3 Injured Pitcher: Prior, Hudson, Or Halladay?

[mtarail]

Oh, and to whoever said that the Braves are better than the Cubs to justify elevating Hudson's value over Prior, I disagree. And so does Las Vegas.

2005 World Series winner odds:
Cubs: 8.5/1
Braves 13/1

And didn't Vegas have the Cubs as the favorite to win last year?

The oddsmakers had the Yankees as the favorite, like they do every year.

I'm just guessing, but I think the oddsmaking has a little to do with the actual odds, based on the likelihood of a team winning. That includes looking at the overall makeup of a team. Cubs starters 1-3 are better than the Braves. (As we've seen here, Hudson vs. Prior is debatable, but are you really gonna argue that Atlanta's 2+3 is even close to Wood/Zambrano?) And their hitting is MUCH better overall.

The Cubs imploded last year, although they had injuries (Prior, Sosa, Patterson, Borowski). But to say that Atlanta is a better team in '05? Give me a break.

[lbbaseball14]

i agree... prior, hudson , halladay

[RynMan]

Here's the rationale:

1. Hudson plays for a better team and is more likely to get more wins.

2. Hudson has significantly less injury risk

3. 2004 Statistics

Hudson: 188 ip, 12wins, 103k's, 3.53 era, 1.26whip

Prior: 118 ip, 6 wins, 139 k's, 4.02 era, 1.35whip

Hudson better in 4/5 categories

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Hang on, how is Hudson a less injury risk? a significantly less injury risk? Hudson has had hip problems and is older than Prior, plus has thrown more career innings. I would rather take Prior.

[ocmusicjunkie]

^^^ Hudson has ONE trip to the DL his entire career... that was last season... for a pulled stomach muscle? Not exactly like he was out for an elbow injury. He's still in his 20's, and he was known as one of the iron men of pitchin til last season's fluke.