Hudson 5th Most Overrated Player?

by Purpledork on May 4, 2010 10:52 AM EDT

I came across this article on Bleacher Report about the 10 most overrated players in baseball. Hudson was ranked as number 5.

Considering he's hit in 20/23 games so far and has been extremely solid defensively, I don't agree with this assessment at all. What do you guys think?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/387390-the-10-most-over-rated-players-in-major-league-baseball#page/7

"Each year many are surprised that Orlando Hudson is job hunting for as late as he is. Some truly believe he is a great defensive second basemen, but his career UZR/150 of 0.4 at second base would suggest otherwise.

Hudson, despite his gold glove awards, has been an average defender. Couple that with an OPS+ of exactly 100 and it is evident that he is more or less a completely average player.

Hudson does not do anything particularly well on the baseball field. He is not very good defensively, he does not have great bat control, he does not have much power, and he does not run very well.

Orlando Hudson is a gritty baseball player, but he has been over-appreciated throughout his career."

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Comments

I never know what to do with "overrated/underrated" lists

Based on who’s rating? Not baseball’s, as the article points out, if he were overrated by the industry, he’d be making a lot more money.

I don’t dispute that he’s more or less a slightly above average major league starting second baseman, really. His offense is slightly better than the average 2nd baseman, and his defense is probably about average.

But average has a lot of value. Average helps you win, because you aren’t forced to run Alexi Casilla out there.

We Are the Washington Generals

by Eric in Madison on May 4, 2010 10:59 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, these lists do nothing for me.

by Jesse on May 4, 2010 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

I'm glad he's on the Twins.

by benhertz on May 4, 2010 12:47 PM EDT reply actions

All I know is he's the best second baseman we've had since Knoblauch

That’s good enough for me.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on May 4, 2010 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly...

I don’t think anyone was excited when we signed Hudson thinking we got a “top” 2b or anything.

It was more the fact that even though he’s average/slightly above average he’s LIGHT YEARS ahead of what we’ve had at 2b for years. And that’s a huge boost to the club.

The problem with the Twins for years was not star talent; we’ve had plenty of that. It was having even average complementary players alongside those star players.

The Twins now FINALLY have that, and as such, have a very complete team. 3b is really the only “hole” on the team now. And hopefully we’ll have an answer there soon enough.

by DJSkillz on May 4, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I got confused reading this...

…since everything said in the quote almost perfectly describes Nick Punto, yet only Hudson’s name is mentioned.

"...and we'll see ya tomorrow night!" - Jack Buck, Game 6, 1991 World Series

by WindyCityTwinsFan on May 4, 2010 12:57 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs

HAHAHA...rec'd

by Jesse on May 4, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

If only

An OPS+ reminded you of Punto? I wish!

by by jiminy on May 4, 2010 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Except Punto plays gold glove defense, he just does not get the award cause he cant hit

by Ryan Conway on May 5, 2010 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

and because he hasn't played consistently at a single position

because they give those things out by position.

"It may be cloudy in my right eye, but the sun is shining very brightly in my left eye." - Kirby Puckett

by myjah on May 5, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

And because he's been error prone in his career

You have to make the routine plays to get a gold glove

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on May 5, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Might be true

This might be true, as many of my friends who are fans of teams around the league are under the impression he still is an elite defender. So people probably have an excessive opinion of him around the league, but that doesn’t mean he’s a bad player.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on May 4, 2010 2:15 PM EDT reply actions

that's what gold gloves do for you

by twinscrazy_german on May 4, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I know he's elite compared to anybody we've had in the past 13 years

The hole on the right side of the infield was a black hole in past years. This year, Hudson gets to those balls. He’s also ranged into the outfield for balls that were Texas leaguers in past years. And who else makes that relay throw to get Sizemore the other day?

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on May 4, 2010 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

I agree. He’s a very solid player to have at second, and I think his D is actually a little better than the number suggest (mostly because they don’t really take DP’s into full account, and I think O-Dawg turns them very, very well), which makes him a valuable pickup for us. But if the rest of the league thinks he’s a top 3 2nd basemen defensively AND is at least as good a hitter as he actually is, then yeah, his national perception is probably overrated.

It doesn’t actually MATTER as he hasn’t gotten paid a contract or anything like that that would follow this perception (he’s had a hard time getting work the last couple years, really), but I do think many fans around the game think he’s better than is, because they think he’s an all-star level player, when in reality, he is just a very solid guy to plug in, especially when he is simply supporting a core the Twins already have (instead of being expected to be a core, top 3 or 4 guy on the roster).

When you consider that 2nd base was one of the last two positions the Twins didn’t have incumbent or newly acquired very, very strong options at, plugging a league average player into that spot (AND the #2 spot in the lineup) is an incredible boost to the team. There is NO shame whatsoever in being a league average major league baseball player, especially when you are a bit older than most at your position.

Just wanted to explain that I think me and you have very, very similar (and positive) opinions of O-Dawg. I just love having him.

by AdamOnFirst on May 4, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I dont think you'll find anyone

putting him in the top 3 for defense.

I love Twins Baseball and Minnesota Vikings Football.

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on May 4, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Except for his peers

Who have voted him a gold glove four times, including last year, when he was benched for the last two months. But scouts and numbers people know better.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on May 4, 2010 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Seeing how well he's played as of late

This assessment doesn’t really matter to me. I don’t care what you call him, he fits the Twins perfectly. Like cmathewson said, he’s better than anyone we’ve had in that position for a long time. I still have occasional flashbacks to Luis Rivas and his combo of spotless defense/awful hitting. Hudson being average at both is good enough.

by MarshalltheIrish on May 4, 2010 7:01 PM EDT reply actions