Tim Hudson's return to Ybor City didn't turn out as well as expected. Acquired near the trade deadline in hopes of bolstering the Roller's postseason rotation, Hudson pitched poorly down the stretch, recalling moments from his first failed stretch with the franchise.Hudson made 57 starts for the Roller's during the 1999 "B" and 2000 "A" seasons, combining for a 16-20 record and ugly 5.23 ERA. He bounced around the next 3 seasons, pitching for Sante Fe, Bristol and Florida before landing with the West Baden Sprudels and enjoying a run of 5 seasons with double-digit wins and sub-4.50 ERA's.
He had another good season going last year for the Gamblers, before the trade he was 7-6 with a 4.79 ERA. But in a Roller uniform he imploded to the tune of 2-6 with a 6.07 ERA. He surrendered 71 hits in just 59 1/3 innings pitched. He did help in the postseason, winning Game 2 versus Bristol by throwing seven solid innings.
"It was a rough stretch, especially after the elation of returning to this franchise and hoping to bring home a championship. Luckily we get to start from scratch. Going into this season my ERA is 0.00, and I hope to go out and do my job. We've got some pretty high expectations here, and I'm looking forward to helping the team meet them." Hudson commented.
If Hudson's ERA is residing in the 5's come July it might be the end of his second honeymoon in Ybor and perhaps the end of the Roller's streak of playoff appearances.
