of the early 60s. One of my projects is a play-by-play analysis of the defensive abilities of the great modern middle infielders. The retrosheet event files now go back to 1960 and make this possible.

George Bell was a fine defender in his early and mid 20s, but his abilities faded pretty quickly.

Named For Hank - Friday, February 17 2006 @ 11:38 AM EST (#141333) #

My defining Orlando Hudson moment happened on July 17th at Rogers Centre, against the Devil Rays. He was on first, and I was in the third base camera bay trying to get a photograph of him taking a lead off of the bag.

The D-Rays changed pitchers, and everyone relaxed. Orlando began to tell a story that had Ernie Whitt in stitches. Soon, the umpire came over to see what was going on:

Don't know what it was about, but it looks like it was a good story.

greenfrog - Friday, February 17 2006 @ 01:32 PM EST (#141348) #

Fantastic second baseman. Great guy (and teammate, apparently). Another 50 points of OBP and he'd be a perennial all-star.

JayWay - Friday, February 17 2006 @ 02:17 PM EST (#141350) #

Yup, that's the one. When someone says the name Orlando Hudson twenty years from now, that's the play that will come to mind.

Paying the fee for the Season Pass; getting out of bed in the morning and dragging myself down to the Dome almost every day; enduring so many drab, seemingly endless games in humid weather... it was all worth it, just so I could have been there on that day, just so I could have caught that play in person.

Thanks O-Dog

garvin4ever - Saturday, February 18 2006 @ 11:12 AM EST (#141368) #

Another great aspect of this photograph is the presence of Travis Lee, perhaps the best fielding first baseman in baseball. What a right side of the infield those two would make.

actionjackson - Thursday, February 23 2006 @ 04:06 PM EST (#141449) #

Ten words (in alphabetical order, not in order of importance) I think of when I think of our dearly departed Blue Jay: Boyishness, character, charisma, desire, ebullience, energy, exuberance, grace, toughness, wizardry. You were a joy to watch and I will miss you badly.

I know our site is not particularly thrilled with Rogers today for their bungling of this site's hosting, but I for one am looking forward to my MLB Extra Innings renewal, so I can watch the O-Dog take away plays from the CF, RF, SS and 1B of the D-Backs, whoever they may be. I also look forward to him getting even more recognition now that he is in the US because he's earned it. Who knows how many Web Gems he can rack up down there?

He is one of those players who if we ever do get back to the promised land and win a World Series, we will wish he could be there to enjoy it, and maybe, just maybe he will...

actionjackson - Thursday, February 23 2006 @ 04:18 PM EST (#141451) #

Speaking of his outgoing personality, Ms Action and I would die laughing every time he came to the plate and tapped the ump on the ass and the catcher on the shoulder. I believe one night I saw an ump decide it was time to brush off the plate as Hudson was coming to bat in order to avoid the O-Dog ritual. He truely was one of a kind.

Gone But Not Forgotten- Orlando Hudson | 47 comments | Create New Account

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